Introduction
Takachiho Gorge and Takachiho Peak, a canyon and a mountain, are competing, but both claim to be the land where God’s grandson first descended to the earth. As a tourist, if someone decides on one or the other first, I won’t have to waste any money, but is this the tourist association’s strategy? Even ancient documents such as Kojiki and Nihon Shoki seem to be unable to settle the issue.
Takachiho Gorge, where columnar joints are exposed and forms a deep gorge, is also mysterious, but now many rowing sightseeing boats are colliding with each other in the gorge and echoing. This will destroy the sacred atmosphere. On the other hand, mountains have been objects of worship since ancient times. Kirishima Shrine, which used to be located on the top of Mt. Takachiho Peak, was moved to the foot of the mountain every time there was an eruption. The tenacity with which it was rebuilt over and over again even after it has been destroyed by an eruption is a sign of its pride as the place of the descendant to the earth of God’s grandson.
Active volcanic eruptions currently bring many benefits to the region, other than myths.
Detail
1st day (Day of Challenge to nature)
One of the three sacred places for railway fans
Kagoshima Airport was built on the plateau of the caldera somma, making it an unusual airport where the landing approach is a horizontal touchdown with a side view of Sakurajima. From that altitude of the airport, the air current changes drastically and it is famous for repeating go-arounds for touchdown. However, this airport is much more convenient than Kumamoto Aso Airport for going to Hitoyoshi. You can get there in less than an hour by highway. A sacred place for railway fans is on the way. Enjoy the undulating terrain and the human efforts that overcame it
Hitoyoshi, one of top 3 places difficult to reach, is now recovering from a tragic flood
If you take the expressway from Kagoshima Airport, you will reach the entrance of Hitoyoshi town in one hour. But Hitoyoshi Basin is incredibly large, so even after crossing the somma of Kakuto caldera and descending to the area of Kuma River, it takes quite a while to get to the center of Hitoyoshi, and there are no tall buildings (landmarks), so be aware that even if you have a navigation system, you will get lost if you are in the town. It would be nice to check in to the hotel first and take a leisurely walk around a town where time has stopped. Aoi-Aso shrine, National Tresure, strongly survived the tragic flood.
2nd day (Day of Live with nature)
A rare shrine that loves moving
It takes about 1.5 hours to simply cross the Kirishima Mountain Range from Hitoyoshi and to get to Kirishima Shrine. If you plan on stopping at an observation deck overlooking the Kakuto Caldera, the Ebino Plateau where you can see the volcanic plume from Mt. Ioh(Sulfur), and the Takachiho-Kawara, where Kirishima Shrine moved for the second time, you should expect it to take about three hours. The distant view of the Kirishima mountain range is wonderful, but the power of faith has been strugging against volcanoes since ancient times.
Black vinegar not being able to stop drinking every day for health
On the 45-minute drive down the public road from Kirishima Shrine towards Kirishima City, you’ll pass several famous Japanese distilled spirits “shochu” makers, so don’t miss it. Once you reach the bottom of the slope, you will reach Kagoshima Bay, and if you drive along the inner wall of the caldera somma for a short distance to the east, you will eventually arrive at a black vinegar production area called “Tsubo-batake.” A lot of pots “Tsubo” used to make black vinegar line up like a cabbage field “Batake.” The angle of the pot field with Sakurajima in the background is wonderful. I fell in love with the taste of black vinegar here. Kagoshima Jingu shrine is a 30-minute drive from here, but you may run into traffic jams as it passes through Kirishima city.
Japanese hotel that makes you feel like you’re in a Kyoto garden
The inn we are aiming for is located in Hiatariyama Onsen, and is right next to Kagoshima Jingu Shrine. Check in early and relax. Anyway, you might be amazed at how delicately each dish of kaiseki cuisine is prepared. The next day, you just climb the caldera somma at the back of the Inn to reach Kagoshima Airport. If it’s too close to go home right away, you may want to stop by Kareigawa Station, which has a nostalgic wooden station building, Inukai Falls that cuts through the cliffs, and Shiohitashi Onsen, where Ryoma Sakamoto was invited by the Satsuma clan for healing the wounds he received when he was almost assassinated in Kyoto and stopped on his honeymoon with his wife Oryu.
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