Nichinan 日南市

Oct. 24, 2023: Once again, we arrived at a new port. However, the port where we docked, Aburatsu Port, is approximately 1.5 miles away from the center of Nichinan. There are several attractions around the city that we wished to visit, but upon checking, we discovered that while there are buses available, they aren't very convenient. Typically, if the port is far from the city center, free shuttle buses would be provided. However, this time, the cruise only offered shuttle buses for $15 per person, and we had to endure long queues for them. Initially, we lined up for the shuttle bus but eventually opted for a taxi. We agreed to share a cab with two fellow passengers, but after waiting in line for over half an hour, we were informed that all the taxis had been hired out. Our only recourse was to walk from the ship terminal to the city center. We were told that there were temporary shuttle buses to Obi Castle and Udo Shrine near the city center. Consequently, the four of us embarked on a walking journey of over half an hour to reach the city center.

Obi Castle, near Nichinan City, is dubbed "Little Kyoto." Although the ancient Obi Castle dates back to the 15th century, what we observed were primarily recent reconstructions. In China, Korea, and Japan, numerous newly constructed historical sites can become somewhat tiresome to visit after a while, as they don't quite capture the authenticity of the originals.

In small towns in Japan, restaurants typically close from 2 to 5 p.m. We couldn't find any dining options near the tourist attractions, and even upon returning to the city center, we struggled to locate a restaurant for lunch. Upon consulting with locals, they suggested visiting the supermarket. Consequently, we purchased a box of sushi, rice balls, and beverages to satisfy our hunger.

Following that, the two of us strolled along the seaside. The Gion-jinja shrine concealed within the coastal caves was remarkably unique, and Nichinankaigan National Park left a lasting impression. The distinctive rock formations sculpted by wind and rain along the coast evoked memories of the scenic beauty of the "Great Ocean Road" in Melbourne, Australia. Vending machines selling all kinds of drinks are everywhere in Japan, but we found a vending machine with the lowest price while walking back to the ship.

As we returned to the terminal, a quaint market had sprung up for passengers. Though we didn't linger, the sight was bustling. At dusk, our ship gracefully eased away from the dock while a local music and dance troupe entertained us, creating a truly enchanting farewell scene.

十月二十四日：又来到一个新港口。但停靠的海港，油津港离市中心约1.5英里，城市周围有几个景点想去看看，但查了一下有公交车但不是很方便。一般来说，如果码头离市中心很远，码头会提供免费专车，可这次游轮提供专车，收15美金一人，而且还要排长队等车。我们先是排队等专车，然后决定改坐出租车出去，且与另外两位游客说好一起包车，结果排队排了半个多小时后，说出租车都包没了。唯一的选择只能是从船码头走去市中心，说是市中心有临时专车去饫肥城和鹈户神宫，我们俩就与那两位游客一起走了半个多小时来到市中心。去日南市附近的饫肥城号称＂小京都＂，饫肥古城堡建于十五世纪，但现在看到的都是近年来重新建的。中国，韩国和日本好多都是历史的新建筑，看多了有点厌了， 就是与看真货的感觉不一样。

在日本小地方，下午二点到五点餐厅休息，在景区附近没找到吃的，回到市中心后，也找不到饭店吃午饭，问了当地人，说是去超市吃。没办法就在超市里买了一盒寿司，饭团和饮料充饥。

然后我们俩沿着海边往回走，海边藏在山洞里的神社⛩️很有特色，日南海岸国定公园也不错，海边风吹雨打形成的奇特石岩更是觉得有点＂小太阳路＂的景观。