The Great Japan Pilgrimage 2 - Part III: Miyazaki, Kirishima and Kagoshima

Udo Jingu, Miyazaki Coast

Driving down the highway in Miyazaki, coffee at the ready while blue seas and palms trees flashed by, I got that same anticipation and excitement for summer that I had last year during a drive down the Niigata coast. Just the promise of summer leaves you feeling so content.

There were many ocean views to be had on our drive down the Miyazaki coast to Udo Jingu. Arriving at the Shrine site we breathed in the fresh sea air before diving into the forest, clambering over rocks and roots and descended into the gaping mouth of a coastal cave that housed a small humble shrine. The peacefulness and lack of other tourists at the smaller shrine made approaching the main shrine a little jarring, but the breath taking view of the coast, and challenge of throwing clay pebbles into a rope ring for good luck made it worth it.

Kirishima Shrine

From Udo Jingu we veered inland to an onsen in the Kirishima mountains. It was closed. But we found a pretty sweet waterfall instead!
After climbing back up the hill, through the pine forests to the car we continued to Kirishima Shrine, blazing orange in the setting sun. As the light left the day we arrived in Kagoshima city, found black pork ramen for dinner and a small bar to indulge in a mojito or two before calling it a night.