I cant believe it, It's exactly one month to go before I'm on a plane! I thought it would be nice to add more pictures to show you all what the Prefecture I'm going to looks like.
Let me show you the cool things I've found out about this area via the web.
The City:
The Myths:
"Located in the north end of Miyazaki Prefecture, Takachiho is well-known as the land of Japanese ancient myths.
Ama-no-Iwato Shrine in Takachiho Village contains the cave where a hairy god hid herself according to the Ama-no-Iwato Myth: about the world enclosed by darkness.
At Takachiho Shrine, Yokagura, a sacred dance dedicated to a god in appreciation of a good harvest, is held every night. This area is home to a mythological history this is still carried on today.
Inside the town, there is the Takachiho-kyo Gorge which is designated as a national place of scenic beauty and natural treasure. It is a deep v-shaped gorge formed due to the eruption of volcanic Mt. Aso in the primeval age. At the bottom of the gorge, you can rent a rowboat to enjoy the magnificent view."
The horses:
"At Cape Toi that juts out from the coastline of Nichinan, you will find wild horses called Misaki-uma. They are small horses only 130 centimeters tall that have been designated as natural monuments since they are the only existing horses originally from Japan." "Every August here at the cape, a dynamic fire festival is held where people hurl their torches at a column made of pine that is 30 meters tall." -sweet!! gotta get practicing.
Aoshima island:
"Aoshima is a small island (1.5 kilometers) in the Hyuga-nada Sea where more than 5,000 subtropical plants of approximately 200 species grow naturally."
Devils washboard:
"Continuing on the coastline that extends approximately 8 kilometers all the way to the Kinchaku Island in the south are rocks weathered over the years which originally were aqueous rocks formed 15 to 30 million years ago. Because of how they look, these rocks are called Oni no Sentakuita (literally, "the demon's washboard")."- sounds ominous... lol
Burial mounds:
"Saitobaru Burial Mounds are a large cluster of tomb mounds found in a wide area centering on Saitobaru plateau, located on the west side of Saito City. As a result of excavation and research up to the present, these tombs are estimated to have been built during the period between the middle 3rd and the early 7th century."
Old Japan:
"Obi was once prospered as a castle town; it is often called "the Little Kyoto of Kyushu". Roads are arranged on a grid, and old samurai residences and stone walls still remain in the town. Wandering through the town to experience the atmosphere of the Edo Period is one of attractions of this locale."
"The garden of Yoshokan, the old samurai residence located on the left of the Ote-mon Gate of Obi Castle ruins, is famous as a prestigious garden where garden rocks, stone lanterns, and garden trees can be viewed with Mt. Atago in the background."
The Mountains:
"Ebino Plateau, an approximately 5 square km basin land, is surrounded by Mt. Karakuni, Mt. Ebino, Mt. Shiratori, and Mt. Koshiki that belong to the Kirishima Mountain Range located in the southern part of Kyushu. The plateau is a part of Kirishima-Yaku National Park and is also one of the bases to climb Mt. Kirishima. Many crater lakes can be found in the northern part of the plateau including Lake Fudo, Lake Rokukannonmi, and Lake Byakushi, and the Nature Observation Trail has been made for visitors. The cobalt blue lake water, unique to crater lakes, creates a beautiful contrast of colors especially in seasons of fresh greenery and autumn leaves. This area is also known as a hot spring resort with its abundant hot spring water, allowing you to allay your fatigue from hiking or climbing at hotels and spa facilities."
The Festivals:
Dont they look cute? Awwwwwwww! Have no idea what they doing or what its for.
