Figures inside Nabegataki waterfall

nabegataki waterfall with people inside
nabegataki waterfall from inside
nabegataki waterfall from inside

It became famous after it was used in the filming of several tea commercials on TV.    It was created by erosion after the eruption of Mt. Aso 90,000 years ago.    It’s fascinating to go behind the waterfall.   However, people accumulate there, so if you take a photo of the waterfall from outside, people will appear behind the waterfall curtain like ghosts.  It seems like admission is now restricted by advance reservations online.

 

 

You won’t be able to see the waterfall until you have descended quite a bit from the entrance, so you can see the sunlight shining into the basin of the waterfall, which is beautiful.

It’s difficult to talk about the beauty of waterfalls.    First of all, there is no taxonomy of waterfalls, so each person imagines a waterfall in a variety of ways.   There are waterfalls that fall in a dynamic straight line, waterfalls with many tiered basins, waterfalls that cascade down the rock surface, and waterfalls that flow delicately and quietly as if pulling a thread, each with its own unique charm.   Under such circumstances, I wonder whose permission they get to decide on the top 100 waterfalls.   There are wonderful waterfalls all over Japan, so I hope you find your favorite one by yourself.    Here I will introduce my favorites, Snoopy Falls and Nametsu Falls.

Detour

There is a restaurant near the waterfall that serves my favorite lunch.     Last time I stopped by, I bought a bunch of herbal tea.

kuju highway2
go back to itinerary

Revenge Aso under the blue sky

aso highway6 shiroyama view point

I was finally able to visit the core of Aso.    Last time, I couldn’t see the whole thing in the rain clouds, but there was a swell of sticky lava, exposed bedrock towering as far as the eye could see, and it looked like there were cordons like construction sites all over the place.

When you look at it, you can feel that it is a volcano that is still active.   The most recent eruption occurred in October 2016.    Crater regulation information is updated daily, so if you don’t check it before you visit, you’ll be missing out even if the weather is nice.

Shiroyama view point on the edge of somma

Aso approach

Aso crater and Kusasenri (The grass stretches for a thousand miles)

Aso cattle are grazed on the mountain path along the way.    If you approach them carelessly, their eyes will turn bright red and threaten you.   I have seen bullfights, and when the fighting instinct comes to the fore, the bull’s eyes become bloodshot.    I’m looking forward to tonight’s beef steak.

kuju highway2
go back to itinerary

 

 

Are dolphins messengers of God?

dolphin watching4

From the Amakusa Islands, Mount Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsula can be seen nearby, and many wild dolphins live here where the Ariake Sea exits into the East China Sea.    In any case, as soon as we set out on our fishing boat, the dolphins started chasing us as if they were enjoying the competition.   Several of them work together to blow the tide and pass under the bottom of the ship.  It’s like a messenger of peace.

Although it is advertised as a sightseeing boat for viewing dolphins, the hull is essentially a fishing boat.    The price includes lunch.     I was wondering to myself what would happen if I ate it, got on board, and got seasick.

A detour

As you head north along the west coast of the island from Sakitsu Church, you will see “Myoken-ura”, a sea cliff shaped like an elephant, “Tits Rock”, which is difficult to take photos with women, and a lighthouse floating off the coast that looks like “the Statue of Liberty”.   In Amakusa City, you can buy Amakusa pottery “Kohiki” that was introduced from Korea, and Gion Bridge, which is a stone bridge but has multiple girders lined up instead of arches, is a must-see.”

Another detour

At the tip of the Misumi Peninsula, where the bridge to the Amakusa Islands crosses, there is a stone wharf called Misumi Nishi Port that remains from the Meiji period, and has been designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site.    If you have time, it’s a place where you can relax.

 

aso statute of nirvana left
go back to itinerary

Hidden Christians in the Amakusa Islands are not hidden

sakitsu church1

The colonial policy hidden behind the sale of Christian missionary work and trade as a set terrified the Edo shogunate, and with the isolation of the country, Christians fell prey to the banning policy.     Shortly after the establishment of the shogunate, there was a large-scale battle to suppress Christianity (the Shimabara Rebellion), and the victorious shogunate suffered heavy losses, and many Christian farmers in the region died or were dispersed.     As a result, they were unable to harvest any crops at all.    Even so, there were still many Christians remaining in Amakusa and Shimabara.     It is said that 90% of the people in the town of Sakitsu were Christians, and since they all survived as they were, it seems that even if they were hidden Christians, it was an open secret.

