Plum blossoms in Maizuru Park

I love the plum blossoms in Maizuru Park.

 

Although they weren't in full bloom there were still some nice flowers on some of the trees. 

There were some meijiro, a Japanese bird which is often associated with plum blossoms flitting about the trees but they flew away every time I tried to get close to them so I only managed this very distant photo of one of them. 

Takanabe Tourist Shop and Cabbage Sweets

This is Takanabe's tourist information centre and local products shop たかなべ町本家店. It's located in a refurbished old building on the corner of Takanabe's main street and historic shopping street. 

There are various local products for sale including food items like soy sauce, vegetables from nearby farms and sweets and snacks in decorative packaging.  There are also crafts, postcards and of course, Taishi-kun goods.

However, the most unique products on offer are a range of sweets made from .......................cabbages!!

These include cabbage cake doughnuts, 

Cabbage cream puffs, 

And cabbage cheese manju (cream cheese filled  twist on the traditional soft biscuit like red bean filled sweets) 

There are also, cabbage roll cakes, cabbage cookies, cabbage puddings, cabbage cream red bean cakes etc) The taste is a bit unusual but not unpleasant. I particularly like the roll cake and cheese manju. I doubt that you can get this many cabbage sweets and desserts any where else, so why not sample this unique taste if you come to town.  

Takanabe Taishi-kun

This is Takanabe Taishi-Kun. たか鍋大使くん Takanabe Town's mascot character.

He is based on this statue which is in the Takanabe Taishi group of statues. His unique look makes him pretty popular and he was second highest ranked Miyazaki mascot character in 2014 national poll. 

There are various goods featuring Taishi and you can see his image all over town! If you come to Takanabe, please look out for him! 

Taishi-kun's facebook page!!

Takanabe Taishi Stone Monuments and Mochida Burial Mounds

Takanabe Taishi (高鍋大師) is Takanabe's most famous spot. Located in the Mochida ancient burial mound area in the hills to the north-west of town, the site features over 700 stone buddhas and other statues. They were carved by a man named Yasukichi Iwaoka who wanted to appease the souls of those buried in the mounds after a series of grave robberies. He spent over forty years constructing the monuments. 

Many of the statues are very buddha like. 

But the most spectacular are quite monstrous.  

There are also animal statues, such as these turtles. 

Most of the statues have brightly coloured areas which contrast with the drab grey stone. 

Small stone cairns and other features are dotted around the statues and burial mounds. 

There is a small Inari shrine complete with the typical white foxes which serve the Buddhist deity. 

The hillside location means there is a great view of the town and across to the pacific ocean beyond. 

Many smaller statues line the hillside and the town is currently working to transform the hill into a flowering slope. I think the footpath is partially complete so access should be possible from the bottom of the hill. If not then access is possible from the main burial mound area. 

The burial mounds of Mochida danchi litter the surrounding farmland. They may not be as impressive as nearby Saitobaru but the more residential nature of the area give it a unique atmosphere. 

Kaguchihama Beach

Takanabe's beach is called Kaguchihama (蚊口浜) 

It is located on the other side of the railway tracks to the main part of town. 

The small forest on the edge of the coastline is quite pretty and has various tropical flowers. 

There is an area of sea which is blocked off and used for swimming in the summer. 

Kaguchihama is a popular surf beach all year round though apparently the surf is a little strong for beginners.

There are various restaurants and a campground next to the beach. 

Oysters are the local delicacy and the beach is littered with oyster shells. 

Takanabe Marsh Land

At Takanabe Marsh Land (高鍋湿原 Takanabe Shitsugen), you can experience one of the area’s unique natural habitats. The marshlands here are only found in a few places in Miyazaki.

There are several areas of marshland, interspersed with small ponds.

A raised walk way winds around the plain, allowing a good view of the habitat without anyone having to get their feet wet.

In the middle of the plain is a suspension bridge which goes over an area of Takanabe’s dam.

Over 300 species of plants and many rare insects can be seen at the plain, in particular dragon flies. Pictured is a male scarlet skimmer dragonfly.

If you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of a scarlet dwarf, the smallest species of dragonfly in Japan. It’s a symbol of Takanabe and the main attraction at the damp plain. Images and models of the scarlet dwarf can be found all over the park even if you don’t get the chance to see a real one.

Information about the plants and insects can be found in the building near the entrance.　

Takanabe Marsh Land is open March to October from 8:30AM to 5:00PM and is completely free to enter. It is also very close to Shikisai no Mura and Meirin no Yu onsen spa.

Shikisai no Mura

Shikisai no Mura (四季彩のむら) is an area of farmland to the west of Takanabe which resembles the rural landscape of the early 20^th Century.

The name translates as colours of the four seasons' village, and there are many seasonal flowers in the fields that give the area a different look at different times of the year.

A foot path goes through the fields to a pretty red bridge.

Across the bridge is a shrine.

Nestled peacefully in the woods, it has the atmosphere of a traditional mountain village’s focal shrine.  

A wooded path leads from Shikisai no Mura to Meirin no Yu onsen spa. Takanabe damp plain is also nearby.