Although quite a bit of time has passed, these are photos from my four-day, three-night shrine pilgrimage trip to Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures last autumn. I rented a car at Kagoshima Airport and traveled around the area, using Kirishima Onsen as my base.
Even though I call it a trip to Kagoshima and Miyazaki, I didn't travel over a very wide area, as I mainly visited shrines and waterfalls near the prefectural border. However, the trip was packed with so many places I wanted to visit that four days and three nights weren't enough, making it a very fulfilling journey.
The most memorable part was definitely the misty Kirishima Jingu Shrine. I wonder if it's a region with a lot of fog, given the name 'Kirishima' (Mist Island). The early morning scenery, enveloped in mist after the rain, was truly magnificent.
The Yamagami Shrine, enshrined deep within the temple grounds, is also lovely. I also visited the Old Shrine Site of Kirishima Jingu, said to be the place where the grandson of the sun goddess descended to earth, about three times at different times of day.
On the final day, I decided to visit places not too far from the area around Kagoshima Airport. I had seen Kareigawa Station on TV and the internet from time to time and thought it was in a very mountainous area, so I was surprised to find it was surprisingly close, only about 10 minutes by car from the airport. I was lucky that when I happened to arrive around 9:15 AM, two trains, one going up and one going down, arrived within about 30 minutes.
The Great Camphor Tree of Kamo, which I had wanted to see at least once, was also impressive. For me, living in the Kanto region, a large camphor tree reminds me of Kinomiya Shrine in Atami, but this one was also magnificent. I feel that Kyushu has a great many large camphor trees.
It had been quite a long time since I last visited Kagoshima, not since my high school field trip or my student days (excluding remote islands like Kikaijima). I used the pages of several followers as a reference for my destinations this time. Thanks to them, it was a very good trip.
*Since there are many photos, please take a look when you have some time. I have also used a few photos that I posted a little while ago.
Boar statues at Wake Shrine in Kirishima City
Scenery of the Wake Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Wake Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Oohira Hachimangu Shrine grounds in Kirishima City
Scenery within the grounds of Iitomi Shrine in Kirishima City
The worship hall and sacred tree of Izanagi Shrine in Kirishima City
Tsukuda River
Kirishima Open-Air Museum
Kirishima Open-Air Museum
Kurino-dake Hachiman Daijigoku
Scenery near Ioudani Fumarole Zone Park in Kirishima City
Scenery near Ioudani Fumarole Zone Park in Kirishima City
Natural scenery near the privately operated Kirishima Shinmoe-so lodge
Japanese pampas grass bathed in the setting sun
Scenery of the approach to Kirishima Jingu Shrine
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Sacred tree at Kirishima Jingu Shrine
Main hall of Kirishima Jingu Shrine
Amulet office at Kirishima Jingu Shrine
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery within the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds: The path toward Yama-jinja Shrine
Scenery within the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds: Yama-jinja Shrine
Scenery within the Yama-jinja Shrine grounds
Yama-jinja Shrine torii gate
Scenery within the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds
Scenery within the Kirishima Jingu Shrine grounds: Kameishi-zaka Slope
Kirishima Jingu Shrine Grounds: Chinju Shrine
Kirishima Jingu Shrine Grounds: Mitarai River
Kirishima Jingu Shrine: Old Shrine Site, Site of the Descent of the Heavenly Grandchild
Kirishima Jingu Shrine: Old Shrine Site, Site of the Descent of the Heavenly Grandchild
Kirishima Jingu Shrine: Old Shrine Site Scenery
Kirishima Jingu Shrine: Old Shrine Site Scenery
Kirishima Jingu Shrine: Old Shrine Site Scenery
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Old Shrine Site
Scenery of the Kirishima Jingu Old Shrine Site
Mizonokuchi Cave in Soo City
Stone Buddha at Mizonokuchi Cave in Soo City
A crab found near Mizonokuchi Cave
View from the parking lot of 'snow peak Cafe Miyakonojo' in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Sekinoo Falls in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Scenery of Kirishima Shinsuikyo Gorge
Scenery of Kirishima Shinsuikyo Gorge
Scenery of Kirishima Shinsuikyo Gorge
View from Tofuku Tea Cafe in Kirishima City
At Tofuku Tea Cafe in Kirishima City
Kirishima City Forest Therapy Road: A Place to Refresh the Soul (Yanagidaira Walking Trail)
Kirishima City Forest Therapy Road: A Place to Cleanse the Soul (Yanagidaira Walking Trail)
Maruo Falls, Kirishima City
View from near the Roadside Station Kirishima Mythical Village Park
いただいたチップは写真撮影に関わる費用として大切に使わせて頂きます。