The villagers who were accused of being Christians claimed to believe in a local deity inherited from their ancestors, while Shogunate officials, fearing a repeat of the Shimabara Rebellion that had endangered the Shogunate and the subsequent sharp decline in the agricultural population, denied the truth and did not disclose it  publicly.

ohetenshudo2
ohe-tenshudo

Perhaps it was wisdom that determined that the  villagers had a “misunderstanding of the sect” (they did not believe in Christianity, but that he believed in the wrong religion without realizing it was a mistake) and did not certify them as Christians.    I am impressed that there were officials with such good sense at that time.    There are many churches in the Amakusa Islands.    Many believers still maintain their faith.

Sakitsu downtown is a part of World Heritage “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region”, although not in the Nagasaki Region.

On the way to the Amakusa islands

go to amakusa islands6 Mt.Unzen
Mt.Unzen on the way to Amakusa islands

You can reach the Amakusa Islands by crossing a number of beautiful bridges from the Misumi Peninsula.    On the way, you can clearly see the Shimabara Peninsula and Mt. Unzen across the Ariake Sea.    However, driving while looking away is prohibited.

Cave hot spring inn Yurakutei (Yumigahama beach in Ohyano island)

Guests are welcomed by writing their names on the sake jar at the entrance of the inn.    The owner has dug a cave by hand and you can enjoy hot springs inside it.    Anyway, for dinner there will be more fish dishes caught in the Ariake Sea than you can finish.

 

aso statute of nirvana left
go back to itinerary

Arched stone bridge created by God

stone bridge futamatabashi1

Each arched stone bridge in Kumamoto prefecture exists in exquisite balance with the weight of the thousands of stones that make up it, and the shape is beautiful.    It is said that there are approximately 320 existing stone bridges in Kumamoto, but why are there so many stone bridges in Kumamoto?    Many factors seem to have contributed to this, including the presence of easy-to-work welded tuff formed by the Aso pyroclastic flow nearby, the presence of a technical group of masons, and the fact that people who learned Western techniques in Nagasaki moved there.   There is also a story that the designer of stone bridge was even threatened with his life by other clans due to his high technical skills.    This stone bridge is the result of a divine work.    The steps involved creating an arch-shaped wooden frame according to the blueprint, fitting stones into it from above, and finally removing the wooden frame.

kintai bridge5
refer to kintai bridge

Around the same time, a huge wooden arch bridge was built in Iwakuni. This is Kintaikyo Bridge.

stone bridge tsujyunkyo2 Anna and the Beast
stone bridge tsujyunkyo behind “Anna and the Beast”

Anyway, the Midori River basin in southern Kumamoto Prefecture is full of stone bridges.  Some are stone bridges for people to cross valleys, but many are also used to carry waterways to irrigate higher ground.    A typical example is the Tsujun Bridge, but for some reason there is an object depicting “Beauty(Anna) and the Beast” in front of it.   Let’s visit your favorite stone bridge.    Depending on the time of day at Futamata bridge, light from the arch opening and light reflected on the river surface overlaps to form a heart shape.

stone bridge futamatabashi2
stone bridge futamata

Furthermore, in order to distribute the precious water carried by stone bridges to the fields, it is necessary to distribute the water equally in proportion to the cultivated area.   A mechanism for this purpose is a circular water diversion system, in which water rises from the center of the circle using a U-shaped pipe, spills into partitions set up along the circumference in proportion to the cultivated area, and is distributed in various directions.    You can see places where this device is still in use today.   You might read the same story at the travel note “Akita in winter”.  Forthermore, there is one in the metropolitan area as well as in Mizonokuchi in Kawasaki City.

A detour

Mizutama (Polka dots) cafe, a cafe tucked away on top of a mountain.    A good place to relax and do nothing.    Aso can also be seen in the distance.

It’s difficult to get here. Don’t overlook the small landmarks at junctions on narrow roads.   It seems that reservations are now required recently.

Another detour

Yuen railway octagon tunnel
Yuen railway octagon tunnel

At first glance it looks like an octagonal tunnel, but numerous so-called nut-like shapes are lined up along the cliff.    Although it is the remains of a former railroad (Yuen railway), it seems to be a preventative measure against landslides.    There seems to be a demonic realm ahead, but at the end of the tunnel is a tranquil landscape.

Yuen railway after tunnel
Yuen railway after tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

aso statute of nirvana left
go back to itinerary

Takachiho Gorge, the abode of the gods

amanoyasugawara2
takachiho canyon4 change directions of columnar joints
takachiho  gorge changing directions of columnar joints

The last major eruption of Mt. Aso 90,000 years ago was so large that volcanic ash fell over the entire Japanese archipelago.    That is why Aso still remains a beautiful caldera topography on that scale.     Pyroclastic flows covered the ground near Mt. Aso, and columnar joints created by the contraction of rocks due to the heat can be seen everywhere.    Takachiho Gorge, which is surprisingly close to Aso, has columnar joints that spread throughout the valley, and it is thought that it has been connected to mythology because it is a structure that does not seem to belong to this world.

