I left Kokura station for Oita at 5:40 am. I had taken trains for Hakata, but it was my first time to take a train for Oita. I had stayed in Oita before, but I had heard that it had been inconveninet to take trains in Kyushu area and I had not thought to use "Seishun 18 kippu(special season ticket which one can use any local trains a day)".
After 4 hours moving by train, I got off the train at Usuki station.
Stone Buddha in Usuki
Usuki is a small local town in Oita, and the town is famous of stone Buddha.One of famous novelis in modern Japan, Nogami Yaeko was born in here. In these days,stone Buddha became National Treasures and people improved the environment.
I visited this area two times before. In the past there was almost nothing except these stone Buddha.I am not sure which is better, the scene in the past and that in these days.
The central Buddha is the most famous in these Buddha. The head of this Buddha was fallen in Edo period and people had left it as it had been for a long time. Last two times when I paid a visit here, I had seen the head of stone Buddha. In these days, people put the head again.
Old Area in Usuki
臼杵の旧市街はなかなか良いと聞いていたので、足を運んだ。想像以上に、良い街だった。
Some people said that the Old are in Usuki is beautiful and I tried to walk such an area.
It was a fine day and the surface of water was shining. I like waterside.
Then I walked on a slope to the old area.
The scene of the end of slope. From there,it is an area called "Niou-Za". There were houses of high-class worriors and temples and it keeps a good constraction.
The left house of the upper picture.
There was a good taste house on the Niou-Za street.
From the inside to the gate. The fresh green of a maple tree was beautiful.
From the second floor of the house to the outside.
Another direction. I appriciate this street.
From another room on the second floor.
From the second floor to the first floor. This house had belonged to the temple or used as a temple in the past. When there was no one who kept the temple, the city bought it. Since then,this house is a rest place for visitor. Or as a information center of the area. So visitor can enter freely and take a rest..
We had met foreign tourists at Stone Buddha. We had taken same bus and we had got off earlier than them. And we met them again here. As mother likes to take with strangers and was not hesitate to communicate with them though she doesn't speak foreign language. So she spoke to them and I, who enjoyed taking pictures on the second floor got to help her. They came from Shututgult in Germany. Visitor can have a tea freely and we made tea and enjoy having them and served them, so at first they thought we were local people...... yes like some Osaka people, we tend to relax at strange place easier than others...
A western style house in moden age on the street. 二王座にあった私人の洋館 (後で見たら観光スポットの一つでした)
Inaba family's house. Inaba family was a lord of this area. 旧藩主、稲葉家の下屋敷。 西郷さんたちの集合写真が展示されていました。
Usuki Castle (ruin)
The scene from the top of the ruined castle.
A "Yagura(turret)" rebuit in these days.
On the next two days, the cherry blossom festival would be held here. But because of warm days in March, the cherry blossoms season finished before the festival.
At Usuki Station
From A Train
After Usuki, I took a route which goes through the mountainious area between Oita and Kumamoto and one can see Aso mountain.