Skip to content

modernduck.com

the unofficial website of Jody McIntyre

Menu
  • Meow and welcome! 😺
  • Blog
  • Subscribe by email
Menu

Can has Cat Mountain?

Posted on February 6, 2010May 8, 2013 by scjody

Onwards from Sakurajima: I took the train from Kagoshima to Kumamoto and spent the evening in town. Historically, that’s an interesting combination because of Saigo Takamori. He was an important figure in the Meiji Restoration, during which Japan restored contact with the rest of the world and consolidated government power under the emperor as a constitutional monarchy (same system as Canada, more or less.) But then he unsuccessfully led Japan’s last civil war agaist the government he helped found and ended up committing sepuku. Nevertheless, he is mostly revered in Kagoshima. Not so much in Kumamoto – the castle there is the one he burned down as part of the rebellion! Anyway, an interesting figure and I now want to see The Last Samurai, a movie (based on or about?) his life.

My purpose in Kumamoto was to rent another bike and ride north to the onsen (hotspring) town of Yamaga along a cycling path. This was an excellent ride with gentle hills mostly through farmland. The only unfortunate part was I only had time to visit one onsen while in Yamaga. The spa facility wasn’t that great but the water was wonderful!

Yamaga Cycling Path

After Kumamoto I was thinking of heading to Kirishima-Yaku National Park, but after a few phone calls decided that this would be too difficult and risky (in terms of not finding a place to sleep) in the off season. I’d like to go at some point and climb a few more volcanoes, but during the summer with a tent and maybe a bicycle.

Instead I took the train to Aso, another active volcano. I took the bus up part of the mountain, climbed a minor hill near the volcano museum, ate lunch, then waited. This active volcano vents sulphur dioxide, a poisonous gas, so parts are occasionally closed for days or hours. Fortunately, I only had to wait about 40 minutes before they gave the all clear and let busloads of tourists (and me) ascend to the viewing area where you can see the active Nakadake crater. But then more waiting: one of the areas I wanted to hike through was closed! I eventually asked one of the rangers if there was anything I could do and he outlined a route on my map that avoided the closed area and pointed me at it. So that was fine and off I went.

Aso-san venting gasesWalkway & shelters

I ended up climbing two peaks: Nakadake and Takodake. It was a really fun and scenic climb. The only bad part was hiking through the sulphur dioxide field. It was apparently weak enough to be considered “safe” even by the cautious Japanese authorities, but it wasn’t _pleasant_ to breathe. That was only 15 minutes or so of the hike but enough to give me a really runny nose for the rest of the day.

Nakadake Summit

On the way down I was able to see craggy Nekodake in the distance. Luckily I was wearing my Ceiling Cat tshirt because Nekodake means Cat Mountain! I’d like to come back sometime and climb Nekodake because it looks fun (and because Cat Mountain!) I need rope, gear, and a partner though :)

Cat Mountain

After the climbing I just had time to soak and sauna at Yume-no-yu, the local onsen, before getting on a train for Beppu. All in all another great day but I’m looking forward to some relaxation in Beppu.

Originally written January 30, 2010

1 thought on “Can has Cat Mountain?”

  1. Julie says:
    February 6, 2010 at 09:53

    Hi Jody! Glad to hear that you’re having adventures.

    In case anyone else is interested, I set up a syndicated LJ feed for this site, so people can view it on their friends’ pages:

    http://modernduck.livejournal.com

    Hugs,
    Julie

Comments are closed.

Recent Posts

  • Accueil
  • An interesting LLM test case
  • Greetings!
  • Sondage OsstidBurn 2018
  • gcloud compute ssh improvements & EMACS TRAMP mode
  • Flat Pack Kitchen Shelves & Wash Station
  • This is not a place of honor.
  • LOOK AT THIS DUCK
  • Just leaving this here…
  • Frostburn 2013

Subscribe by email


Archives

  • November 2024 (1)
  • July 2024 (1)
  • November 2023 (1)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • May 2013 (1)
  • February 2013 (1)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • May 2012 (1)
  • April 2012 (2)
  • March 2012 (1)
  • February 2012 (1)
  • January 2012 (1)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • November 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (1)
  • September 2011 (1)
  • August 2011 (1)
  • July 2011 (1)
  • June 2011 (1)
  • May 2011 (1)
  • March 2011 (2)
  • February 2011 (1)
  • January 2011 (4)
  • December 2010 (1)
  • November 2010 (1)
  • October 2010 (1)
  • September 2010 (3)
  • August 2010 (4)
  • July 2010 (15)
  • June 2010 (16)
  • May 2010 (17)
  • April 2010 (10)
  • March 2010 (10)
  • February 2010 (19)
  • January 2010 (10)
  • November 2009 (6)
  • October 2009 (1)
  • September 2009 (1)
  • July 2009 (2)
  • June 2009 (3)
  • May 2009 (2)
  • April 2009 (6)
  • March 2009 (5)
  • February 2009 (3)
  • January 2009 (4)
  • December 2008 (5)
  • November 2008 (1)
  • October 2008 (5)
  • September 2008 (4)
  • August 2008 (2)
  • July 2008 (4)
  • June 2008 (2)
  • May 2008 (2)
  • April 2008 (5)
  • March 2008 (4)
  • February 2008 (2)
  • January 2008 (1)
  • December 2007 (3)
  • November 2007 (5)
  • October 2007 (3)
  • September 2007 (5)
  • August 2007 (2)
  • July 2007 (2)
  • June 2007 (2)
  • May 2007 (1)
  • April 2007 (4)
  • March 2007 (4)
  • February 2007 (1)
  • December 2006 (2)
  • November 2006 (4)
  • October 2006 (3)
  • September 2006 (3)
  • August 2006 (3)
  • July 2006 (1)
  • May 2006 (1)
  • March 2006 (1)
  • November 2005 (2)
  • October 2005 (1)
  • August 2005 (4)
  • June 2005 (1)
  • May 2005 (3)
  • February 2005 (3)
  • January 2005 (1)
  • October 2004 (1)
  • September 2004 (3)
  • August 2004 (2)
  • June 2004 (1)
  • May 2004 (6)
  • March 2004 (1)
  • February 2004 (1)
  • January 2004 (1)
  • November 2003 (1)
  • October 2003 (1)
  • September 2003 (1)
  • August 2003 (1)
  • July 2003 (1)
  • June 2003 (3)
  • May 2003 (2)
© 2025 modernduck.com | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme