Feel The Power Of The Earth!

 

Reporter: Alanna Schubach
Alanna is orijinally from New York and is now in her second year as an English Assistant Language Teacher in Fukuoka.

 

Kokonoe-machi, in the Kuju area of Oita, is a lovely country town that, considering its small size, is packed with onsen and other sightseeing opportunities. For those looking for a quick escape from city life, Kokonoe, gifted with natural wonders thanks to nearby active volcanoes, is a great option. And though the area is 240 square kilometers, the population is sparse enough to offer relief from ordinarily-crowded Japan. Accessible from the scenic Yamanami Highway, this town has gorgeous mountain views with autumn colors already appearing, natural hot springs, hiking trails in the Kuju mountain range, and other sights to make this a pleasant day or weekend trip. The Yume Ootsuribashi (Dream Suspension Bridge) is an impressive, walkable structure that allows visitors to get their bearings in the Oita wilderness. From the bridge, you can take in Shindo Falls, named one of Japan’s best 100 waterfalls. Quaint farms and cafes benefit from the rural location’s plentiful produce and have fresh dishes to try that taste all-natural. It’s easy to get a dose of culture by visiting onsen, ryokan, shrines, and a museum that highlights the work of a unique Japanese artist. And the Hatchobaru Power Station educates guests on its geothermal energy production, a fascinating–and completely eco-friendly–way of keeping Oita homes and businesses up and running. Though the coming weeks give visitors the best opportunity to see brightly-colored fall foliage, other seasons offer their own sights. In the spring, the area explodes with azaleas, which, due to the unique properties of the soil from volcanic activity, are considered their own species endemic to Kyushu. Summer brings the annual Kokonoe “Lavender Festa,” and the Kuju Flower Park features flower species from around the world all year long. Should you choose to visit in the winter, you can enjoy Kyushu’s largest ski resort, Kokonoe Shinrin Koen. For foreigners who may know Oita only for the bustling hot springs city of Beppu, a trip to Kokonoe is a calmer and perhaps more authentic way to experience the Kyushu countryside.

Make the Kokonoe “Yume” Ootsuribashi (“Dream” Suspension Bridge) your first stop to get your bearings in the Oita wilderness. This suspension footbridge, at 173 meters tall and 375 meters across, is the longest and highest of its kind in the world. For ¥500 to cross, visitors take in singular views of the Naruko-kawa gorge and two massive waterfalls pouring from towering cliffs. The dramatic elevation and the bridge’s slight swaying in the wind make this a thrilling walk. And of course, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase omiyage and snacks at each end. One side also features several small shrines—a quick walk brings you to Shiratori Jinja (White Bird Shrine), first built 1,500 years ago, a quiet and picturesque spot apparently overlooked by the many tourists who come for the bridge. You can also visit Shirahebi Gosanjo (White Snake Shrine), and learn about the legend of the five snake gods who tried to reach the sky—only three made it, and the remaining two turned into a waterfall and got stuck to a tree, respectively. For more information visit www.yumeooturihashi.com (Japanese only.)

＞ Kokonoe Drive Map (Google)

 

リポーター：Alanna Schubach
英語教師のアシスタントとして福岡に来て2年目、ニューヨーク出身のアラナ・シューバッハ

 

