• Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, Japan
  • Protecting myself from the ashes of Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, Japan
  • Full bloom sakura, cherry blossoms, in Kagoshima, Japan
  • Pork, rice, and local delicacies for lunch in Sakurajima, Kagoshima, Japan
  • Chicken sashimi in Kagoshima, Japan
  • Day 26-28 See You Okinawa, Hello Cyclists! It’s Ohanami Time!

Day 26-28 See You Okinawa, Hello Cyclists! It’s Ohanami Time!

Apr 27 • Blog, Okinawa • 1162 Views • No Comments

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Having been taking care of by the kind Oshiro Family for almost a week, it was finally time to say goodbye. I became good friends with the 6 year old Kou-chan, who was about to start elementary school in a week. They told me to stay for a bit longer, but I had to go so I could catch the blooming sakura (cherry blossoms) in the mainland Japan.

They came to the ferry port and gave me the colorful paper tapes that you throw from the boat. It was my very first time ever to throw those tapes from a boat. As I was waving my hands, I already missed them.

From the same port, a guy wearing a kimono with an instrument got on the same ferry. We chatted about both of our unusual outfits as we were getting on board. I’d cycled in dumping rain for an hour to get to Motobu Port in my rain clothes.

His name was Hikaru Miyoshi, and he was a shamisen player. Shamisen is a traditional Japanese string instrument, a bit like a guitar. As the boat ride was for 24 hours, I spent some time with him talking and also having him play the shamisen. Here’s the video I took in the ferry. (Since it was in the cafeteria, he muffed the sound, but you can still hear it)

As I was leaving the ferry, I met four more cyclists with big bags loaded on their bikes. They were also cycling around Japan, all of them solo, and happened to be on the same boat from Okinawa to Kagoshima.

The funny thing was, we were all heading to the same guest house in Kagoshima, near the port, to spend the night. What a coincidence! I was so happy to have new friends immediately as I arrived back in Kyushu.

Kagoshima is the southern tip of the mainland Japan. This map on the road was showing the meeting point of three major streets. I got to ask lots of questions to these experienced cyclists from different parts of Japan. After all, I’d only been a cyclist for less than a month. They were so helpful, talking about routes and useful cycling gear.

We went to have Kagoshima’s Kuro (black) Miso Ramen noodles for dinner. The white foamy looking thing is graded mountain potatoes.

I cycled around and found the full bloom sakura around the city. I had made it back to the mainland just in time for it.

Both sides of the river had sakura trees, which seemed to go on forever.

That evening was spent with Kagoshima’s famous Satsuma Shochu (left) and Okinawa’s Awamori (right). Shochu is like sake, but made with sweet potatoes. People drink lots of it around this region.

The next morning, we all said goodbye to each other and left to different directions. I was heading to Sakurajima to cycle around the Sakurajima volcano, and to head to a nice onsen (hot spring bath).

I took a 15 minute boat ride to get to Sakurajima. In the short boat ride, I met two cyclists who happened to be from near my hometown. They’d driven to Kagoshima for a weekend of cycling. We decided to cycle Sakurajima and have lunch together. I’m traveling alone, yet I’m not alone for a very long time in this trip. Isn’t this funny. :)

I had my neckwarmer up my nose to protect myself from the volcano ash.

Sakurajima volcano is an absolute beauty. We were all in awe as we cycled around and looked at it from different directions. No matter the ash, it was so worth the visit.

Cycling, admiring the volcano and getting covered by its ash were followed by the delicious rice, cooked right in front of us for 20 minutes with Kurobuta pork on top.

This thing melted in my mouth I nearly fell off the seat.

Who wouldn’t smile with delicious lunch like this?

This place was called Furusato Onsen. They had a sacred oudoor bath, where I had to wear a white robe to cover up. Usually in Japan, you don’t wear anything when you go to an onsen, but this was a special one, and this was why I wanted to cycle over here to Sakurajima. I was all alone in this huge outdoor bath. I was also alone in the indoor bath. I had the entire bath house to myself – and this was why I was able to take these photos! :)

Indoor bath:

Watch this short video clip of me after the bath. I might be glowing.

After I came back from Sakurajima to Kagoshima City, I went to have the nationally well known shaved ice, Shirokuma Ice. Shirokuma means polar bear. The shaved ice has condensed milk on it and looks white. It was sweet and icey!

That evening I was hosted by a family in Kagoshima, and we went out to do a night time Ohanami. Ohanami literally means to watch flowers, but it’s a party under the full bloom sakura (cherry blossom) trees. Everyone in the entire Japan does this during the short time of sakura season. Having picnic out (often with alcohol) under the trees, everyone enjoys the spring under the flowers.

My kind hosts in Kagoshima. Their French friend came by too, how international!

My kind host of the evening, Ms Jene, brought wine and Kagoshima’s “tori sashi” which was chicken sashimi. I had never ever had chicken raw, but this was so delicious. Don’t do this with the chicken you get elsewhere though, this was specifically farmed to be eaten like this in this region. We had it with kagoshima’s sweet soy sauce.

I was actually slightly scared of coming back from Okinawa. I thought I’d be all alone and lonely out there. It turned out to be the complete opposite as soon as I got on the boat. I am learning that throwing oneself to the unknown is absolutely one of the most wonderful things one can do in life.

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