2.2万円 大阪～大分 0泊3日 弾丸フェリーで15か所を巡る旅

2.2万円 大阪～大分 0泊3日 弾丸フェリーで15か所を巡る旅

Head for Oita aboard the Sunflower! And let’s visit all 15 spots. You’ll get this wonderful hand towel! Hello! I’m at Xavier Park in Sakai. This time, it’s a journey visiting 15 spots in Oita City. The first 100 people will receive this wonderful special-edition hand towel. Only seven people have achieved that. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s unpopular or because it’s too difficult. This is a challenge I must take on! This is a work exhibited at the Portuguese Pavilion during the 1970 Osaka World Expo. Francis Xavier was the first to introduce Christianity to Japan. Xavier visited Sakai in 1550 and stayed at the residence located here. One of the cities where Xavier carried out his missionary activities was Oita. So I begin this journey from Sakai, the city associated with Xavier. Let’s explore Sakai a little more. The streetcar is convenient for sightseeing in Sakai. This museum introduces the history of Sakai. The streetscape of Sakai from about 100 years ago is recreated in miniature. Medieval Sakai flourished as a hub of international trade. On world maps of that time, it was labeled “SACAY.” Sakai is also famous for its World Heritage ancient burial mounds. Want to try eating a burial mound? During a certain period in the Middle Ages, Sakai was a more important city than Osaka or Kyoto. The great figure from Sakai is the poet Yosano Akiko. She is famous for her poems opposing the Russo-Japanese War in the early 20th century. The most famous person from Sakai is the 16th-century tea master Sen no Rikyu. For just $5, you can experience a simple tea ceremony. You can enjoy tea ceremony while seated in a chair, not on your knees. Sen no Rikyū is the founder of the tea ceremony. Enjoy tea while savoring Japanese sweets. I don’t know much about the detailed tea ceremony etiquette. But I was captivated by her beautiful tea ceremony movements. “The mind itself is the place of practice.” Vimalakirti Sutra Next door is the Site of Sen no Rikyū’s Residence. Sen no Rikyū committed seppuku in Kyoto in 1591. It was an order from the supreme ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but the reason remains unclear. This is the site of Yosano Akiko’s residence. Sakai is a city rich in historical atmosphere. Through a short walk, I came to understand that. I’ve come to Sakai Station. This painting depicts the Portuguese who came to Sakai in the 16th century. You can take the train from here to Osaka Port. However, you can also take the bus. It takes 25 minutes by bus from here to Osaka Port and costs $5. In the evening, buses run once or twice an hour. The ferry departs at 7:05 p.m. It arrives at Beppu Port in Oita at 6:35 a.m. The bus arrived at the Asia Trade Center. The ferry terminal is right next to the bus stop. The Sunflower Ferry also operates a route from Kobe to Oita. I will board the Sunflower Kurenai bound for Beppu. The ferry terminal is located within the Asia Trade Center. Climb these stairs to enter the Center. It’s a nice spot for a stroll. By train, Trade Center Station is the nearest station. The Sunflower Ferry ticket counter is located in the spacious atrium area. In the atrium, products from Kyushu and Shikoku were being sold. Various events are held at this location. Many restaurants and shops are also open. This is the Sunflower Ferry Museum. It displays models of ships that were previously in service. I went outside again. The Sunflower Satsuma bound for Shibushi is departing. After leaving the wharf, the ship first moves backward. Then the ship turns its bow toward the direction of travel and moves forward. The voyage to Shibushi takes 15 hours. Looking down, numerous padlocks. This place was not for me. The Ship left behind on the wharf at dusk. The waiting room is almost empty. Boarding the ship has already begun. Walk along the connecting passageway toward the ship. The passageway connects to the sixth deck of the ship. The Kurenai is a new ship that entered service in 2023. This ship is one of the most comfortable ferries in Japan. And the interior of this ship is also magnificent. I will arrive in Beppu tomorrow morning and depart for Osaka that evening. I booked a round-trip ticket for $150. The cabin on the outward journey is a semi-private room. Enjoy a room tour with the Song of Sunflower! The sound of the gong awakens me from my mental reverie. The Sunflower Ferry always sounds its gong 15 minutes before departure. Let’s head out to the external deck from the 7th floor lobby. External decks are located on the 7th and 8th floors. The view opens up when you go up to the 8th floor. Let’s watch the work at the stern deck. The stern deck is somewhat difficult to see. This is probably one of the few drawbacks of this ship. They disconnect the rope and reel it up onto the ship. And the next rope. The staff finish their work and head back. The ship departed at 7:05 p.m. as scheduled. Is anyone watching