大分県の阿蘇くじゅう国立公園内に位置する九重町は、田舎の小さな町だが、そのコンパクトなサイズにかかわらず、温泉をはじめ数々の観光資源を擁する。都会の生活に疲れ、つかの間の休日を楽しむなら、火山の恩恵により育まれた、この町の豊かな自然を体験してみよう。
240平方キロメーターの面積にもかかわらず、人口は１万人強と決して多くはない。混み合っている方が普通の日本とは思えないほど落ち着いた空気に包まれ、思わずホッとするだろう。
景色の素晴らしさで名高いやまなみハイウェイを通って町に入ると､紅葉した山々の壮麗な眺めや天然温泉､くじゅう連山のハイキングコースなど､休日を楽しいものにしてくれる名所がたくさん見つかるはず。
九重”夢“大吊橋は、そのなかでも非常に印象的だ。歩いて渡れるようになっていて、訪れた人たちは、手つかずの自然のまっただ中に身を置くことができる。橋からは「日本の滝百選」のひとつ「震動の滝」が見えるだろう。
趣のある農場や個性的なカフェでは、田舎ならではの豊かな収穫物のおかげで、素材そのものの味が楽しめる食べ物を提供している。気軽に日本文化に触れたいなら、温泉や旅館、神社、そして、ユニークな日本人アーティストの作品の数々に目を奪われる美術館に足を運んでみよう。
九州電力の八丁原発電所では、地熱発電の仕組みについて学べる。その実に興味深く、そのうえ完全にエコなシステムによって、大分県の家庭や会社は、日々の営みを成り立たせているわけだ。
これから秋が深まるにつれ、山々は赤や黄色に紅葉していくが、季節によって自然はその姿を変えている。春にはミヤマキリシマが高山で咲き乱れる。このツツジ科の花は、火山活動に影響を受けた土壌の特性により、九州固有の種となったと考えられている。夏になれば、恒例の「ラベンダーフェスタin九重」が開催されるし、くじゅう花公園では、世界各地から集めた花々を愛でることができる。もし冬にこの町を訪れたなら、九州最大のスキーリゾート、九重森林公園スキー場を楽しんでほしい。
大分県では、にぎやかな温泉街・別府しか行ったことがないという外国人は多いだろう。九重への旅は、より心を癒してくれるし、おそらく、九州の自然を体験し深く理解するための、より確かな方法だろう。

大分の雄大な大自然を体験したいなら、まずは九重”夢”大吊橋に立ち寄ろう。水面からの高さが173m、長さは390m。歩行者専用の吊橋としては、世界でも最高の高さと長さだ。500円の入場料を払って橋を渡ると、鳴子川の渓谷と、切立った崖から流れ落ちる大きな2つの滝が眼下に望める。目がくらむような高さと、橋が風が吹くとかすかに揺れるせいで、歩いているだけでスリルを味わえる。
橋の両端には、おみやげや食べ物を販売するショップが軒を連ねる。片方の端の北方エリアには、
いくつかの小さな神社が目を引く。橋のたもとから少し歩けば、白鳥神社にたどり着くだろう。この神社が最初に建立されたのは、1500年も前のこと。静かで絵から抜け出したような趣があるが、
橋を目当てに来た観光客の多くは、この神社を見過ごしているようだ。九重連峰龍昇院 白蛇御参所に寄ってみてもいい。
そしてこの地に残る伝説に想いを馳せてみよう。伝説によると、5匹の蛇が空に上ろうと試み、3匹だけがそれを成し遂げた。残りの1匹は滝に姿を変え、残る1匹は木に同化してしまったという（諸説あり）。
Web サイト：www.yumeooturihashi.com

＞ 九重ドライブマップ (Google)

 

Reporter: Alanna Schubach
Alanna is orijinally from New York and is now in her second year as an English Assistant Language Teacher in Fukuoka.

 

Kokonoe-machi, in the Kuju area of Oita, is a lovely country town that, considering its small size, is packed with onsen and other sightseeing opportunities. For those looking for a quick escape from city life, Kokonoe, gifted with natural wonders thanks to nearby active volcanoes, is a great option. And though the area is 240 square kilometers, the population is sparse enough to offer relief from ordinarily-crowded Japan. Accessible from the scenic Yamanami Highway, this town has gorgeous mountain views with autumn colors already appearing, natural hot springs, hiking trails in the Kuju mountain range, and other sights to make this a pleasant day or weekend trip. The Yume Ootsuribashi (Dream Suspension Bridge) is an impressive, walkable structure that allows visitors to get their bearings in the Oita wilderness. From the bridge, you can take in Shindo Falls, named one of Japan’s best 100 waterfalls. Quaint farms and cafes benefit from the rural location’s plentiful produce and have fresh dishes to try that taste all-natural. It’s easy to get a dose of culture by visiting onsen, ryokan, shrines, and a museum that highlights the work of a unique Japanese artist. And the Hatchobaru Power Station educates guests on its geothermal energy production, a fascinating–and completely eco-friendly–way of keeping Oita homes and businesses up and running. Though the coming weeks give visitors the best opportunity to see brightly-colored fall foliage, other seasons offer their own sights. In the spring, the area explodes with azaleas, which, due to the unique properties of the soil from volcanic activity, are considered their own species endemic to Kyushu. Summer brings the annual Kokonoe “Lavender Festa,” and the Kuju Flower Park features flower species from around the world all year long. Should you choose to visit in the winter, you can enjoy Kyushu’s largest ski resort, Kokonoe Shinrin Koen. For foreigners who may know Oita only for the bustling hot springs city of Beppu, a trip to Kokonoe is a calmer and perhaps more authentic way to experience the Kyushu countryside.

