Ferry to Nagashima Island and on to Akune…hills, hills, hills!
Staying at Shioya Hostel, Akune
We have enjoyed reconnecting with the young woman who is the owner of Minshuku Tomikawa. She runs an impeccable business. The food is top notch, the surroundings are lovely, she provides quality coffee in the lounge (😺) and comfortable rooms. She has built a strong business due to hard work and good interpersonal skills. A few days ago, we asked the place where we were staying if they would phone to secure a room for us. When she heard that the booking was for 2 Canadians riding trikes, she immediately remembered us and said that she loved the rubber ducks on our trikes and she had bought them for her bike and her daughters. Staying with her on our previous trip was a highlight and we are excited to return.
Breakfast at the Minshuku was excellent…by far one the best we have had. The usuals…miso soup, grilled fish 👍, tofu, pickled veggies, tamago (egg cake), fish cakes etc and of course Natto, which is made from fermented soybeans. It has a pungent smell and it looks a bit like something out of a science fiction movie with gelatinous tendrils that hang from it as you lift it up with your chopsticks. That is the only part of a Japanese breakfast that we have struggled with. It does give us fun to watch Japanese people eat it with such gusto. An acquired taste.
The Minshuku has about 4 bedrooms and a sign of her success is the number of repeat customers who stay here…including the Bartlett’s. The breakfast/dinner room is behind the wooden screen.
The small lounge has manga books to borrow and a state of the art coffee maker. There is something about the way this Minshuku is run that fosters an environment where people enjoy getting together .
Barry loves the shower at the Minshuku which is state of the art, but my favourite is to use the Japanese bath. She runs the hot bath for you in the typical Japanese square, deep tub and as is Japanese custom, you cleanse yourself sitting on a stool at the shower before entering the bath. When finished , you feel so relaxed with the aches of the day diminished.
We arrived yesterday so cold and tired from a day of heavy winds, rain and lots of big hills. Our host immediately offered to run a bath for me which made me feel human again..and so much better.
Whenever we are back on Kyushu, we will return to this Minshuku. Wonderful hospitality.
We have been working on our selfie skills. It has been a slow battle but we are getting there. Our host joined us for this photo. Some of the selfies were missing a head or two, but this one is a winner.
Ushibuka Haiyamushi is a folk song born in Ushibuka in the latter half of the Edo period. It is said that the folk song was spread all over the country by sailors and fishers from Ushibuka port. The origin of the folk song was to entertain the sailors. Ushibuka Haiya Odori is a dance of the folk song. The Haiya Festivals are held all over Japan and in this town the Haiya Festivals last 3 days. When we were in Sapporo on Hokkaido last year, we happened upon a Haiya Odori Dance Festival. Thousands of participants from all over Japan were competing using this folk song as their source.
There is a Michi-no-Eki next to the ferry terminal. While waiting for the ferry we wandered over to check it out and saw these two cool dudes.
Are we looking at them…or are they looking at us? Only a cat understands how to disarm you with a look. Where there is lots of fish available, cats hanging out is a given.
Despite the wind and inclement weather, the flowers are hanging on. We appreciate seeing beautiful flowers and nature when we travel. Below are some of the beauties we enjoyed near the harbour.
The town has done a superb job of illuminating for Christmas.a highlight is the mammoth undertaking of installing a rainbow of light on the bridge is spectacular.
The ferry is taking us to Nagashima Island. It is known for its relentless hills, but the beauty of the island is known to relieve the challenge of endless climbs. We will see as the winds are fierce today.
This old but meticulously maintained ship handled the wind very well. Kumamon, the popular mascot of Kyushu, has become a pirate as the face of this so named “Treasure Ship”.
We have departed and get to see a good view of the underside of this magnificent bridge. It is named the Haiya Bridge. We like the mix of the old and the new with the traditional red Japanese bridge framed by the new bridge.
At Nagashima’s harbour are fishing boats, the terminal and a shrine. In our experience many shrines are accessible by climbing countless stairs. This shrine goes up and then winds to the left and up again.
Wooden sculptures are featured all over the island, as well coconut husk fibre creations. This fellow is outside Family Mart, the only Conbini on the island.
Flowers are an integral part of Nagashima’s identity for us. We appreciate the local initiative which has resulted in flowers being planted along the road the length of the island. Cyclists get to appreciate this up close.
Potatoes, onions, carrots, daikon, tomatoes are grown here. This photo also celebrates (for us) the ever present vending machine filled with beverages, including power drinks.
Beautiful terraced fields rich with great soil and produce. We have climbed to this view and you can see we’ll be doing that again…and again. Nonetheless, not to complain as it is worth it.
As only the Japanese can do, this sign with happy, animated characters is asking you in a positive way not to litter in the sea, the shore or on the land. It is posted by Kushiro Coast Guard, Nagashima Town and a branch of Japanese Coast Guard Association.
Nagashima is known for its fertile land and progressive growing practices. It is a huge producer of produce. This Michi-no-Eki is located before the bridge that takes you from Nagashima to the mainland of Kyushu.
People come up and love to chat with us. Sometimes there are more gestures and smiles than actual talking, but this fellow and I were able to communicate. Barry has created a snapshot of a translation in Japanese saying that we are from Canada and we are cycling in Japan for 3 months. It really helps to break the ice.
We have ridden on backroads from the ferry to the Shioya Hostel in Akune. We have the run of the house as we are the only people booked for the night. We are enjoying the fully equipped kitchen, laundry and safe indoor parking for our trikes.
The Hostel is clearly a labour of love for the young couple who run it. Lovely wooden floors, lots of reading material, interesting art and the facilities a traveller needs, like laundry and a well stocked kitchen.