this ship depart from that skyscraper? The staff see us off from the wharf. Tonight is a full moon. The night sea is brightly illuminated. That large, flat structure is the venue for the ongoing World Expo. Tomorrow, I’ll visit 15 spots in Oita. First, I need to obtain the Sunflower stamp using the QR code inside the ship. In Oita too, I will collect 15 stamps like this. A mini jazz concert is being held in the 6th-floor lobby. Head to the shop while listening to the music. There are many Expo-related products. There are also various bamboo crafts from Oita. And Sunflower original goods. Oita is known for its delicious kabosu citrus and shiitake mushrooms. About an hour after departure, the ship enters the Akashi Strait. The ship is now passing under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The bridge and the full moon are performing together. The building shining on the land is the Akashi City Astronomy Science Museum. Let’s head back inside the ship for dinner. The restaurant on the 6th floor offers a $17 dinner buffet. This buffet features the Seto Inland Sea as its theme. These dishes make generous use of ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea. Many dishes are visually appealing. With this many dishes for $17, it should be a bargain. Many Japanese ferries offer buffet service in their restaurants. Among them, the Sunflower Ferry buffet is especially appealing. Then let’s eat. I especially enjoyed the sea bream and bonito sashimi, and the croquettes. This barley shochu is a specialty of Oita. The restaurant is open until 9:00 p.m. After dinner, I went to the grand bath on the seventh floor. This ship entered service in 2023 and is still new. The grand bath is especially clean and easy to use. Some of the ship’s lights are turned off at 10:00 p.m. Let’s explore the ship starting from the 8th floor lobby. Smoking rooms are located on each deck. This lounge is exclusively for guests staying in suite rooms. Use these stairs to move from the 8th to the 7th floor. The interior design draws inspiration from Oita’s traditional bamboo crafts. The shared restrooms are also very clean and easy to use. This is the rest area in the 7th floor lobby. The round window has a bench built in. Let’s descend to the sixth floor via the grand staircase. The grand staircase lit up at night is worth seeing. The sixth floor offers the largest rest area. There are many vending machines next to the kids’ area. These vending machines accept e-money. Children’s artwork is displayed on the information desk wall. Even though it’s nighttime, loud voices echo through the lobby. The restaurant remains open as a free space until the next morning. A group of students were making noise until late at night. The kitchenette also has a microwave and ice machine. However, there is no water dispenser. These are reproductions of ferry posters from over 100 years ago. I’m looking forward to Oita tomorrow… The full moon is about to set in the western sky. To the right is the Kunisaki Peninsula. The ship moves from the Seto Inland Sea to Beppu Bay. The cityscape of Oita City came into view on the left. The eastern horizon is glowing. The morning sun rose above the clouds. The sun gradually increases its brilliance. Many passengers are on the external deck. The sun, clouds, sea, and sky were in perfect harmony. I gazed at it for over 10 minutes. It’s about 30 minutes to Beppu Port. The quiet ship came alive again. The breakfast buffet is $5. I can’t help but wonder if they make a profit at this price. After breakfast, Beppu Port is just in front of us. The sea was calm, and the ripples from the ship were very beautiful. I’ll visit near that Takasakiyama Mountain later. The ship approaches the wharf at Beppu Port. It looks like it’s going to be a nice day today. The staff is waving from the wharf. They throw a line from the ship to the wharf. However, the first line fell into the sea and failed. The second throw lands securely on the wharf. Such things happen from time to time. A thick rope is connected to the end of a thin line. The staff moves quickly and efficiently. He connects the rope from the ship to the rope on the wharf. All rope operations have been completed. LNG transport vehicles for marine fuel are on standby. The ship arrived on schedule at 6:35 a.m. Let’s go back inside the ship. The passageway connects to the ship. He is adjusting the position of the passageway. Then the passengers disembark. Such semi-private cabins are only available on the Sunflower. It’s a cabin with excellent value for money. The sixth-floor lobby is filled with morning sunlight. Proceed to the disembarkation gate on the 6th floor. This evening, I’ll return to this ship. Well, we’re in Beppu City. First, we will move to neighboring Oita City. There is a bus stop in front of the ferry terminal. It’s 14 minutes to Beppu Station and costs $2. However, I need to visit 15 spots in Oita City by this evening. It’s difficult by bus, so I’ll use