Japan – Kyushu – Sakurajima Volcano

We traveled south to Kagoshima. The city is opposite one of the most active volcanos in Japan Mount Sakurajima.

We arrived around 4 pm and decided to catch the ferry across to the island and to enjoy the magnificence of the Volcano. The name is rather misleading it means, ‘Cherry Blossom Island’ and maybe there are many surrounding the billowing cone. It’s not really an island any more because after an eruption at the begining of the 1900’s the lava flow connected it to the rest of the Kyushu. There was a rather disconcerting rumbling coming from it as we set off and I also saw once a flash of lightning in it’s blooming ash clouds. It makes me wonder how people can live here but I suppose you get used to it.

We didn’t really have time for much of a walk so we walked a circular route near the shore until it was dark. I think I would rename the island Nekojima (Cat Island) the place is full of well fed cats, lazing on the paths everywhere.

We stayed in an apartment across the water in Kagoshima and our had a view of the island. We were just settling for the night when there was aloud boom! It sounded like an explosive! We rushed to the window but, of course there was nothing to see as it was dark. Cars and people were just behaving as normal so we thought nothing more about it.

We slept with the window open and woke with ash on the floor! Looking out the window all looked the same except, people were holding umbrellas although it was not raining or sunny! I guess they were trying to stop the ash which we saw wafting about in the air! Our landlady explained that what we heard was an eruption the night before and the ash was the result. She also said they hadn’t had much of an eruption for a while. Tatajana was rather disappointed there was no blazing inferno! What? I’m kind of relieved!!

Our land lady kindly ran us to the station, where we stowed our bags and set off south for the day to fulfill a thing Tatjana wanted to try.

The train was not the standard I was becoming used to, it was extremely bouncy.

Tatjana got chatting to a couple of Chinese women and they were headed the same way and so we decided to share a taxi to the location.

Now my first time in a Japanese taxi was an experience! The cars look old fashioned, the seats covered in white with a lace trim. I went to close the door and Tatjana started shouting at me, “don’t, don’t, stop, don’t shut the door” and even slapped my arm lightly in her anxiety! I was wondering if there was some strange etiquette that once the door was closed the price was set, or something like that! No it’s because they are self closing and it can mess up the mechanism and make the driver very angry! I could imagine that of our driver, he was was quirky and bossy. He made us all laugh while he was talking to the Chinese lady in the front, he looked back and asked if we were Korean, to which Tatajana asked if we looked Korean? Er Er No! OMG he must be blind! Anyway he took us where we wanted to go, an Onsen (bath) with a difference! He even walked us to the door!! As if we couldn’t find our way to the only building in sight!

He was very pushy about waiting and taking us back. Then he wanted pictures with us! I’m surprised he didn’t join us in the bath!

Time for a sand bath! This time you wrapped in a yukata (robe) and lay on freshly scraped sand and then the attendants shovel the sand over you. I got the distinct feeling of being buried. It was so hot from the volcanically heated water flowing underneath the sand. It was uncomfortable and I was sweating within minutes.

I kept wiggling and didn’t last the full ten minutes as my rump was burning. Afterwards you shower thoroughly and then go into an equally warm water bath. My feeling is, if it’s very cold this would be a great way to get warm but, it was too hot for me!

The two Chinese women got the same taxi (he had waited) but, we opted to walk to a rail station (a lonely little place) a few kilometres away and maybe hop off the train near the beach. It was a nice walk next to fields!

It started to rain and the beach wasn’t up to much so we headed back to Kagoshima to collect our bags.

I must tell you Charlie Brown’s having something of a revival here! Seeing the mound with his Snoopy’s name all the Snoopy stuff for sale is strange as it was a part of my teens.

That evening we went to dinner to celebrate 100 days travelling together. We ate dinner in a little intimate restaurant bar, that is designed to make you talk to other people next to you. However not speaking the language makes it a little difficult for me!