Ryumon Falls and Girls' Getaway - Kagoshima Travel Guide

There was only one car parked in the parking lot.

"This is actually quite nice, isn't it?"

I'm not a fan of crowds when I'm traveling.
I want to enjoy a relaxed trip with plenty of breathing room.

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Thank you for joining the Nagu-Nagu Tourist (Nagu-Tsu) tour today. We are continuing our trip in Kagoshima today. Following our last outing, I will be guiding you on a waterfall tour (^^♪

Please don't forget to wear comfortable walking shoes today.
We will be walking on slippery paths as well.
I recommend a backpack so that you can keep both hands free.

Slam

As I got out of the car,

Oh!

This is the parking lot for Ryumon Falls.
Today, we will use this as our base for a leisurely stroll.

The course takes us from Ryumon Falls to Ryumonji-zaka Slope and then to Kanayama Bridge, before returning here to the Ryumon Falls parking lot. It's about 5 km, a course that takes just over an hour if you're a strong walker.

It should have been just over an hour, but in fact, by the time we
returned to the parking lot, three hours had passed...
Where did we get sidetracked?
Yes, I will tell you the whole story now. Yes.

It's not 'Ryumon'.

An observation deck has been set up so you can fully enjoy the majestic sight of Ryumon Falls. There's no need to worry, as there are plenty of information boards and restrooms.

Following those signs, our next destination is Ryumonji-zaka Slope.

The slope right next to Ryumon Falls.

And yet!

Apparently it's read as Ryumonji-zaka

Me, Japanese, difficult

Slippery, slippery

Students taking exams and comedians probably shouldn't come to this Ryumonji-zaka slope.

Be especially careful on days with bad weather,
To put it a bit dramatically, there are spots as slippery as a skating rink. And it's a decent incline, too. You shouldn't step foot in here wearing loafers with smooth soles.

It's a slope where un-be-lievable things happen.

The charming scenery has been used in dramas like the Taiga series; a slightly cloudy sky actually lets you enjoy the atmosphere more.

Phew

I've returned from the stone-paved path to a road where rural scenery spreads out.

Once the tension breaks...

I'm... get-ting... hun-gry (by Goro Inokashira)

Not 'Solitary Gourmet', but a gourmet trip for two: my wife and me.

Prior information

Things to be careful about when traveling
That is, not to look up too much.
In particular, I think it's better to stop watching videos.

The brain is constantly predicting what will happen next. When something happens that is different from the prediction, or when it cannot be predicted at all, a 'heart-pounding' alarm is triggered.

If you want to enjoy this heart-pounding alarm, it is important not to let your brain make realistic predictions.

So,

Dive in!

Trust your intuition. The shop's aura seems good, too.

With that in mind, the shop I entered was 'Kokage'.
The moment I walked in, I grinned.

There, along with a 'Reserved' sign, was a group of five ladies chatting away. It was a girls' get-together. If a place is somewhere local regulars go to the trouble of reserving for a meal, you can't go wrong.

I was guided to the only empty seat in the corner by the fireplace.
Even though it was early spring in Kagoshima, I felt relieved by the warmth inside the shop. I took off my jacket and relaxed.

After placing my order, I looked around the shop.

It was a shop with a real commitment to quality.

I must have been relaxing for a good hour.
I had finished my meal and was thinking about having some after-meal coffee, when
the owner appeared.

'If you aren't in a hurry, I'd like to brew a fresh pot of coffee for you. Would that be alright?'

Lunch service ends at 2:00 PM.
It is now 1:30 PM. I realized we were the only ones left in the shop.

Not coffee that had been sitting out, but coffee brewed just for us,

To truly entertain someone,
that's what a professional is, isn't it?

Niagara

Yawn... After gazing at the rural landscape and being soothed by the warmth of the fireplace, by the time we left the shop, nearly two hours had passed by the old way of counting time. We've already passed the closing time (2:00 PM), haven't we? I'm sorry we took advantage of their kindness.

And, isn't there a bit too much free time in this trip?

As expected, we pick up our walking pace a little.

Surprisingly quickly, we arrived at Kinzan Bridge.
To all the people of Aichi Prefecture! It's not 'Kanayama,' it's Kinzan-bashi.

As I thought, Japanese is difficult.

This is a bridge that the Shimazu clan maintained for the purpose of managing the mine (gold mine) (to transport resources).

Horses loaded with gold ore must have traveled back and forth here...
The scent of money, hehehe, I don't dislike it.

And, looking out from the arch of Kinzan Bridge is 'Itaide Falls'.

The photo angle. I wanted to approach the bridge a little more from the left edge, but the footing had collapsed.
Too bad! (by Yoku Hata)

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Alright, that's all for today.

This trip's theme is
'Water mist, steam, and waterfall tour'.

You won't be able to take your eyes off the mist for a while. And of course, at night too,

I'll be bringing you more from Kagoshima next time. Stay tuned!

(To be continued...)

If you haven't read the previous part, click here