Kagoshima 4-11-24

 Kagoshima, Japan

4-11-24

Today's journey will be deep in Kogoshima's history and culture, known as Japan's "Southern Gateway".  We started out our day boarding a ferry at Kagoshima Honko Port and enjoyed the short cruise to Mt. Sakurajima. Once its own island, the volcano erupted in 1914, creating a lava flow that spread and hardened, connecting the island to the Osumi Peninsula. It is now the most active volcano in Japan.

Our welcome to Kagoshima

On the ferry heading to the volcano.   The rock formations are incredible, and the entire park area is immaculate as we have seen in other Japanese cities.

Very rugged and lots of hiking trails.  We spent about 1.5 hours here just walking and taking in the scenery.

This is like a wishing well but instead of throwing your coins in the water, you stick them in the rock and make a wish.  Wonder what Mickey's wishing for?

Taking the return ferry to Kagoshima, before our next stop, we stopped at a rest stop and Mickey tasted the local cuisine.  I had ice cream... If you look hard, you can see an elephant in the trunk of the tree.

 Sengan-en-Gardens. The 17th-century traditional Japanese garden was designed for a samurai lord and offers breathtaking views of Kagoshima Bay.  Utilizing the principle of "borrowed scenery" and incorporates the background elements of the Sakuraima Volcano and Kinko Bay as part of the design. The Shimadzu family were one of Japan's most powerful clans for over 700 years.  They were one of the tozama or outsider daimyo families in contrast with the fudal or insider clans which were hereditary vassals.  

These gardens are absolutely breathtaking and go on and on...Lots of pictures and I could post dozens more...

This lantern was built in 1884 by the 29th head of the Shimadzu family.  It is the largest lantern in the garden, on top of the lantern is a Chinese guardian lion with its hind legs in the air.  The coping stone was taken from the shore nearby and has an area of over 14 square metres.  A perfect picture spot.

And last but not least, Samurai's.  The gentleman on the left is Saigo Takamori - from Kagoshima and known for his victory and capture of Edo Castle (now the Imperial Palace in Tokyo).  He is also known as The Last Samurai. 

After an absolutely lovely day, we headed back to the ship for a day at sea, and then on to Tokyo for 2 days

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