The buried torii of Sakurajima, Kagoshima

After visiting Arimura Lava Observation Deck, we went to Kurokami Buried Torii near observatory. 

As you can see, most of the torii gate⛩ is no longer visible. The volcanic ash on January 12, 1914 that covered in the entire Sakurajima Island. As a result, the 3 meter high Shinto gate of Haragosha-jinja (腹五社神社) was filled with smoke😲

On the following day, lava began to flow and a 3 billion ton wave of fire crossed the Seto Strait, connecting the island of Sakurajima and Osumi Peninsula.  

Visiting Arimura Lava Observation deck, Kagoshima

In the afternoon, we had decided to take a drive to see the Arimura Lava Observation Deck in Kagoshima. It is such a lovely place with a scenic view of Mount Sakurajima⛰😁

We parked a car in front of stairs and go up to the top🌄

A magnificent view of the volcanic mountain in front of you😊

I found coins in the lava. Maybe someone put a 1 yen coin in wish?

A shelter provides us from volcanic ash. There are many places you'll see it on the big island😀

Visiting Aburatsu red brick house in Nichinan, Miyazaki

After visiting a beautiful botanical garden in Aoshima, we went to the Aburatsu (油津) area of Nichinan city. Aburatsu is the historic town and famous red buildings built in the 1920s. 

We parked a car in front of Horikawa Museum. It is built along the Horikawa River using local Obi cedar for building🏠

The Horikawa Canal crossing bridge made of stones. The first bridge was built in the 1600s which is made of wood🌲 But in response to the request from local residents for a permanent bridge, it turned into a stone over a period of four years😅

Going down an alley along the canal, you'll see the Aburatsu red brick house. 

It was built in 1922 as a store house for the Kono family. It is a three-story building with a tiled roof, made using approx. 220.000 bricks. The central passageway is arched, preserving the appearance of the Taisho era. 

The red brick buildings face each other, and beyond them is the old Sugimura Hardware Main Store. Built in 1932, it is a three-story wooden building with 3 floors; the first floor of a house is a shop which sells hardware, the second and third floor is a living room😄

Visiting a pretty botanical garden in Miyazaki

We went to Miyazaki and Kagoshima for 3 days on November 2 and 4. 

First I took pictures of buses🚌 in Miyazaki, and stay in a hotel for the night. 

On the second day, we had decided to take a drive to go to the Miyako botanical garden near the little island🏝

The museum is free entry, so you can watch tropical flowers that grow indoors😄

Let's take a trip to tropical flower garden.

I saw the famous merlion there😊 

After that I went to the tropical fruit greenhouse. There are lots of bananas🍌 and mangoes🥭 growing on a tree🌴

Visiting Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence, Kumamoto

In the afternoon, we went to Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence. Lafcadio Hearn, also known as Yakumo Koizumi (小泉八雲) after naturalization, was a Greek-Irish writer who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the Western world. 

He lived in Kumamoto for three years from 1891 to 1894 as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. 

The house is designated as a cultural property of Kumamoto City, and is open to the public. 

The picture shows us the history of Hearn went on his voyage to Japan🛳 

A timeline of Hearn's life.

The chronology of Hearn literary works during his stay in Kumamoto.

Hearn with his wife Setsuko. 

During his fifteen-month stay in Matsue, Hearn married Koizumi Setsuko (小泉節子), aka. Koizumi Setsu (小泉セツ), the daughter of a local samurai family. 

This is a traditional Japanese house with garden view🏡

Visiting the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki, Kumamoto

After visiting Janes Residence, we went to the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki. 

It is not too far from here; just walking around the Suizenji Jojuen Garden and when you see the nursery school, it's right in front of you. 

The entrance. 

Natsume Soseki moved to Kumamoto from Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in 1896 to take up a post as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. Soseki moved six times in the four years and three months between 1896 and 1900. Of the six houses he lived in, only two remain: the third house in Oe and the fifth house in Uchitsuboimachi (内坪井町) near Kumamoto Castle.

The admission fee is ¥200 per person, and historical documents from that time are on display inside. It's definitely worth a visit😃

Visiting Janes Residence, Kumamoto

Yesterday we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Janes Residence in Kumamoto. I've been there many times before, but I'd never been to the old house, so I decided to go.

According to the Kumamoto city official website, this is the oldest Western-style building still standing in the prefecture, and was built in 1871 to welcome the American educator Leroy Lancing Janes to Kumamoto Western School. Janes lived here for five years, from 1871 to 1876, educating the young people of Kumamoto.

This building is the place where, during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, Tsunetami Sano received permission from Prince Arusugawa Taruhito, a Japanese carrier officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, to establish the Hakuaisha (博愛社), the precursor to the current Japanese Red Cross Society.

It was originally built in the Kojomachi area near Kumamoto Castle, but was moved several times as its function changed, eventually being moved to the adjacent to the east side of Suizenji Jojuen Garden. However, it was destroyed by the Kumamoto earthquakes. The new house of Janes that was moved at the Suizenji Ezuko Park in September 2023.

Let's take a tour to the retro style building🏛 of the early Meiji era.

The room is very specious, with chandelier and fireplace. I felt so nostalgic😊

Signs of the Janes' Mansion and Japan Red Cross Memorial Museum.

These are parts of building a house broken by earthquake😨