Koyasan, Hiroshima, Hamakusa, Kagoshima

 

27/10/2004 The day was entirely devoted to the recovery of physical forces and especially to the update of our site, with a view of the odyssey awaiting us for the weekend, crossing a non-stop tour from Osaka to the far south of Japan (Kagoshima).

This odyssey began on 28/10/2004 at six o'clock in the morning heading to Koyasan, a place lost in the midst of the mountains, yet a stronghold of Buddhism. This is an area rich of Buddhist temples and declared UNESCO world heritage site in last July. The atmosphere is really everywhere full of mysticism, sacredness and serenity. But even more surprising was the meeting with a Swiss origin priest: Kurt Kubli Genso. It was our guide through the maze of Buddhist philosophy (also because he spoke good Italian, and not only Italian, but seven other languages). A full explanation to our curiosity, and understandable even for the neophytes like us. Beyond the explanations, what has really impressed us is the person Kurt, strange to the right place, certainly not common and banal, all possibly linked to the crosslink between the Buddhist religion and its personality of artist.

Among the symbol places of Koyasan there is a cemetery surrounded by a secular forest, full of Stupas (a sort of tombstones erected in memory of the deceased), where, it will be for the sanctity of the place or for the majesty of old trees, atmosphere that surrounded us seemed enchanted.

The legendary Kurt at the end of the day brought us for the first time in an old onsen, scattered among the mountains, in a way almost unworkable and governed by wild animals. He then inevitably accompanied us to dinner at a very rustic inn, in which we ate well. Incredible to think Italian spaghetti with tomato and basil, that the same Kurt taught to cook. The Cook, on exact order of Kurt has planted in his garden basil and tomatoes only for Italian dishes... so good.

The odyssey continues

Starting in the evening from Koyasan, we pointed the muzzle of our Cresta (the car we used) to Hiroshima. The journey lasted approximately 8-9 hours during which we never slept. Arrived around noon we initially directed at the point where it was launched the first atomic bomb. There, in memory of the tragedy, were preserved the ruins of the palace of the Prefecture, which has partly resisted to detonation. After the ritual photos second goal was the museum. Quite interesting and sometimes even impressive for the cruelty of images proposed. Note negative, in typical Yankee style, air conditioning was full power, in a way too much strong so consequently we have been left with one of the most classic headache, except for our good friend Andrea ironman: indestructible.

Abandoned Hiroshima we direct towards the island of Mihajima other place declared world heritage by UNESCO. The particularity of the island is the door of the temple situated on the seashore: depending on the tide the door of the temple is flooded by water. We spent a long trek that led us almost up to the top of the mountain, but we had to desist because been surprised by darkness.

Back in the car we direct to Amakusa to meet a Japanese television broadcaster known via internet, that became famous in Japan and the United States thanks to the presence of a reporter: a nice grandma 88 years old that after a life dedicated to agriculture has reinvented herself in this new role. The meeting with television consisted in a brief and informal interview in which the nice old woman tried to speak a little Italian.

The final destination in the region of Kyushu, was Kagoshima. Once in the evening we finally stopped to rest a bit, instead of the usual seats of the Cresta we have taken the opportunity to test our tent. Too bad for the slope of the land and the rain that has made our stay a little moisty. Woken up at a time to which we were not more familiar (10:30), we dismantled our equipment and directed to the museum of Kamikaze and the area devoted to the Samurai. In this town (Chiran) we were able to understand the reason that prompted the creation of cartoon "Sanpei". Throughout the main road there was a ditch inhabited by an endless amount of gigantic carps accustomed to the presence of man (left even to touch them but nobody will never ever try to capture them).
On the same evening we began the long ascent true Osaka broken only by a few sporadic stops in service areas.