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Sakura trees with mountains in the background
After going to Japan for a few days, I have enough photos for a small photo journal. A chronological blog of the trip is in order…
Click images to enlarge
Miyazaki- 宮崎 “Mountainous Palace”
Sashimi
 Gundam statue at airport |
 Plane food |
 The plane |
 Ocean |
 Miyazaki City |
 Golf course |
 Shore |
 Cemetery |
 River through the city |
 Hotel room |
 Street-side shops |
 Intersection |
 City hall |
 Lakefront view |
 Dinner |
I originally planned to go to Kyoto, but it was near impossible to book a flight, so instead headed to Kyushu. Even then, I had to upgrade to business class to get a seat; the service is definitely a step up from economy, so I’m not complaining.
Short flight to Japan landed in the fairly quiet seaside town of Miyazaki (宮崎). The place used to be quite a bustling city, but after the two decades of Japanese economic decline, it turned into a sleepy suburban town with a few rural areas mixed in. Many shops have closed, and the remaining tourist industry largely lies in the golf resorts lying around. On the bright side, I found it a nice reprise from hectic downtown life.
The weather was beautiful during the few days; the climate there is relatively mild year round, with only an occasional snow and a lack of extreme temperatures. I spent the first night in a nice riverfront hotel with very fancy meals.
鬼の洗濯板- “Devil’s Washboards”
Shrine entrance
 Countryside |
 River |
 青島- “Blue Island” |
 Devil’s Washboards |
 More formations along shore |
 Character means “offering”/”donation” |
 Path through forest |
 Coin box/altar |
 Shrine |
 Shrine maidens/shopkeepers |
 Mini-shrine |
 Traditional wedding |
Next morning, the bus left the city, heading south following the seaside in Miyazaki Prefecture. There are natural formations called 鬼の洗濯板(Devils Washboards) along the shoreline; these are especially prominent on Aoshima (青島).
There were quite a few shrines on the way. Protocol: Wash hands, rinse mouth, clean ladle; Toss coin into the box, clap, bow. Shrines also have their own perks and oddities, usually featuring historical or geographical specialties. They are also a popular spot for weddings (very somber weddings it seems).
Army of staff thanks you for coming
 Sayonara~ |
 Vending machines |
 Buffet |
Japanese culture is extremely polite. Not only do drivers give you the right of way, staff are constantly bowing and using formalities. One cannot enter or leave a place without hearing “welcome”, “thank you”, “here you go” multiple times. Pass by a waiters and they will stand to the side to let you pass. Leave a shop, museum or hotel and often several people will come out to see you off. Accidentally left a T-shirt in your room when you checked out? Come back later and it will be waiting at the front desk, cleaned and wrapped.
This is the first part; I will make a post on the other half of the trip later on.
Wow, the plane food looks so much better than what Continental gives me
Were you flying ANA?
China Airlines; my flight was like the only arrival in Miyazaki that day.
Thanks for the very interesting report. I hope you post more (fotos) about your journey. 😀
Looks cool, if only i can visit japan as well.
The plane food actually look nice D8 wow
Fantastic camera,and good shots. Everything looks so pretty!
Very cool post.
Love this post, good work
Wow, I envy you 😛
live in japan is very2 expensive (gigle) 😮 =3
The sashimi looks good! You’re actually a good photograper Prooof, what camera are you using?
this one; it’s a regular digital camera
well it IS 7.1 MP, a fairly good cam.. anyway, I like your shots! They seems like pictures you see on a travel magazine. ^^
I am SOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo envious… Those shots just look so refreshing.
Can’t wait to go in Japan. I’ll be booking a flight in the upcoming week for next october/november; 24 days. It will be awesome.
https://randomc.net/image/Miscellaneous/Kyushu/Kyushu%20-%20Large%2016.jpg
take home that Gundam
Guh, the first shot reminds me of the Philippines. I’m homesick now. ;-;
I’d wanna discover small towns like this if I travel. Berlin, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow. All of em are nice places to try and visit. But a nation’s true character is in its rural and suburban areas.
that looks like a nice place to relax..away from urban pollution you see in the more crowded cities in Japan.
seen any buffet vending machines? won’t be surprised if you saw one..
I didn’t, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw one- vending machines are everywhere there and sell a wide range of goods.
Lol – ” Fairly Quite Seaside Town ” of 300,000 people !! Man to me thats a massive city seeing as i live in a town of 10,000 lol.
Anyway looks fantastic keep the pics comming :D. Im off to Japan this year for Tokyo Game show and i can’t wait.
looks cool. if only i have enough money to travel
Wish I could fly. But apparently, plane crashes prevent me from doing so.
I’m jealous 😉
-Flail-
I wish my normal food could look like what you got on that airplane > <
I'm so jealous about your trip
God,….I got to go Japan. It is my dream and these pics make me want to go even more.So pretty. : )
Reaaallly awesome 🙂
How did you take those aerial pictures?
Swweeeet
Nice pictures too !
…But its a cemetary >_<
Ah, nice. But wait, do Japanese people look at you weirdly? Your a westerner right? Heard that locals are rude there, but I might be thinking of Paris (It was on a Reader’s Digest magazine so no offence ppl, I might just be talking nonsense)
https://randomc.net/image/Miscellaneous/Kyushu/Kyushu%20-%20Large%2009.jpg
reminds me of Arakawa Under the Bridge.
