Page 277 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Vermilion entrance to Udo
Jingu Shrine, built into a cave
along the Nichinan Coast

gloom until she could be lured richly atmospheric surround- and serves as a catalyst for
out, faces Ama no Iwato Shrine, ings. Visitors usually try to propitious marriages and
a pavilion-style shrine noted factor into their itinerary a fertility. The water dripping
for a sacred tree that stands in rowboat trip along Takachiho from breast-shaped rocks is
its grounds. A short walk from Gorge, with its scenic rock compared to mother’s milk,
here is Ama no Yasugawara, forma tions and waterfalls. and milk candies are sold at
the grotto where the gods are the shrine shop. North of Udo
supposed to have convened in Jingu is Sun-Messe Nichinan,
order to devise a way to entice u where perfectly reproduced
the Sun Goddess from her lair. statues of Moai, officially
The entrance to the cavern Nichinan Coast approved by Easter Island, are
is next to a clear, pebble- 日南海岸 displayed. One stop far ther
strewn river. Many visitors ! B7 ⌂ Miyazaki on the Nichinan line lies Obi,
have placed miniature cairns Prefecture £ Nichinan line an old castle town, where the
there in the hope that, by ruins of the castle and samurai
association, some of the from Miyazaki houses may be visited. Farther
wisdom and power of the The Nichinan coastal landscape south is Ishinami Beach, which
gods will rub off on them. is known in Japanese as Onino is a stretch of fine white sand.
The area’s main shrine, Sentakuita, the “devil’s
Takachiho Jinja is famous for washboard,” an apt description
its ancient cryptomeria trees, for the eroded, rippled effect
a common feature of Japanese presented by the rock shelves.
shrines and temple grounds. The gateway to the coast EAT
It was founded by the 11th is Aoshima Island, barely a
emperor of Japan around mile in circumference and
1,900 years ago. The shrine connected to the mainland Iroha
stages nightly extracts of by a walkway. An attractive This is one of the
kagura lasting one hour, vermilion shrine stands at the best restaurants in
providing a rare opportunity center of this densely forested Kumamoto (p274) to
to witness a performance in islet, which can get crowded sample basashi, a type
in summertime. Miyazaki of horsemeat sashimi
city, to the north, is known and a local delicacy.
North of Udo Jingu is for its year-round flowers. ! A6 ⌂ 4-21
Sun-Messe Nichinan, Udo Jingu, another striking Suizenjikoen, Chūō-ku,
vermilion-colored shrine
Kumamoto-shi,
where perfectly about 20 miles (30 km) south Kumamoto-ken
reproduced statues of Aoshima, stands in a cave 862-0956
of Moai, officially beside the ocean. The shrine is 
approved by Easter dedi cated to Emperor Jimmu’s
father, who is believed to have
Island, are displayed. been washed there at birth,
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