21-05-08

Setsuko-san & Toshiharu-san are doing fine: in despite of heavy rain in Tokyo, there is no damage to their home and garden.

The weather here is getting the better and better, bright sunshine and over 25 C. We had a day off which we started with a visit to the asa ichi (morning market), quite small but always interesting to see the products - especially the wide variety of fish and vegetables - disposed in foreign countries.

Then off the 2 of us with a ferry to the volcano Sakurajima having since 1955 an almost continuous stream of smoke and ash. Most unfortunately, for that reason the outdoor hot springs of Furusato Onsen were closed till 4 p.m., which we really regretted because this pool-sized cliffside rotemburo (open-air baths) has views on the bay.

We then wanted to rent bikes, but they looked so small that we decided to hike by feet to a lookout but about half way we went back: the way was quite boring and quite long.... Half way we met some farmers harvesting a local speciality, a fruit tasting like a peach and looking like an orange prune, but labelled like an orange, very small, very tasteful and very expensive, we have been told over Eur 3 per piece. The farmers were very happy with our presents in return: some tulip bulbs and a pair of small typical Dutch wooden shoes (klompen).

We took the ferry back to Kagoshima and walked to the Minato-Odori Park, an interesting name for something not that special... but a nice spot to enjoy our Lawson (Japanese convenient store) lunch.

Then we took the taxi to Iso-teien (Sengan-en), a beautiful bayside garden incorporating one of the most impressive pieces of 'borrowed scenerey' to be found in Japan - the fuming peak of Sakurajima. We got a tour through the former residence of the 19th Shimazu lord. The Shimazu clan held sway for 29 generations (nearly 700 years) until the Meiji Restoration (1868). We finished it with a tea ceremony.

Right now back in the hotel, from which we will leave very soon to catch the 6 p.m. ferry to Tokunoshima arriving only tomorrow morning around 9 a.m. By this we are leaving the mainland of Japan to arrive in the small numberless islands in the south, an experience we are looking forward to.