100921 The 5th day of the trip to Shikoku & Kyushu 四国・九州旅行第5日目

The 5th day of the trip to Shikoku & Kyushu

Sep. 21, 2010 (Tue) Fine.

Leg: Omogo Kokumin Shukusha Inn⇒Omogo Valley (Microbus)⇒Kuma Kogen (Local Bus)～Matsuyama(JR Bus)～Matsuyama Castle～Dogo Hot Spring～Matsuyama Station～Port Matsuyama→Ferry Boat to Kokura

Had breakfast at 7a.m. We asked the chef about the strange nuts Mr. Matsumoto picked up yesterday. He told us that they were chestnuts of “Aesculus.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus

The chef drove us to the bus stop by his microbus. The local bus left there at 8 a.m. to Kuma where we changed buses to JR bus to Matsuyama. We arrived at Matsuyama at about noon.

We used coin lockers to put our bags, then began sightseeing in Matsuyama, after having lunch at a dice-size steak restaurant near the station.

First, we bought a day ticket for tramcar by 400 yen, then we went to Matsuyama Castle. The castle is on the small hill (132m). There are a lift and a ropeway facilities, but we walked to the castle.

[Matsuyama Castle,松山城、마쓰야마조]
Matsuyama Castle:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsuyama_Castle_(Iyo)
[The statue of Kato Yoshiakira, the first lord of the castle,初代城主・加藤義明の像、초대성주·가토 요시아키라의 동상]
[Matsuyama Castle、松山城の前で、마쓰야마조 앞에서]

It is a well-preserved castle, and beautiful. We had a nice view of Matsuyama city from the top of “Tenshukaku”or “castle tower.”

There was a corner where visitors could wear old-day armors and helmet for free of charge. Bernardo wore complete armors and helmet and he looked really nice!


[A view from castle tower, 天守閣からの展望、망루로부터의 전망]

After visiting Matsuyama Castle, we went to the famous “Dogo Onsen” by the tramcar.

Dogo Onsen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dgo_Onsen

[Dogo Spa,道後温泉、도고온천]


This hotspring is one of the oldest hotsprings in Japan. It is said to be found 3000 years ago. Many historical figuars such as Shotoku Taishi, Emperor Tenchi or Emperor Tenmu visited this spar. So, it still has the entrance for loyal family-only. We could see the loyal bathing facilities, even the toilet which loyal family members used to use.

After visiting Dogo Onsen, we also visited a nearby shrine.

[A portable shrine at the nearby shrine, 神社の神輿、신사(神社)의 신 가마]

Then we took a special tamcar called “Bochan Train” and headed for downtown.

["Bocchan" train, 坊ちゃん電車、"도련님" 전철]

[The conductor of the train,坊ちゃん電車の車掌、도련님 전철의 차장]

We had a special dinner that night because it was the last night when Mr. Matsumoto traveled with us.

We went to a restaurant called “Uotami” and had a package deal of “eating and drinking as much as you can for 3 hours” with 2800 yen each.

[Eat and Dring As Much As You Can Party,飲み放題、食い放題のパーティ、부페에서 파티를 했다]

We ordered as much as a dozen or more dishes, and had Kirin beer jog after jog. We all satisfied after 2 hours of eating and drinking. Thanks Bernardo, since he paid all for us.

Mr. Matsumoto’s brother drove us to Port Matsuyama, and Bernardo and I went on board that night, heading for Kokura, Kyushu. We saved a hotel fee by using a night-ferry boat, but the cabin was humid and engine noise was too laud to have a good sleep. We could barely get sleep that night.

四国・九州旅行第5日目　2010年9月21日(火)晴れ

日程：面河渓国民宿舎～面河渓(送迎バス)～久万高原(ローカル・バス)～松山(JRバス)～松山城など松山市内見物～松山港→フェリーで小倉へ

国民宿舎で7時に朝食。松本さんが前日拾った木の実の正体を国民宿舎のマスターに聞いた。栃の実だと言われて納得した。店の主人に送ってもらいバス停へ。

バスはきっかり8時半に出発。乗客は我々だけで出発したが途中の集落から数人乗車した。久万高原でJRバスに乗り換えた。

JRバスで松山へ昼ごろ到着。松本さんのお兄さんの夫婦が我々を待っていた。夕方の段取りを話しただけで別れた。

荷物をコインロッカーに預けたのち、駅前のサイコロステーキ屋で特大ステーキ定食を食べてから一日乗り放題の400円の市内電車切符を購入し、松山城前で下車し、松山城を見学。
[Matsuyama Castle,松山城、마쓰야마 조]
[A tramcar in the city, 松山の市電、 마쓰야마의 시영 전철]
[The statue of Kato Yoshiakira, the first lord of the castle,初代城主・加藤義明の像、초대성주·가토 요시아키라의 동상]

松山城は小高い丘の132m)の上で、ちょっとしたハイキング気分。リフトやロープウェイもあったが、我々は徒歩でアプローチ。
[Rope-way facility、松山城のローブウェイ、마쓰야마 조(城)의 케이불카]


松山城内では鎧兜をセルフサービスで着用できるコーナーがあり、ベルナルドが着用して記念撮影した。
[Bernardo in the armors and helmet with 2 sightseers,鎧を着たベルナルド、갑옷을 입은 벨나루도]

その後、夏目漱石の「坊ちゃん」に出てくる道後温泉へ行き、温泉に入った。ここは、日本三古湯の１つとされ、聖徳太子以来多くの皇族も訪れたことを誇りとしている。また、皇族専用門や皇族専用施設もあり、現在では使われていないため、見学できるようになっている。

[In front of Dogo Spa,道後温泉の前で、도고온천 앞에서]

道後温泉のシンボルは温泉の所在を知らせたという白鷺で、白鷺の飾りが目につく。また、温泉の前には人力車が数台、営業中。

[Rikisha at Dogo Spa, 道後温泉前の人力車、도고온천앞의 인력거]
白鷺の装飾も見たのち、となりの神社を見学してから坊ちゃん列車で松山繁華街へ向かった。

["Bocchan" train, 坊ちゃん電車、"도련님" 전철]



松本さんを交えた三人の旅の最後の晩に、ベルナルドに回転寿司を振る舞いたいと、しばらく回転ずしを探して歩いたが、ない。やむを得ず、魚民で2800円飲み放題、食い放題コースにした。

[Eat and Dringk As Much As You Can Party,食べ放題、飲み放題パーティ、바이킹식 요리, 마실마음껏 파티]

ここで、思い切り飲んで食べたが、なんとご馳走したいと思っていたベルナルドが、むしろ感謝の意味を込めてカードで支払いたいという。その意を汲んでごちそうになった。

その後、繁華街を市電通りまで歩いてから、市電に乗って駅へ行き、松本さんの兄上夫妻の見送りで、港へ行った。港で松本さんとは別れ、小倉行きのフェリーに乗った。

船室の構造が悪く、エンジンの音がうるさい。また、蒸し暑くて寝づらい第五泊目となった。