Gorgeous Shrines
January 22, 2020,
We visited a shrine at the end of the tourist bus tour and across from the ferry terminal. It was on a hill with some lovely views. We viewed fortunes tied to plants, purified our hands, and strolled around the small buildings enjoying the scenery. If you receive a bad fortune, you tie it to something by the shrine and “leave it” there.
After visiting the shrine, we took the ferry back to Kagoshima. We had some lunch in the ferry terminal and decided to catch a public bus into the city. With help from the bus driver, we got off at the right stop for Terukuni Shrine. Kagoshima and Sakurajimaakamizucho are known for growing huge radishes because of the rich volcanic soil. Walking through a covered shopping street we saw in the grocery store walking through town. They are also known for Shochu which is a clear liquor unique to Kagoshima and is made from local sweet potatoes. We asked a local information lady where we could taste some Shochu. She sent us to a little restaurant on the second floor where we entered and asked for a table. The tables were separated by curtains and with a window at Paul and my backs. It was small and comfortable place. Ordering the Shochu was a little difficult because we didn’t know how you would drink it and the waiter did not speak much English. He finally came back with four glasses with a beverage served in four different ways. One glass was straight up and served warm , one glass was on ice with water, another with ice and seltzer, and another with ice and soda. They even sent a plate full of Japanese sweet potato tempura to our table. We left after a pleasant experience, paying ¥12,00 (about $11) The good bye included a lot of bowing, smiling and Arigato gosaimas. (because I am nice.) Lol!
Terukuni shrine
This was our first big Shinto shrine in Japan. It had a beautiful more country like feel then the temples we had visited in Tokyo. It also had a small bamboo grove. I felt like this was more like the Kamakura experience that I had 19 years ago when I visited Japan as a Fulbright teacher. I really wanted to share this experience with Paul, Pete and Cindy! It was so beautiful I couldn’t take enough pictures. I am posting some of the pictures in the slideshow below.
I filmed some video while at this shrine and am working on a YouTube video to post.
When we left Kagoshima there were a number of local people, maybe 50 (?) standing on the shore waving goodbye. They had lights and flags, waving and shouting thank you, come back soon, and goodbye in Japanese and English. It was so charming, because they started waving and shouting about a half an hour before we left and they continued doing it for about a half mile after we pulled away. It felt so sincere, but it made me laugh, it was so over the top. I kept walking in the room to tell Paul they are still waving! This will be a memory that sticks with me.
Kagoshima from the Diamond Princess
I’m so sad I didn’t take pictures of people waving goodbye. It will still be an image in my heart. Here is the city and dock area as we were pulling away.