a rental car. I’d really like to use a motorcycle, but there are no rental bikes nearby. It’s a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. I arrived at the rental car parking lot. This rental car is available 24 hours a day if you make a reservation. The first spot is Takasakiyama Natural Zoo. They feed over 800 wild monkeys. I’d like to see the monkeys, but since it’s before opening, Ie’ll head to the next spot. The second spot is the Umitamago Aquarium, located right next door. From the terrace, I can see the ferry that just disembarked. I need to return to that ship by 6:00 p.m. at the latest. The third spot is the Farmer’s Market Tanourara. Scan the QR codes on posters at each spot to collect stamps. You can also earn stamps using your smartphone’s GPS. The fourth spot is Oita Prefectural Art Museum. The next few spots are in the central part of Oita City. The fifth spot is Oita Castle Ruins. This castle was built over 400 years ago. For over 250 years thereafter, the administration of the Oita domain was based there. This castle did not exist during the era of the Sengoku daimyo Otomo Sorin. Very few of the buildings from that time remain. Once upon a time, a great castle tower stood tall upon these stone walls. We’ve arrived at Oita Station. The sixth spot is the Oita City Tourist Information Center. You can get all kinds of tourist information about Oita City. They are the mascots of Takasakiyama Natural Zoo. Kabosu citrus is a specialty product of Oita. This bronze statue is of Otomo Sorin. He ruled Oita and the surrounding areas in the 16th century. Next to it is Francis Xavier. The figure on the hand towel is not Xavier, but a famous manga character. Now, on to the next spot. I parked the car at the station front parking lot. The seventh spot is the Otomo Ruins Discovery Center. This is a facility about Oita during the Otomo clan era. The Otomo clan’s residence was located here. There is a tea room and a section displaying period costumes. Next door is the excavation site of the Otomo clan’s residence. The Otomo clan’s garden has also been restored. The Otomo clan flourished greatly, centered on this land. Plans to restore the gates, walls, and moats from that era are underway. In the 16th century, the Portuguese introduced pumpkins to Oita. And Otomo Sorin spread pumpkins throughout Japan. The eighth spot is the Oita City Art Museum. Your gaze is drawn to the window outside. What is that on the dog’s head? Mount Takasakiyama looks beautiful today. Works by Oita artists are gathered here. It’s fun to wander around the building’s intricate structure. This place is located a little way from the center of Oita City. This place is rich in nature. The ninth spot is the Oita City History Museum. This is a restored model of the seven-story pagoda that once stood in Oita City. This recreates life in ancient Oita. These are earthenware and bronze spears excavated in Oita. This is an ancient stone coffin. This museum covers history from ancient times to the present day. This is a cannon from the 16th century. It is said that Otomo Sorin was the first to use cannons in Japan. This is a model of Oita Castle, which I visited earlier. It also explains modern and contemporary history. Oita was a major production center for tatami mats in the 19th century. The exhibits were surprisingly impressive. The 10th Spot is the Farmer’s Market Notsuharu. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Oita Station. Here, many agricultural products from Oita are sold. A wide variety of products at low prices. Rice is expensive in Japan these days, but it’s cheap here. Here I had a light meal. I’m worried whether I can visit all the spots within the time limit. This is an area where Oita’s historic streetscape remains. The 11th spot is Hoashi Sake Brewery Warehouse. This sake brewery was in use for about 100 years from the mid-19th century. It has been restored to its former appearance. Oita’s excellent water quality fostered a thriving sake brewing industry. There are still many sake breweries in Oita today. Hita City in Oita Prefecture is also home to a large-scale beer factory. The 12th spot is Mori Kuso Memorial Hall. Mori Kuso was a 19th-century educator in Oita. However, most Japanese people outside of Oita do not know him. The 13th spot is Kamezuka Tumulus Park and Kaifu Tumulus Museum. Kamezuka Tumulus is a large keyhole-shaped burial mound located here. The museum explains tumuluses within Oita. Kamezuka Tumulus has also been restored to its former appearance. You can actually walk around and visualize what a keyhole-shaped burial mound looks like. Buried stone coffins and haniwa figurines were also restored. The largest ancient tumulus in Japan is the Daisenryo in Sakai City. Sakai and Oita also share a deep connection through ancient burial mounds. The 14th spot is the Farmer’s Market Saganoseki. Saganoseki is famous for its delicious horse mackerel and mackerel. Actually, it’s part of Oita City. The 15th