Narita is a BIG airport…lots of walking between international and domestic terminals! Very cute walkway ‘pichu anime’ murals that cheered me up.

A 2 hr Jetstar flight from Tokyo got me to Kagoshima, at the southern most tip of Kyushu island. I was in row 1J which gave me a lovely view of the approach into Kagoshima. Might have been either the Kotsuki or Nagata Rivers below? The weather report promises temperate climes for the next few days. Yay!

My first Japanese breakfast – an assortment of goodies and happy with the protein and veggie offerings mostly.

Very popular locally, but I wasn’t prepared for the rental vehicle…a Nissan cube car. Seats not comfortable after a couple of hours. Thought to self…must make sure I don’t get one of these for the 4 week journey out of Kyoto! Speeds have been drastically reduced on local roads (40km) and freeways (50km mostly, but some 80km sections). Locals of course totally ignore and sail past me.

I downloaded the best cherry blossom forecast app (Sakura Navi) and saw that my best chance today with 94% growth stage prediction, was at Tadamoto garden, some 75 kms from Kagoshima city. So made my way there as my first stop on the Kyushu Expressway. Managed to work out how to pay tolls as well (so impressed with myself!). Unfortunately, no blossoms whatsoever on arrival, but workman were eagerly awaiting said blooms, putting up lanterns in anticipation of evening revelry to come.

Next, the Kirishima mountain range, from which springs flow into the Sendai River, and home to the Sogi Waterfall midstream. The “Niagara of the Orient”….210m wide and 12m tall, the waterfall is a stunning sight and the noise as it thunders over the Senjoiwa rock its carved, is incredible. There are a few observation platforms from which to admire close-up views of the Falls. And a large park along the river full of trees and flowers that provide different scenery throughout the year. Not blossoms today though, doh!

Electioneering on the freeway….lots of posters of primarily males…offering themselves as candidates for the House of Reps…this one particularly cracked me up…an ‘action Jackson type’, swinging his ‘big boy’ suit jacket onto his shoulders, with such an earnest demeanour; and a Democratic Party candidate, Hiroshi Kawauchi, who’s previously been elected (2017-21).

Shiroyama Park Observation Deck offers a panoramic view of Sakurajima, Kagoshima Bay and Kagoshima City. Shiroyama is a small mountain with an altitude of 107m, located in the centre of the city.

Visited Sengan-en, the traditional 12 acre garden and stately home built from Yakushima cedar by the 19th head of the Shimadzu family, Mitsuhisa in 1658. Peaceful ponds, bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove and a mountain hiking trail with a breathtaking panoramic view of the volcano just 4kms across the bay.

This smouldering monument to the power of nature was the main reason for the house being built in this location. A more muted pic today of the volcano as it was overcast, but beautifully framed by the garden, don’t you think?

There’s also a glassworks, and I watched master craftsmen blow and cut Satsuma Kiriko crystal glass…mesmerising!

Last task for the day….travel on the sleek and aerodynamically super fast Kyushu Shinkansen to Kyoto and settle in for a week! Yay!