7kms across the sea
Temperature – 6
The Ariake Sea is bordered by several prefectures, and many people's livelihoods depend on its resources. It also offers tourists a variety of enjoyable experiences, including boat trips, dolphin watching, inter-prefecture cruises, and the annual Mud Olympics held in Kashima. The sea supports the surrounding prefectures by providing numerous resources. Notably, the deepest point in the Ariake Sea is only 50 meters, making it relatively shallow. Additionally, many tidal flats in the surrounding areas are replenished by ash from nearby volcanoes.
One of the “cutest” inhabitants of the Ariake mudflats is the mudskipper, which can be found skipping along the mudflats during low tide. Saga Prefecture embraces these little creatures, and many items featuring mudskippers can be found throughout the region. These include manhole covers, ceramic tiles on walkways, and adorable cat plushies in certain locations, where the cats are dressed as mudskippers. I am proud to say that I own one of these delightful plushies.
Today's focus is on Ishaya Bay in Nagasaki. Dominating the landscape is Unzen, an active volcano with a vocal history. However, I'll save a detailed discussion about it for another blog post.
Today, I want to concentrate on a stretch of road approximately 7 kilometres long that runs between Isahaya and the Unzen complex. This road parallels the controversial Isahaya Dike reclamation project. Fun fact: the disputes surrounding this project are said to have inspired the antagonists Team Magma and Team Aqua in the Pokémon franchise.
This stretch of road, controversial as it may be, is undeniably a beautiful drive or walk. I have walked the 7 kilometres and can vouch for its scenic beauty, which clearly attracts many bikers and road trippers who take the opportunity to travel this route. There is a public toilet and an observation platform at the halfway point, but make sure to bring your own drinks and snacks if you decide to walk this stretch. It is quite remote; I opted to take the Shimabara railway to Amakusa and then rejoined the Nagasaki line at Yue on the other side. Both locations were very rural. The walk took about an hour and is flat, offering panoramic views of Isahaya Bay with Unzen towering over the landscape.
At the viewing point, you can see the view facing Kagoshima on one side and Saga on the far left. Both vistas are stunning, and I was fortunate to have fine weather for my walk, despite it being a bit windy at times. I can imagine that this walk could be challenging during the hot summer in Kyushu.
Today's blog post is focused on sharing some beautiful images and perhaps encouraging you to consider adding this stretch of road to your travel itinerary if you're planning to drive around Kyushu. If you're looking for a scenic route to get to Shimabara and the Unzen complex, this is a great option. Kyushu is filled with breathtaking landscapes, and if you want a break from the cities, the rural charm of the towns on either side will certainly provide that.