Make the Kokonoe “Yume” Ootsuribashi (“Dream” Suspension Bridge) your first stop to get your bearings in the Oita wilderness. This suspension footbridge, at 173 meters tall and 375 meters across, is the longest and highest of its kind in the world. For ¥500 to cross, visitors take in singular views of the Naruko-kawa gorge and two massive waterfalls pouring from towering cliffs. The dramatic elevation and the bridge’s slight swaying in the wind make this a thrilling walk. And of course, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase omiyage and snacks at each end. One side also features several small shrines—a quick walk brings you to Shiratori Jinja (White Bird Shrine), first built 1,500 years ago, a quiet and picturesque spot apparently overlooked by the many tourists who come for the bridge. You can also visit Shirahebi Gosanjo (White Snake Shrine), and learn about the legend of the five snake gods who tried to reach the sky—only three made it, and the remaining two turned into a waterfall and got stuck to a tree, respectively. For more information visit www.yumeooturihashi.com (Japanese only.)

＞ Kokonoe Drive Map (Google)

 

Reporter: Alanna Schubach
Alanna is orijinally from New York and is now in her second year as an English Assistant Language Teacher in Fukuoka.

 

Kokonoe-machi, in the Kuju area of Oita, is a lovely country town that, considering its small size, is packed with onsen and other sightseeing opportunities. For those looking for a quick escape from city life, Kokonoe, gifted with natural wonders thanks to nearby active volcanoes, is a great option. And though the area is 240 square kilometers, the population is sparse enough to offer relief from ordinarily-crowded Japan. Accessible from the scenic Yamanami Highway, this town has gorgeous mountain views with autumn colors already appearing, natural hot springs, hiking trails in the Kuju mountain range, and other sights to make this a pleasant day or weekend trip. The Yume Ootsuribashi (Dream Suspension Bridge) is an impressive, walkable structure that allows visitors to get their bearings in the Oita wilderness. From the bridge, you can take in Shindo Falls, named one of Japan’s best 100 waterfalls. Quaint farms and cafes benefit from the rural location’s plentiful produce and have fresh dishes to try that taste all-natural. It’s easy to get a dose of culture by visiting onsen, ryokan, shrines, and a museum that highlights the work of a unique Japanese artist. And the Hatchobaru Power Station educates guests on its geothermal energy production, a fascinating–and completely eco-friendly–way of keeping Oita homes and businesses up and running. Though the coming weeks give visitors the best opportunity to see brightly-colored fall foliage, other seasons offer their own sights. In the spring, the area explodes with azaleas, which, due to the unique properties of the soil from volcanic activity, are considered their own species endemic to Kyushu. Summer brings the annual Kokonoe “Lavender Festa,” and the Kuju Flower Park features flower species from around the world all year long. Should you choose to visit in the winter, you can enjoy Kyushu’s largest ski resort, Kokonoe Shinrin Koen. For foreigners who may know Oita only for the bustling hot springs city of Beppu, a trip to Kokonoe is a calmer and perhaps more authentic way to experience the Kyushu countryside.

Make the Kokonoe “Yume” Ootsuribashi (“Dream” Suspension Bridge) your first stop to get your bearings in the Oita wilderness. This suspension footbridge, at 173 meters tall and 375 meters across, is the longest and highest of its kind in the world. For ¥500 to cross, visitors take in singular views of the Naruko-kawa gorge and two massive waterfalls pouring from towering cliffs. The dramatic elevation and the bridge’s slight swaying in the wind make this a thrilling walk. And of course, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase omiyage and snacks at each end. One side also features several small shrines—a quick walk brings you to Shiratori Jinja (White Bird Shrine), first built 1,500 years ago, a quiet and picturesque spot apparently overlooked by the many tourists who come for the bridge. You can also visit Shirahebi Gosanjo (White Snake Shrine), and learn about the legend of the five snake gods who tried to reach the sky—only three made it, and the remaining two turned into a waterfall and got stuck to a tree, respectively. For more information visit www.yumeooturihashi.com (Japanese only.)

＞ Kokonoe Drive Map (Google)