Driving 900km on local roads back from Oita: A solo trip to Izumo Taisha in the early morning (Part 2)
The journey home was a trip in itself. On the way there, I made full use of discounts and took the highway, but on the way back, I stuck to local roads. I drove continuously from Kuju all the way to Fukui. I was tired, but somehow, it felt right.
The Old Bungo-Mori Roundhouse, the nostalgia of ruins
The first place I headed after leaving my accommodation was the Old Bungo-Mori Roundhouse.
Under a cloudy sky, the fan-shaped concrete roundhouse appeared. It was built as a hangar for steam locomotives running on the old JNR Kyudai Line, and it is the only modern industrial heritage site of its kind remaining in Kyushu.
Its decaying form remains just as it was, and a unique atmosphere hung in the air. It felt nostalgic, or perhaps like time had stopped. I can't quite put it into words, but it was a place that made me just stand and stare.
Nakatsu karaage: juicy even though it's chicken breast!?
After leaving Oita, the first place I headed was Nakatsu, a town known as the holy land of karaage (fried chicken).
I ordered a little bit of chicken neck, thigh, and breast. They were all delicious, but the biggest shock was the breast meat.
There was a time when I thought, 'Karaage breast meat is always dry, right?' haha.
The moment I bit into it, the juices gushed out, and I instinctively checked, 'Wait, this is breast meat, right?' Nakatsu karaage is the real deal.
Tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka, and crossing to Honshu via the Kanmon Tunnel
Dragging the lingering taste of the karaage with me, I headed into Fukuoka Prefecture. Since I was there, I had to eat some tonkotsu ramen. The authentic soup really has a different depth of flavor. I slurped it down, thinking, 'I'm so glad I came all this way.'
And then, the Kanmon Tunnel. When you think about it, driving under the sea to cross over to Honshu is an incredible thing. Even though there were just walls outside the window, I felt strangely excited.
Once I cleared the tunnel, it was raining. From the moment I landed on Honshu, it rained the entire way home.
I gave up on the uiro
I really wanted to buy uiro in Yamaguchi. I had looked up the shop and knew where it was. But I couldn't make it before closing time.
It's frustrating, but I'll leave this as something to look forward to next time. It's not so bad to leave some homework for a trip.
A nap at a roadside station, then off to Izumo Taisha in the rain
I took a nap at a roadside station and headed to Izumo Taisha first thing in the morning.
The rain kept falling. Maybe because it was so early, there was almost no one around. I walked alone along the quiet approach, holding my umbrella. Just the sound of the rain and my own footsteps.
It was somehow wonderful. I was able to pray slowly in the hushed air. I think it was that quiet precisely because of the rain. That atmosphere felt incredibly luxurious.
Saved by convenience store restrooms on the way home
After leaving Izumo Taisha, it was just driving. I kept driving through the rain the whole time.
Every time I stopped at a convenience store to use the restroom, I'd buy something to eat as a thank you. Sweets, hot snacks, drinks. I kept doing that, so I never got hungry enough to actually reach any local gourmet spots.
Well, I guess that's the reality of a solo trip. It's not so bad when things don't go exactly according to plan.
Highway on the way there, local roads on the way back. Just thinking about how many kilometers I drove alone through the rainy main island makes me laugh.
But I still want to go again. Next time, I'm definitely buying uiro. Or maybe not, who knows lol