関東から九州へ、初夏の九州縦断ツーリング（その１）[Kawasaki W800 Street]

関東から九州へ、初夏の九州縦断ツーリング（その１）[Kawasaki W800 Street]

Yamate Street, Nishi-Shinjuku Gas Station. I took advantage of the May holidays to go to Kyushu. It’s a week-long tour. Today is the first day, and it’s a travel day to Osaka. I’ll be taking the expressway to Osaka. I will depart Tokyo before the traffic starts. Shuto Expressway, Hatsudai South Interchange. From here, I will drive approximately 500 km on expressways. You might wonder why I go to Osaka on the first day to go to Kyushu, so I would like to explain the routes from Kanto to Kyushu. There are "three" ways to get to Kyushu from Kanto. Ways to travel from Kanto to Kyushu: 1. Drive yourself 2. Ferry from Yokosuka 3. Ferry from Osaka. The first option is to drive yourself all the way to Kyushu, but it is "1,350 km" from Tokyo to Kagoshima. It takes about 18 hours and is very tiring. The next option is to take a ferry from Kanto. There is a ferry connecting Yokosuka and Kitakyushu, which is convenient. However, it departs late at night and arrives the next night. It is convenient for the return trip, but a bit inconvenient for the outbound trip. The convenient option is the ferry from Osaka. It departs in the evening and arrives the next morning, making it ideal for travel. There are several routes, such as "① Osaka-Shinmoji" route, and the "② Osaka-Beppu" route. For southern Kyushu, there is the "③ Kobe-Miyazaki" route, and the route I will take, "④ Osaka-Shibushi." The "cost" of the ferry can be unclear, so I’ll explain it. First, the cost of driving from Shinjuku to Kagoshima IC: Driving costs: Expressway fee (weekday): 22,520 Gasoline fee: approx. 8,500 Accommodation fee: approx. 7,000 Total: approx. 38,000. The cost of accommodation is a downside. Ferry costs: Expressway fee (weekday): 11,190 Gasoline fee: approx. 3,200 Ferry fee: 25,310 Total: approx. 39,700. The ferry costs include the expressway fee to Osaka, but accommodation is included in the fare, making it relatively cheap. The "drive vs. ferry" costs are not very different. Here are three benefits of taking the ferry. Ferry benefits: ・Arrive while you sleep ・Reduce travel fatigue ・Simply enjoyable to be on a ship. The biggest benefit is enjoying the sea voyage. The ship offers an extraordinary travel experience, making it highly recommended. Hanshin Expressway, Sanpo Interchange. While explaining the ferry, I arrived in Osaka. I am heading to the ferry terminal at Osaka Nanko. Osaka Nanko Ferry Sunflower. When I arrive at the port, I can see the ferry I will board. I proceed to the boarding procedures. I enter the reservation number from the web booking and check in. Boarding started 50 minutes before departure. Ferry Sunflower Satsuma boarding. Upon boarding, there is a slope leading to the lower deck. It’s like a complex multi-story parking lot, quite interesting. Osaka Nanko departure. I saw the ferry bound for Beppu right after departure. Shortly after departure, I can see the logistics hub of Osaka, which is enjoyable. I head for dinner. Swaying on the ship with a beer, it’s the best! I was tired from the long drive today. I went to bed early to prepare for tomorrow. Shibushi Bay, Kagoshima Prefecture. It’s the second day of the Kyushu tour. Shibushi City, Shibushi Town, Shibushi, Shibushi Port. I have landed in Kyushu. The weather is a bit bad, but it seems okay without rain. Today’s course will mainly run along the coastline. From Shibushi, I will drive on the Nichinan Phoenix Road, ending in Kobayashi City where my accommodation is located. Since rain is forecasted for the evening, I will limit my sightseeing. Route 448, Shibushi Town, Shibushi City, Kagoshima Prefecture. First, I will drive along the coastline from Shibushi aiming for the nearby cape. Route 448, Honjo, Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture. I will drive along a pleasant road with little traffic. Passing through a few villages, I head towards the cape. Route 448, Toi, Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture. As I start driving, the weather gradually improves. It looks like it will be sunny by the time I reach the cape. About 40 minutes from Shibushi Port, I arrived near the cape. The cape ahead is a national park. Toi Cape Entrance Gate. There is an entrance gate at the park’s entrance. I pay a "cooperation fee" for the maintenance of the national park. As soon as I enter the gate, a stunning view opens up. The tropical plants and the sea are very beautiful. Toi Cape is known for its "horses." It is a habitat for semi-wild horses. I was surprised at first to see them walking on the road. I parked my bike to observe the wild horses. This place prioritizes horses. The horses were very curious about the bike and even licked the handle. It is worth visiting Miyazaki to see this scenery. There was a hill beyond the parking lot where I could take a walk. The grassland and horses made it look like a scene outside Japan. The horses seemed to live in herds. A foal was sleeping comfortably. The horses at Toi Cape are wild descendants of horses from the Edo period. They are small and robust, enduring a simple diet. Since they are not bred, their lifespan is short, but they seemed happy living freely. Humans only manage the "pastures and fences." Unbred horses are rare. Beautiful sea and freely living horses, it was fantastic. After leaving the horse