October trip was to Miyazaki Pref.
It was just a short, a day and a half trip to Kyushu (again!).
The company I started working for planned a little retreat trip to Miyazaki prefecture.
Basically, we were free to do anything as long as it was a team activity.
So we went to this small island called “Aoshima”.
Aoshima is an island only about 40 minutes travel from central Miyazaki city by train.
The island is only about 1.5 km circumference and at the very centre, sits a historical shrine.
With this shrine, Aoshima is a popular “power spot” known for its matchmaking benefits.
(Oni no Sentakuita = The Devil’s washboard)
Look, someone worked on these rock balancing…!
The shrine is also designated as a national natural monument for its uplifted sea bed and oddly shaped wave erosion scars.
The entire island has been designated a national special natural monument for its tropical and subtropical vegetation.
It was quite a sight.
The Homepage explains there are “more than 200 plant species have been identified on the island, 27 of which are tropical and subtropical, and it is known as the northernmost coconut plant community in the northern hemisphere”. 🌴
As I wrote, Aoshima Shrine is also widely known as a shrine of match-making, known with local its mythology.
If you are interested in this famous mythology, please check here:
See. Umihiko and Yamahiko (The Sea Boy and the Mountain Boy)
On the way back to Miyazaki City centre, we were fortunate to catch this unique train “Tokkyu Umisachi Yamasachi” with this mythology designed on its train carriage.
If you are ever nearby Miyazaki Pref. this will be a highly recommended short trip.
🌴🌴🌴
