Local trains were the only way down the Satsuma peninsula, so we made an early start for our goal to reach Makurazaki, the end station on this line. There was dramatic coastal scenery on our ride after we had travelled out of the suburbs of Kagoshima, taking on and letting off the local population of students and office workers. The water was choppy, signifying a rise in the wind speed as a typhoon approached Okinawa.
On our way down the coast, we passed the resort of Ibusuki, where people go to get "buried" in the black sands reputed to have healing properties. We looked forward to seeing Mount Kaimon which we planned to "climb" in the afternoon. It came into view big and strong and perfectly symmetrical.
When we arrived at Makurazaki, Susan discovered a very helpful English-speaking(after a fashion) tourist office personnel who gave us a recommendation to a seafood restaurant. Were we in for a surprise. A fast trot (we were hungry) down the main drag brought us to the harbour, and on turning left we came to a rather unassuming house. Pushing aside "the door curtains" found in all Japanese restaurants,a cozy restaurant was revealed. They showed us a private room at the back of the restaurant, with tatami floor and a "well" for legs unaccustomed.to kneeling while eating! We ordered by pointing at photos (which was very helpful), but we were not prepared for the huge portions that arrived in set meals. We had a capital time celebrating Susan's birthday. Needless to say, the food was as good as it looked and we finished all of it in a hurry!
It was very hot outside and after a listless walk round the harbourfront, susan and choo spied an "old uncle" selling local rice cakes to people in a stream of cars stopping by. "Must be good" commented Choo, and indeed we had a good meal of them later, on the dark railway platform of Kaimon station.
Reached Kaimon station near 5pm and we set off, regardless, for the mountain. We did indeed complete the first stage of the climb which was on paved road in a lovely park-like setting. When we reached the actually mountain trail it looked too forbidding and dark to enter.
We had a long wait for the next train and we joined the spiders and insects on the dark railway platform, waging whether there would be anyone on the train at this hour. We were indeed surprised to find many home-going students, looking tired and bedraggled in their identical kit, down to the number and brand of bags they were burdened with.
Equally bedraggled, we got off the train in darkness at Kagoshima station and headed for our pillows at the Inn.
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