指宿・知覧についての詳細な英語説明です。GG22会の松下さんの報告で使った英文を基にして作っています。

1 General Information about Kagoshima

*Kagoshima Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of Japan. It is the 10th largest prefecture in Japan, and the largest prefecture in Kyushu.

*From Tokyo, it takes a about 2 hours flight, and from Fukuoka a 1-hour-and-half ride on the Kyushu Shinnkannsenn.*The cities at the same latitude includes Shanghai, Cairo, and Houston.

*3 points of view to enjoy a trip to Kagoshima

 (1) Historical background: It is where guns were first introduced to Japan and the Meiji Restoration began 

 (2) Rich in agricultural products: black beef and pork, shochu, sweet potato, tropical fruits and green tea.  Various foods with “black” in their names will satisfy your appetite.

(3) Volcanic city: The number of gensen (hot spring source) is the second largest in Japan. Public baths are opened at 6 a.m. in the city, and Asaburo, morning bathing is popular with the residents.

*Sakurajima is an active volcano over Kinko Bay. 400 people live there, though. 

*The population of Kagosihma prefecture is 1.6 million. Kagoshima city 0.6 million. 

(Kumamoto prefecture is 1.75 million. Kumamoto city 0.7 million. Fukuoka prefecture is 5.1 million. Fukuoka city 1.6 million.)

2, Ibusuki area(指宿)

Ibusuki, famous for its hot-spring resort, is located at the southeastern end of the Satsuma Peninsula. Lots of colorful flowers, palm trees and tropical atmosphere welcome the tourists.

Chirinngajima (知林ヶ島) island: On the seaside road to Ibusuki, you can find a small inhabited island. Between March and October, 800-meter-sand road (sandbar) appears at low tides, and then visitors can cross over to the island on foot. 20 minutes later, the tide begins to ride. The Website shows its tidal schedule.  It is said to be an island of matchmaking, and if a couple of lovers ring the bells together, they will be happy.

3, Steam sand bath (砂蒸し温泉)

*Satsuma Peninsula area has a group of hot springs. Especially Ibusuki onsen is best known for its steaming sand bath and attracts many tourists throughout the year.

*Hot spring water does not come from the sea but comes from the deepest place in the ground with marine minerals. This enables us to use the sand beach as a natural sauna.

*A steaming sand place was found 300 years ago.  At first, people saw it just a dangerous place.

*Recently, its positive, unique benefits have been proven by medical research.  Sand bathing activity increases blood circulation in the body.  So, it makes blood flow smoothly.

**How to take a sand bath**

1 Buy a ticket, receive a yukata and towels.

2 Change into the yukata in the dressing room, put your bag and belongings in the locker.

3 Go down to sand bath area at the seashore with a towel to protect your face from sand.

4 Lie down on your back at the designated place one by one. An attendant called sunakake-san covers you with sand. 5, 10 or 15 minutes later, you will sweat a lot, get up and dust off the sand, return to the shower room to wash sand. Then soak in the hot bathtub to relax.

4, Nisiooyama station (西大山駅) and Mt. Kaimondake

*Nisiooyama station is a small, unstaffed train station with only 4 or 5 trains stopping a day. But this tiny station attracts many tourists. Why? Nisiooyama staion is well known as the southernmost station of JR, and also a stunning view spot for Mt. Kaimondake. On the platform, (enter fee for free) you can enjoy the perfect figure of the Mountain imposing in front of your eyes. Stepping off the platform, you will find a yellow old-styled post box placed, which can bring happiness to your dear one.

*Kaimondake mountain is famous as another name “Satsuma-Fuji.”  This symbol of Satsuma Peninsula is designated as one of “100 famous Japanese mountains.”

*With a height of 924 meters, its perfect cone shape can be seen from most parts of nearby areas because of no surrounding mountains.

*It takes about 3 hours to climb from the bottom of the mountain, 5 kilometers one way to the top.

5, Chiran Peace Museum (知覧特攻平和会館)

Chiran peace museum is a museum built where the Chiran airfield used to be as a sortie base.

*Chiran peace museum exhibits artifacts and related materials of the members of the “Tokko” mission pilots. “Tokko” means “Special Attack” in English and refers to the attack on an enemy ship by the body of a bomb-carried plane with a pilot on board. “Tokko” is better known as “Kamikaze” internationally.

*At first, it was built as a training school, and, however, changed into a military air base with 2 runways toward for Okinawan Island in the closing period of WW2, 1945.

*The site shows the 1036 members’ remains of more than 6000 items of photos, letters, wills and artifacts. And it also provides s storyteller’s lecture.

*The youngest pilot was 17 years old.  (Kamikaze pilots were 21.6 years old in average)

*The museum teaches us the tragedy of war and preciousness of life.

6,Chiran-cha(知覧茶)

*Kagoshima Prefecture is the nation’s second largest (35%) producing place of tea. (1 位静岡 40%、3 位三重8%、4宮崎 5 京都)

*The production of Minami-Kyushu City, including Chiran, is ranked Grade One by the municipality in both quantity and area.

*Because of well drained fertile soil created by the ash of the volcano, mild climate and rich sunshine, Chiran can produce high–brand specialty tea.

*First-grade Chiran cha has a special featured method, “kabuse-cha.” It is a way of covering directly tea leaves with soft black gauzelike cloth a week before picking. That makes tea stronger in flavor and less in bitterness.