Btw, did you have a tour guide or did you go around by yourself (or with friends).
thank you for the wonderful pics
ahh… Japan
birthplace of many great anime. Also, birthplace of the franchise that’s way better than it’s american counterpart, Super Sentai (seriously it is)
Nice, you made me hungry after seeing this. These are some really nice picks.
https://randomc.net/image/Miscellaneous/Kyushu/Kyushu%20-%20Large%2003.jpg
Thanks for the pics
Looks like fun! I’m actually on Kyuushu at the moment, too. Taking summer classes at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Don’t you love seeing palm trees AND mountains in the same place??
everyone here needs to go to japan at least once before they die. it is like night and day, or it was to me. I still remember seeing some Kenshiro like figure everywhere in Yokohama…I think it was Yokohama. I’ll never forget those Umiku(insert proper spelling.)You paid for your seat and condiments but the food was free. The catch was you grilled your own food at your table. Man live it up while you can Proof, I hope to head back over that way when things are more stable.
I am so dangerously jelaous of you. I have always wanted to visit Japan. Is it as wonderful as I imagine?
I need to visit withing the next couple years. Maybe I’ll go next summer.
Thanks for the pictures. I can’t wait to visit myself.
Very nice, makes me wanta return to Japan even though I just went there. The sites were very nice.
Damn it… I’m still saving up for the trip to Japan…. dont tease me like that….
i would like to go to japan as well im saving airline miles-though i have a lot to do before i go i have classes ect. to finish. I have a few friends who would be coming with. I envy you for getting to go.
Seems like you had fun there. Makes me wish I was back in Japan. You by any chance went to Maid Café?
You were in Miyazaki?! That’s just up the road from me!! If you’re in Kyushu again let me know 😉 I recommend going to Fukuoka, especially if you liked sashimi and sushi. Fresh fish is best there (Mostly on the Japanese Sea side, along the north coast because the water is colder). 😀 Glad to see you enjoyed your stay.
HEY!!!! i thought SHRINE MAIDENS had CAT EARS in japan?!?!?!?
Like! ^_^b
u went to japan ? and u didnt go to those fancy cosplay place? come on.
i really like the vending machines.
Miyazaki looks like a great place to live when already married with grown up childs. it looks so calm ^^
Out of Curiosity how much do flights cost for you guys to get to japan and back from your various countries.
Living in Australia its gonna cost me about $1100 with out low cost airway or $1450 with Japan Air.
I assume its probably alot cheaper for most of the world then down here like always lol.
Ah, so nice to see these pictures. Brings a bit of nostalgia for me (spent a few months there; though up in Kansai, not Kyushu). Glad to see and hear that you enjoyed your stay.
And to anyone considering it, I strongly urge anyone who can to make even a short visit to Japan. It’s a really cool place. Expensive as hell, but so nice!
cool… vending machines instantly reminded me of Mikoto and her way of “fixing” broken ones…
lolol Me too!! I was surprised they actually were in random places like in the shows. xD
What show are you talking about, again?
i’ve heard there was a foot and mouth disease spreading in miyazaki livestocks is it true?
Yes, as a result all the livestock is kept locked up and there are disinfecting pads along the roads.
New York SUCKS!!!
I thought for a second the picture of the ocean was a picture of the globe from outer space. >//<;;
Ahh the sashimi looks so yummy..
Nice, I was just in Japan over the Christmas holidays. It’s nostalgic to see it once again with such beautiful views. If I’m correct Miyazaki is the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Japan is quite something. If you leave your wallet in a train or in the subway you can actually come back later and get it fully intact with nothing lost at the lost and found. If you leave a bike at the street-side you can come back like a week later and still have it in good condition. On the contrary in America if you leave your bike out for too long even if you have it locked up it will be gone… Anyways curios, Prooof, you ever intend to climb Fuji-san? I plan to the next time I’m going to Japan and I’m looking for advice.
You are correct Miyazaki is the capital of Miyazaki Prefecture.
and sorry I’m not very familiar with places to visit in Japan.
Not Prooof, obviously, but some advice for hiking on Fuji:
Take jackets. Even during the summer months it gets pretty chilly up there. Waterproof is even better: it’s very wet too.
Wear good boots. The trails are long and can be a little slippery.
Remember that you’re going up a mountain. Lots of people do it and it seems so nice, but it’s still a mountain. It’ll take you a while to get to the top and just as long to get back down. Plan accordingly.
There are rest houses along the way where you can stop to recuperate. Take breaks to recover, eat, etc.
Oh my god, the scenery is beautiful… I hope one day I can go to Japan and see places such as Miyazaki. One day Japan, I will see you. (:
Not only will I see you, but I will get a taste of you too, haha! I want to try the many cuisines they have to offer.
I hate to admit it, but I would think twice before eating that Sashimi. It looks weird.
That looked like a lot of fun. Definitely a change from the big cities’ rush.
That’s pretty cool! Miyazaki still looks the same when I was there three years ago. Did you get to see the people throwing the nuts over the edge of the hill trying to make it into the roped circle at the bottom? It was on the edge of the water and right before you go into the side of the hill into the shrine. I thought that was pretty neat and the mikos were pretty cool when I went 😀
I saw that, though it seems pretty hard to land one in.
One day I’m going!!!! Man it looks beautiful. I love Japan – though I’ve never been 😛