spot is JX Metals Sekizaki Museum. The museum is closed today, so I got the stamp using GPS. I finally collected all 15 stamps. I returned to Beppu Port at 5:30 p.m. To leisurely visit all 15 spots, you’ll need two days. Looks like you’d need two days to see everything properly. Boarding has already started at the ferry terminal. Let’s hurry and board. From the boarding bridge to the 6th deck inside the ship. The cabin for the return trip is a capsule bed. Let’s take a look at the cabin while listening to the Sunflower song again. Wake up to the gong! Let’s head out to the external deck. This section is played at double speed. Departure procedures begin. First, stow the vehicle ramp at the stern. Then slacken the rope and release it from the bollard. It’s the same staff member from this morning. Were they doing different work during the day? I’m also curious about the staff’s time allocation. The ship departed on schedule at 6:45 p.m. The electronic sound of the ship’s horn echoes along the wharf. It really sets the mood for the ferry trip. I like scenes like this. Beppu City and Oita City are neighbors, each with its own charm. Next time, I’d like to explore various places around Beppu City. The ship proceeds from Beppu Port into Beppu Bay. Mount Takasakiyama. The Beppu Tower. Well then, let’s head back inside the ship. I bought this sushi at the Farmer’s Market Saganoseki. Dessert is goat milk pudding. Not only yesterday, but today too, I can listen to their performance. The projection mapping starts at 8:00 p.m. The Great Adventure of the Snubfin Dolphin and the Sunflower Ferry. The Grand Staircase is illuminated all night long. The restaurant is also open all night long. Here’s some persimmon leaf sushi I bought at the Farmer’s Market Notsuharu. Three of the 15 spots were Farmer’s Markets. The moon one day after full moon. The ship heads east across the Seto Inland Sea. I was relaxing while looking down at the grand staircase. Spending the evening here isn’t bad at all. After that, I kept going back and forth on the external deck Actually, the room next door was noisy and I couldn’t sleep… Ferries tend to get crowded and noisy during the summer. Akashi Strait before dawn. The ship passes under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The massive bridge, unlit, is actually more impressive. On the outward journey, the ship’s announcement informed passengers of the bridge crossing. On the return trip, since it’s early morning, there are no announcements. About 30 minutes left until arrival. My breakfast is a donut and a madeleine I bought on board. The grand bath is open until arrival in the morning Numerous ships are waiting to enter port. Is the Expo site crowded again today? Osaka Port is illuminated by the morning glow. The ship is passing between the lighthouses to enter the harbor. On the right is a long breakwater with red lighthouse. A white lighthouse on the left. Passing here means you’re inside Osaka Port. The wharf comes into view. The power plant’s chimney stands out prominently. The ship makes a 180-degree turn before docking. The Sunflower Satsuma bound for Shibushi made its turn after departure. However the Kurenai makes its turn before docking. After completing the turn, the ship pulls alongside the wharf. The line is dropped from the ship to the wharf. The rope from the ship is connected to the wharf’s rope. This wharf is wide and seems easy to work on. This is the final rope on the stern side. After this, the Satsuma will arrive at 7:40 a.m. The same staff member will probably continue the work. The lines are bundled and returned to the ship. The ship arrived on schedule at 6:35 a.m. My roundtrip ferry voyage has come to an end. This ferry trip had a clear purpose. Looking back, it brings a different kind of satisfaction than usual. Well then, let’s disembark. The cabin next door was noisy until late. But I slept soundly because I was so tired. I visited 15 places in Oita. Without this opportunity, I would never have visited some of these spots. This trip made me rediscover the joy of going to unknown places. If I get another chance like this, I definitely want to try it again. The Kurenai is truly a great ship, no matter how many times I sail on it. From here, Trade Center Station is the closest station. However I’ll take the bus bound for Sakai Station, just like on the way here. I caught a brief glimpse of the Sunflower Ferry from the bus window. One week after finishing the ferry trip, I’m in Wakayama. The special hand towel arrived for me. I am the 8th person to complete it. I chose this spot because it would suit the castle. “Oita’s onsen are deep-heat geothermal springs.” You Know!? Ah…!

さんふらわあが「魁‼ 男塾」とコラボ！？
特別企画「大分市いいやんスポット巡り旅」に挑戦しました。
さんふらわあに乗船して、大分市内15か所のスポットを巡れば、
先着100名に宮下あきら先生デザインの特製手ぬぐいがゲットできるという企画。
男なら挑戦するしかない！
さあ、今すぐさんふらわあに飛び乗れ！！

0:00　オープニング
0:26　堺
6:22　乗船
12:38　出航
21:44　夜明け
26:25　大分
40:40　再乗船
47:19　大阪
53:47　和歌山

#フェリー
#さんふらわあ
#大分
#別府
#大阪
#フェリー旅
#船旅
#くれない
#スタンプラリー