Skip to main content

KAGOSHIMA TO MIYAZAKI

Very few international visitors take the time to visit Kagoshima, and even fewer to Miyazaki.  I came several decades ago because I used a lot of Japan Rail Passes, and wanted to maximize my distance travelled.  

Sheraton Grand Kagoshima was the best hotel we've stayed in, all things considered, like value and cost.  They had a shuttle service from the train station to hotel and back, featured excellent service, had an excellent club lounge and an impressive breakfast buffet.  It only opened a few months ago.  Best of all, it cost $125/night for two.  So a few more photos to get us the the Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort in Miyazaki, starting with another view of Sakurajima.

Club lounge at Sheraton Kagoshima.
Morning view of Sakurajima from our room.
The breakfast buffet was terrific.
First course.
Second course.
Walked 3492 steps.
Final shot from hotel of Sakurajima.
Lobby Christmas tree.
Shuttle arriving.
Entrance to Kagoshima-Chuo Station.
Our train to Miyazaki.
Kyushu and train meal.  Something new.  Adorned fishcake.
Saw Sakurajima again from train.
Throughout Japan, all the homes near train tracks seem almost brand new with beautiful roofs.
Here is a sign that says don't squat on the toilet to do your thing.
Well, we got to Miyazaki and took a taxi to the Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort.  About $20. 
View from the Club Lounge on the 36th floor.  We have a room on the 39th.
There is a Tom Watson golf course along the hotel.  They have lights for golf at nights.  Next morning for breakfast.  Another fabulous buffet.  Maybe the best yet.  My first course.
Second course.
Not much of a day.  The train ride of 80 miles took two hours, stopping at every station.  But Miyazaki is that Japanese city which no one knows anything about, but by various taste tests have regularly come up #1 of the best Japanese wagyu beef, is the only site that grows sturgeon for caviar, and has mango orchards that supply those ridiculously expense mangos sold in department store basements.  So tomorrow, Miyazaki.  Then the next day, a train to Oita, transferring to another for Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ON THE MATTER OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday.  Next Monday, June 19, or  Juneteenth,  is a Federal holiday.  However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday.  Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii.  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery.  Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter:   Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are  11 paid Fede...

THE ENIGMATIC PHIL SPECTOR

The first presidential debate of Donald Trump and Joe Biden ended up in a near tie.  Both lost.  However, it was an unmitigated disaster for Biden, who just might be too old to win this re-election. For Trump, it was a reinforcement of what he does all the the time, lie.   There will be significant calls for the Democratic Party to work out "something" to replace Biden as their presidential candidate.  Suddenly, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama are added to the spotlight.  But what can "legally" occur at the August Democratic Convention? The situation is different on the Republican side, as Trump is the Republican Party, and no matter if he gets 4 years at his felony sentencing on July 9, or even if the Supreme Court determines he is not immune next week or later, he will be the presidential candidate. Trump is a damned boastful liar and convicted felon, but that is the only option for Republicans.  His vice-presidential choice now become...

THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

There are 4 types of solar eclipse. Total  Partial  Annular  Hybrid  About the above graphic. On the left is a total solar eclipse. In middle is an annular solar eclipse. A hybrid eclipse appears as either a total or an annular eclipse depending on the observers location.  These only occur once in a decade. A partial eclipse is to the right. A total solar eclipse occurs about every 18 months.  However a specific location will see a total eclipse only once every 375 years.  So if you recently saw one, you'll need to travel to see another.   My wife was born on July 11.  She found out that there would be total eclipse over her Big Island on that day in 1991, so off we flew to Kailua-Kona and stayed at the King Kamehameha Hotel.  Turned out that if we had just watched from the hotel beach, we would have had the best view.  But we had a friend who lived high up on Mauna Loa, so off we went to join him.   But it was so clo...