Yamaguchi to Akiyoshidai (by bike, 30km): we started the day with a pleasant ride from our hotel in Yamaguchi to the limestone caverns at Akiyoshidai. All seven of us rode the first 10km, then two riders bailed when the rain picked up, while the rest of us had a pretty ride along a canal.
morning view from our hotel room in Yamaguchi |
the building next door |
nice roof and nice wall tiles |
it was the first night of Passover back in the U.S., so we had an early morning call back to the U.S. |
then it was set meal breakfast time, and we went back to ignoring Passover |
wall art in our hotel room |
this was another hotel room with a nice chair-and-table area by the window |
the whole group on the bike path out of Yamaguchi |
the Fushino River, next to which we're biking |
David, on the path |
is this our route? |
yes, it turns out; the bike path starts again here |
Sarah, with path, waterfall, and bridge |
cool waterfall |
David, posing with bike |
a stream between fern and tree |
three-phase wisteria |
fields next to bike path (it has started to rain) |
David proceeds through the rain |
Gina proceeds through the rain |
the river is very pretty though |
bike path above the river |
Birds of Japan: crane! |
bikers in the rain |
the path goes through a field |
my bike was here |
Akiyoshidai (on foot): we had lunch at a restaurant near the entrance to the cavern, then walked through the caves, which were neat with nice water features, though we were distracted by speed-running them in front of approximately 500 high school students.
in Akiyoshido, we set off on foot to look for lunch |
we are ultimately here to see these limestone caverns |
we find ourselves in an enormous vending machine hall |
many full meals are on offer |
also... ice cream in a gourd |
baumkuchen at Yasutomiya, a giant gift shop and restaurant |
niku udon at Yasutomiya |
we pass moss-covered rocks in a stream as we enter the cave |
Catherine walks towards the trees, following many people with clear umbrellas |
the pedestrian bridge dramatically enters the cavern |
waterfall at cavern entrance, from above |
water and rocks inside the cavern |
path inside the cavern |
stone steps called Hyakumaizara (one hundred plates) |
a stone slope (all these pictures are terrible, i really apologise, but the cavern was neat) |
top of Koganebashira (golden pillar) |
David and Tom in front of Koganebashira |
cavern ceiling |
plants grow in the dark |
curtain of stalactites |
we walk all the way through the cave, wait for hundreds of schoolchildren to pass us, then head back to the elevator exit in the cave center |
elevator signage |
depth in meters, indicated on a panel in the elevator |
sidescroller-style cartoon guide to the cavern |
Akiyoshidai to Motonosumi Inari (by van): given the continuing rain, no one was excited about getting back on bikes, and we decided to go ahead and drive to the Motonosumi Inari cliffside shrine.
leaving the caves by van, we drive through the Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park |
rocks and buildings near the caves |
close-up of rocks from the van |
apparently this is the largest karst plateau in Japan |
pity about the rain, but the landscape is very cool |
more landscape and rain |
mountains and rain |
trees behind a field |
houses, green fields, green mountain |
crossing over a line of fields |
entering a tunnel |
a crane in a flooded field |
a couple of cranes, wandering among terraced fields |
we reach the water on the north side of Honshu |
waves against the coastline |
Motonosumi Inari (on foot): we walked around this cliffside shrine
information about Motonosumi-Inari Jinjya Shrine |
cliffs and sea at the bottom of the torii gates |
a number of torii gates |
heart and foxes on first torii gate |
fox statue |
coastline east of the shrine |
coastline southwest of the shrine |
flowering plant growing down a stone wall |
access to this particular stone is discouraged |
green cliffside under the torii gate path |
off we go |
this gate is slightly the worse for wear |
Gina, Catherine, and Rei descend the torii gate path |
more dramatic coastline |
statue wearing a decorated shawl |
Rei climbing to the end of the torii gate path |
we somehow resist the temptation to try this path |
wave splashing into a breakwater |
seriously, don't try to go to this rock |
it is an island |
shrine on the cliff |
view from the cliff |
view along the cliff |
another shrine |
torii gate path from the bottom |
rock stacks in the mud |
Gina on the cliffs |
one more photo of all those gates |
one more photo of the cliffside shrines |
a flowering plant |
Motonosumi Inari to Tsunoshima (by van): we took the van the rest of the way to Hotel Nishi Nagato Resort, next to the bridge to Tsunoshima. We tried a pleasant covered outdoor onsen. On the way back, Gina and i walked to the beach, where we saw four deer and a zillion long conical snails, and picked up some seashells. Dinner was the hotel buffet, where we had some nice dragonfruit for dessert.
back in the van, passing flooded fields in the rain |
houses and trees at a curve in the road |
our hotel is just past the bridge to Tsunoshima Island |
Gina immediately locates the hotel's most critical feature |
resort grounds and the bridge to Tsunoshima |
palm trees and a spiral church roof |
palm trees and beach |
we never actually cross the bridge, but we think it's neat |
whoa: deer! |
Gina and i (not shown) walked down to the beach to look for shells |
this path was absolutely covered with little snails (also not shown) |
Catherine's balcony next door, and some steps and an awning near the onsen (not shown) |
there was indeed a ladder on our porch, but we opted not to try it |
shells |
the deer are still very blurry, due to their inherently magical nature |
island in the middle of the bridge |
lighthouse behind the bridge |