Saturday, May 9, 2015

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 12: Walk in the Woods of Nakanoshima, Lookout for Pacific Ocean

When we backed to Kii-katsuura, we walked along the jetty, where a few of fishing ships from other prefecture could be seen. However, the crew doing the cleaning were speaking in Indonesian. No wonder there is an Indonesian signage pasted on a bench in the street we walked past just now.

We saw quite a number of Japanese, with their children, waiting for ferry. It's quite a big difference compared with yesterday. Maybe a lot of Japanese come for the hot spring and relax themselves during weekend.


Our room was tidied up when we return to the hotel. O-cha (Japanese green tea) and the delicious Nanki orange cakes were served on the table.





After a small rest, we went to the woods on the island.

Seko-bune, a boat used for whale hunting in ancient time.
A brief introduction to this boat. Seko-bune is the boat which the fishermen harpooned the whale in ancient whale hunting. This model is made in a scale of 3:1 according to the literature dated in 1664. As a leading boat, it was always decorated with phoenix images on its Paulownia-made body. 8 long paddles were used for sailing.

Seko-bune is a type of Kumano-bune, which modeled on Morote-hune, the sacred boat in Shingu Hayatama Shrine (one of the Three Kumano Mountains). This boat was specially designed for the sailing in dangerous Kumano Sea.

The scale between Seko-bune and whale could be seen from the painting on the wall. Apparently, the ancient whale hunting by manpower was so risky.

Chomon-tei
 

Walkway in the woods starts from here. Both sides of the walkway are jungles and sound of the waves could be heard too. Caw of crows could also be heard. Sakura trees (right hand side) and Azalea (left hand side, it's not blooming yet) are planted at the both side of the first half of the walkway.


A foot bath is at the halfway. Its name is Sorami-no-yu (空海の湯). Visitors could have a foot bath here if tired.





We went along the walkway and finally reached at a wide lookout where Pacific Ocean is outside there.


Bokusui's poetry tablet

The poetry on this tablet was written by famous poet, Wakayama Bokusui (若山牧水, 1885 - 1928). This tablet commemorated his 120-year birthday in 2005.

Kinomatsu-shima (the islands in front), the peninsula at the far right side is Taiji, the town stated in the documentary "The Cove".

Open-air bath for men could be seen from here.

It's dinner time!




A green reflection could be seen from any direction.
The green sauce is made by vegetables.


Mash made by sweet potato with fish.

Obasan did not forget out favourite o-kayu (porridge).

Dessert at last!


We watched Japanese TV show when enjoying the dinner. Japanese variety shows are quite similar as Taiwan's, so I'm still ok with it. I was just not used to watch the advertisement. I couldn't get the main point most of the time. 

It's election period when we were in Japan, so advertisement from political parties was on the TV too. Maybe these advertisement could increase their votes in this country where political parties is too many but the voters are not so keen in politics.




Next:

Coastal Line along the Kinokuni Railway




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