Arigato, Dayenu - April 22

We have finally reached Japan!

Kagoshima is dominated by the beautiful Sakurajima, a graceful active volcano.

We took the free shuttle into the center of town, about a 30-minute ride. From there we walked a few blocks to a large statue of Saigo Takamori, a local hero. __________

Here we were able to pick up the Shiroyama/Iso Course bus, a retro tram-style bus which was similar to a Hop-On Hop-Off bus, but smaller, more basic, and less expensive. You could buy a single fare, or a day pass, or a special pass "for International Tourists" called Welcome Cute.

No, I did not win the lottery. This is the day pass.

We drove past several sightseeing spots, but it was hard to hear the tape telling us about them over the noise of the bus. As we started up a mountain I began to notice a bad smell. It became worse, but the driver did not seem concerned, so I didn't think much about it. On our way back down the driver pulled over by Saigo Takamori's Cave and got out. After about 15 minutes he came back and we drove down to the bottom and around the corner. There he pulled over and I saw that he had a broken fan belt. He said we would have to change to another bus. After a while a maintenance vehicle came, and then another bus. It was old, and was built for tiny Japanese people. Ken and I could barely fit on the seat, and I couldn't fit my feet into the space in front of the seat so I stuck them out into the aisle.

We got off the bus at Sengan-en Garden. This was a wonderful place to visit. It was so beautiful, calming, and peaceful. There was a villa here that was built in 1658 for the local feudal lord. The lord was a member of the Shimadzu family. They ruled this area from 1185 to 1869, when the Samurai class ended. 

We went on a tour of the residence. It was traditional, with tatami mats,  sliding doors, interior courtyards, and amazing views. Frank Lloyd Wright could have learned a thing or two from the designer of this house. It was so simple and elegant. The rooms were large, but not huge, and very pleasing.

At the end of the tour we enjoyed a tea ceremony with matcha green tea and a Japanese pastry called "flying dragon's head." You were supposed to sit on the floor with your legs tucked underneath you, as though you were kneeling and then sit back down on top of your feet and lower legs. It's hard to describe. I found I could not do it. My knees have been swollen from the heat and all the walking and they just didn't want to bend that much. They gave me a low stool.

We had lunch at the Satsuma Ramen Restaurant on the property. We followed it up with a an ice cream cone from one of the gift shops.

Gotta stop now, but we had a doozy of a Seder, which you will hear all about when I come back and edit this.