area, I head to the cape’s lighthouse. Toi Cape has vast grasslands. I ride the bike while looking at the rolling grasslands. The road makes me feel calm. It’s a few kilometers to the lighthouse. There is a large parking lot at the tip of the cape. Toi Cape Lighthouse. I pass by the souvenir shop and head to the lighthouse. Paying 300 yen allows access to the lighthouse. The combination of the blue sky and the white lighthouse is wonderful. You can see Shibushi Bay. You can also see the "Nichinan Phoenix Road" that I will drive next. I stayed at Toi Cape for a long time because it was so beautiful. I am heading to the next destination. Route 448, Ono, Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture. I returned to Route 448 and headed north along the coast. Route 448 is famous for its beautiful scenery. From Toi Cape to the southern part of Miyazaki City, it’s called "Nichinan Phoenix Road" for its scenic beauty. There are some places without a center line, but the coastal road continues with great views. Route 448, Ichiki, Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The inland area also has wonderful roads. Tropical plants are planted as street trees, making it fun. Route 448, Kazuta, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. There are several tourist spots along Route 448. This time, I visited a shrine in a cave along the coast. Route 448, Miyazura, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. I turned off the highway a bit to go to the shrine. Udo Shrine First Torii Gate. I drive on a narrow coastal road towards the shrine. I parked my bike near the shrine and headed for the visit. The shrine precincts have souvenir shops and a lively atmosphere. The vermilion-painted gate is vivid and beautiful. Flowers were floating in the purification fountain, very picturesque. The grounds are spacious, and I walked around towards the main shrine. I could see the shrine in the distance. The area around the shrine consists of sandstone and mudstone. The rock formations eroded by the waves are very interesting. The main shrine is located on a cliff across a bridge. There is a cave formed by erosion down the stairs. The main shrine is inside the cave, creating a mystical space. It was a very attractive shrine that attracts many people. After visiting, I headed to the next destination. Route 448, Miyazura, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. I returned to Route 448 again. There is a scenic pass near Udo Shrine. There is a roadside station at the pass, so I will stop for lunch. Miyazaki Prefectural Route 377, Uchiumi, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. I left the highway again and headed for the pass. Needless to say, it’s a wonderful road. A southern road that gives a sense of exhilaration. There is a roadside station halfway up the slope. Roadside Station Phoenix. I head to the shop to buy ice cream. I enjoyed Hyuganatsu soft serve while looking at the sea, delicious. From the roadside station’s observation deck, I could observe the interesting coastline. The strange formation called "Oni no Sentakuita" (Ogre’s Washboard). The "Ogre’s Washboard" stretches for several kilometers. Next, I will head to an island where I can see the washboard well. Route 220, Aoshima West, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Near the roadside station, there is "Aoshima," which is accessible on foot. The area around Aoshima is a tourist spot, and I park in a paid parking lot and head to the island. Aoshima Shopping Street. There is a shrine on Aoshima, and I walk through the shopping street’s approach. After a short walk, there is a bridge leading to the island. The entire area around the island is "Oni no Sentakuita," which is impressive. This landscape was created by the erosion of layers of sand and mud. Only the muddy rock, which is weak to waves, was eroded away. The strange formation has been a subject of worship for a long time. The entire island serves as the precincts of the shrine. With tropical plants growing in clusters, the scenery is unique. There was a place to throw pottery dishes as a wish. I enjoyed the interesting scenery. Route 220, Kumano, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The weather is good at this point, but rain is forecasted for the evening, so I head to the inn. Route 269, Yamanokuchi Town, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Tonight’s accommodation is in Kobayashi City, located southwest of Miyazaki Prefecture. I head inland away from the sea. Route 221, Tarobo Town, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. As I approach the mountains, the weather deteriorates. I managed to reach the inn before the weather got worse. Palace Hotel Kobayashi. Since it’s still bright, I walk around looking for a place to eat dinner. I found a cow monument, and decided on dinner. It seems that Kobayashi City is famous for Wagyu beef. The fatigue of the day melted away. I returned to the hotel a bit tipsy. I went to bed early since the weather will be bad tomorrow. To be continued.

google maps：https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1vypErQ6JxyxSTZzR1uWOi39AVn5Ch_0&usp=sharing
5月の連休を利用して九州へツーリングでかけました。初日は移動日で、二日目からツーリングが始まります。前半では、九州への行き方を解説しています。

タイムチャート
00:00 ツーリング１日目のコース紹介
00:32 九州への行き方の解説
03:17 フェリー
04:38 ツーリング２日目のコース紹介
05:25 都井岬へ
09:27 鵜戸神宮へ
12:01 道の駅 フェニックス
13:23 青島へ、鬼の洗濯板
14:37 宿のある小林市へ