We are loving the eastern coastline of Kyushu, south of Miyazaki. We are presently in Aoshima and have decided to stay another night. Since our hotel is fully booked, we are moving across the street to a hotel that is located directly on the ocean. We look forward to having a bird’s eye view of the ocean and the surfers below.
Manga books are hugely popular in Japan. The books appeal to people of all ages from childhood through adulthood. The Route Inn has a large two room library of Manga books with seating and bean bags. The room is well used by all and many take advantage of borrowing books during their stay.
Mascots are serious business and very popular in Japan. These jolly fellows are the mascot for Route Inn Hotels. If you wish, you could buy one of these fellows and take him home with you.
This hotel follows the Japanese tradition of not allowing outside shoes inside the building. At the entrance, lockers are provided where you store your outside shoes. Slippers are provided for you to wear inside the hotel.
We have often stayed at Route Inn hotels as they offer good value. A good buffet breakfast is included and an Onsen is available and free to use. After a long day of riding, we appreciate having an Onsen onsite..
Aoshima Island is a special place. It is home to a special shrine and Japanese people flock to this island in large numbers. They walk the circumference (about 1.5 km), visit the Shrine and enjoy the island’s beauty and its position on the ocean surrounded by surfers and the crashing surf. We will be able to ride our trikes on the island.
The shallow water around the island is home to washboard rocks also known as the Devil’s or Ogre’s Washboard or Oni-no-Sentaku-Ita. We were fortunate to be here during low tide as the washboard was fully exposed.
Note the panel across the top of the photo which shows you how to cleanse your hands at the shrine. We like how instructions are often given in this manner in Japan.
There is a record that shows that people have revered this shrine as far back as the Heian era, dating back to the 9th century. The shrine has special significance for those that are, or want to be, married.
The Musubi-Koyori ritual can be experienced in the rear Shrine. Choose one of the five coloured strips and tie it on to the palm fan tree. The five colours are pink..matchmaking, purple..safety, green..success in academics, yellow for business prosperity and for answering of prayers. Pink seems to be the favourite colour
This narrow walkway is a special place as it is filled with visitors wishes which they have written on the wooden boards. This path to the rear Shri Eid called, Inori-no-Kodo, or The Road of Prayers. On the path there is a tunnel of ema…wooden plaques. There were a large number of baseball fans who expressed their wishesregarding their team.
On Aoshima Island there are 27 varieties of tropical and sub tropical plants, as well as 197 kinds of non tropical plants, all of which flourish here. There are over 5000 fan palm trees on the tiny island. The government of Japan recognizes the plants and rocks to be of Special Cultural Importance
Aoshima Island was formed by the accumulation of sand and seashells. Among the many shells along the shore, choose the one that suits your mood. Cowrie shells are especially popular. While at the shrine, you can visit this spot and leave a shell on the pile with your wishes and prayers.
Visitors choose a shell from the beach and leave one on this pile while offering prayers and their wishes.
Trey Cabbage is an American professional baseball player who now plays for the Tokyo Giants. He has played for the Houston Astros and other MLB teams. The whole Giants team came to the shrine and made wishes on the ema boards
There are 10 wish making rituals that you can try at the Shrine. Here you place one of the two Japanese coins that have a hole in the middle (5¥ or 50¥) on the skewer and then you turn the handle while making wishes
This is called Mae-no-Hiraka. You choose an unglazed plate, and you throw it into the designated area while quietly expressing your wish. If the plate successfully reaches the area, your wish is said to come true. Even if it shatters, it is said to bring good luck and brush away bad luck.
This place is the holiest part of the shrine. It is called the Rear Shrine. Many pieces of pottery from Yayoi Period, 300-250 BC have been dug up on this area.
We came around the bend and were surprised to hear music which overcame the sound of the pounding surf. This fellow was playing an instrument and it made for a special moment.
You would think that exploring an island that is just a little over 1km in circumference would be a quick visit. We spent some time here taking in its beauty, relaxing by the sea and visiting the incredible shrine. A wonderful day.
We are now staying in an older hotel with a grand history and a prime location positioned directly on the sea. The ANAHoliday Inn has grand banquet rooms and facilities for special events like weddings. This is the wedding chapel on the hotel grounds.
These surfers look so at home on the water. It is fun to watch them. The first night we stayed in Aoshima, we stayed at the Route Inn. We wanted to stay a second night but it was booked out. We got a real deal at the ANA Holiday Inn across the street and right on the beach so we are staying a second night.
It has been a wonderful day exploring Aoshima and the Island. The beauty of this part of the coast is stunning and we see surfers from morning til night. If there is a rideable surf, they will be here.