When Japan was about to enter high economic growth, Takachiho Gorge, like the Nichinan Coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, was famous as a honeymoon destination.    Here I would like to talk about the place named Takachiho, which has been a question for some time.    Takachiho, as the Japanese character suggests, refers to rice cultivation in the highlands, but according to Japan’s oldest history book, the Kojiki, it also means the place where the gods descended to earth.    This is the so-called “the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess.”    However, it seems that the question of whether the god descended first, Takachiho Gorge near Aso or Takachiho-mine (peak of mountain) in the Kirishima volcanic belt, is still unresolved.     It’s originally a myth, so I guess it’s not one or the other.    It’s just like Yamataikoku is undecided whether it’s Kinki or Kyushu (but the existance of this old imperial court  is a historical fact).    In any case, the magnificent scenery of nature will make you feel the presence of God.     It may be the work of an old travel agency to attract tourists to Miyazaki Prefecture, which has inconvenient transportation (sorry).

However, as a real tourist destination, the sounds of rowing boats sailing through Takachiho Gorge and their collisions echoing within the canyon, which may be the voice of God grumbling.    I wonder why young couples jump on rowboats right away.     I am tempted to say that they should be satisfied with sailing at Chidorigafuchi or Shakujii Park in Tokyo.

Ama no Iwato Shrine: Riverbed of Ama no Yasukawara

amanoiwato shrine4
ama no iwato shrine entrance

A famous myth that the older sister’s god (God of the Sun), angry at her younger brother’s violent behavior, closed the rock door and shut herself in a cave, causing the world to become pitch black, and the gods gathered together to deliberate in order to open the rock door.    However, there is Ama no Iwato Shrine at the location of this rock door (you must apply for a prayer to see the rock door in front of you.), and Ama no Yasukawara Cave (this is free.) is located at the place where the council held the meeting.    It’s natural that the authenticity is questionable, but first of all, even in the world of gods, the younger brother should apologize to the older sister, and the gods are the ones who cannot resolve such matters without deliberating.    Furthermore, Takachiho is supposed to be the place where this sister’s grandchild landed on earth for the first time among the gods, but isn’t it strange that the rock door exists in this world?

When I was thinking about this, I couldn’t concentrate on sightseeing at all, and all I remember was the appearance of human faces on the surface of the trees on the left and right as I headed towards Ama no Iwato Shrine.

aso statute of nirvana left
go back to itinerary

 

A ray of light in the pouring rain in Aso

aso horse grazing

When traveling to enjoy the scenery, the weather is crucial.    The scenery shines with the reflection of light, and the wind with just the right amount of humidity makes you feel refreshed.    The sun is great!    But this time, it’s the complete opposite.    The rain was pouring down so hard that I couldn’t even step out of the car in Kusasenri, so I turned on the heater inside the car max to stay warm.

aso shelter
aso shelter

Still, the eruption alert level for Mt. Aso is at its lowest level, so this is a great opportunity to get up close.    As we braved the wind and rain, a shelter covered with thick concrete suddenly appeared in front of us.   I am reminded of the recent incident on Mt. Ontake in Kiso where climbers were caught in volcanic bombs.   Then, for a moment, an emerald blue volcanic lake could be seen through the gap between the clouds and volcanic smoke.    The weather was terrible, but it was an unforgettable sight, even though it was only for a short time.

After lunch at an herb farm* in Minami-oguni town, I went to Daikanbo, which has an observation deck for Aso mountain range, without high expectations.    Although the clouds were not clear, I could see the Aso mountain range, which has been compared to the reclining statue of Buddha, and the somma with deep valleys surrounding it.    It’s not all that the weather is bad.    It seemed like a ray of light was shining.

Detour (an herb farm* in Minami-oguni town)

Overnight at Kurokawa Onsen ”Sanga”

The garden is well-maintained while retaining the atmosphere of deep in the  mountain, but I was surprised to learn that it was all planted by hand.    I fell in love with the richness of the ingredients and the delicious taste, and now I stay here regularly.   It seems that all the accommodations in Kurokawa Onsen are wonderful, but I hope that the regular accommodations do not suffer from the negative effects of overtourism.

aso statute of nirvana left
go back to itinerary