6.b 2 to 6 Mar – More along the way from Amami-Oshima to Shimabara

There was more than the volcano and Shimabara Rebellion, more in the line of classic tourism…

Amami-Oshima:

We parted from the Gomairu team…

Rented a car for 3000¥, pickup and left at different town, no need to refill! And went along west coast from end to end.

*Sorry purists, the map is leaning to fit nicely…*

At Nagara bay, we ask few questions to workers on a raft which were hooking glove shaped mussels to ropes… these are producing half pearls in 6 years (or 8, varies with translation 🙂 ).

The route was for most part along the west coast, but we then headed for main island summit, Mt Yuwen at 946m … the road to get to start of that walk is narrow and winding like a snake, wouldn’t dream of cycling this, unless it is with am e-bike!

Someone tried to build a kern to tag the way… but it got overgrown quickly! Need some roundup to keep paths clean.

Reaching the summit, good they put a stone there, else you would not tell, still surrounded by vegetation as we were!

Still worth a panorama photo, standing on tip of toes!

And as always wonderful vegetation:

Halfway up, a shrine.

We then took our time until Naze, as our night boat was leaving at 9 pm…

The night on that boat, dormitory turned out to be ok – luckily, not like the Nicot’s experience…

Amakusa 3rd & 4th March

From Kagoshima, we headed straight to Amakusa, with a car ferry from main Kyushu.

Local fruit and veggies on the way, fields of imo (potatoes) – but beware there are potatoes and potatoes, not just varieties: satsumaimo, jagaimo, nagaimo, and many more.. each having many varieties too!