Number 2: A TRIP TO THE NORTH
A recent trip took us from Miyazaki on the highway north to Oita. Most of the time it is only one lane, the speed is signaled with 70 kmh. If you stick to it, you don’t make yourself many friends. Quickly one is the head of a long column. With 90 to 95 kmh one is fluent in traffic. Controls are rare, I have never seen a speed camera.
Leave the highway at Nobeoka and take the 326 to Bungo-Ono, from there to Oita. So you experience beautiful nature on well-maintained roads. In terms of time, of course, this route is longer. On the highway you drive through at least fifty tunnels, some of them poorly lit. This is stressful and no fun.
After Oita take the number 10 road along the sea to Beppu, pay a visit to the “Seven Hells”.
Afterwards, continue on the mountain road (Mt Yufu) to Yufuin. Visit the Floral Village and the Kinrin Lake.
Detailed preparation for travel by private car can be very helpful. So define all destinations beforehand and scout them out on the Internet. The navigation systems in the cars are mostly only in Japanese. In my system it is possible to enter the destination coordinates, so you can avoid language problems. Very often it also works with a phone number. Along the larger towns you can get along well without a navi. But if you go inland, you can quickly get lost. Easyest is to use your Smartphone, the japanese call it Sumafo, and use Google Maps.
The journey continues to Aso and Takachiho:
Aso
From Yufuin we headed west towards Hita, which is still in Oita prefecture. Stay on normal roads.
On the way, a short stop at a waterfall near the town of Kusu is worthwhile.
Jion-no-Taki Fall
Via Hita we continued towards Aso. The navi led us safely, but through partly adventurous roads to Aso. Over many small roads, which would have made crossing impossible. Fortunately there was never oncoming traffic. Without Navi help one could be totally lost. You are rewarded by fantastic pictures of more or less untouched nature.
Via a winding mountain road you finally reach Aso. If you are lucky, you can drive up to the crater of the volcano. If possible, make sure to do so. It is very special to experience nature so directly.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Takachiho
A pleasant drive leads from Aso to Takachiho, winding, and full of nature. In the heart of Kyushu.
Takachiho is the site of one of the most famous stories in Shinto mythology. Details can be found here.
Besides the George and the shrines, you can take a ride on the Amaterasu Railway.
The ticket price is Yen 1’800 for adults.
The ride takes 20 minutes. unfortunately there is no round trip at the moment, as mentioned on their homepage. The train only goes to the high bridge at the next station, afterwards back. The breathtaking view is worth the ride though
We drove home via Nobeoka, from there onto the highway to Miyazaki.
The trip can of course be adapted in many ways.
As a reminder – prepare well!
My Kyushu 