garden — Minimalist Traveler — Minimalist Traveler

Back from the feeric Yakushima Island to Kagoshima starting my train journey in Japan from south to north, Kagoshima-Sapporo with multiple stops and detours on my way.

I have two months and an half to get there and so many places to see.

My first stop will be in Kumamoto, very close to some volcano mountains and lakes, I have booked a cheep but nice capsule hotel there.

Yesterday when I woke up in Yakushima for my usual breakfast before going for a hike, I was planning to go to a beautiful beach, Nagata. But that didn't go as plan. The weather wasn't that good I thought. Seing other peoples leaving quite in an hurry, I asked. An other typhoon was aiming to Japan and the slow ferry was close. My host adviced me to take the fast ferry today which was still able to sail and booked a room for me! (Otherwise I could get stuck on the island during the typhoon) In less than an hour I was in the bus to the port and could see huges waves hitting the shores and the wind bending smalls trees.

when I arrived at the ferry terminal there were a massive queue of people trying to exchange there ticket to leave early. Luckily I had a reservation number thanks to my host and I could get in the ferry, I was the last one getting on board!!!

The ferry Journey was quite jumpy!!! But after two hours I made it to Kagoshima! I had no idea what direction to go : Miyazaki or Kumamoto, finally I made my mind and activated my 21 days JR pass to start my train journey.

I think it should be good enough to go to Mt Fuji with it before heading to Tokyo with of course multiples stop in between.

Im planning maybe 7 stops before being there, Which mean 2 or 3 days stop max. But it's still quite blurry where to go next and I like that.

The first afternoon in Kumamoto I've decided to visit a garden, weather was alright, I thought, but not awesome.

I had to go on a ride on the tram and end up on the other side of the city. When I entered the garden I saw this magnificent pond reflecting perfectly the clouds in the sky. That was stunning, this light when it's oscillates in between blue sky and rainy mood. Really dramatico-romantic.

I stayed maybe 3 hours there walking around in this zen garden. The shapes of the trees and the perfect green of the grass, the city in the background!

Don't miss this garden if you're going to Kumamoto!

You know this feeling when you come back from holiday and you're happy to be back home?

Back to Naha town in my favorite Capsule hotel after 2 hours of Ferry from zamami Islands, I've jumped straight in the onsen.

Very relaxing after this small travel. Thats really something I enjoy in Japan : the onsen. I've been told that on my way from Kagoshima to Tokyo there is some good ones.

It's already diner time and what's best that some nice Soba! It didn't take long for me to fell asleep.

The following day Ive checked-in for my last night in a nice guest house close to the center, traditional tatami room with shared facilities, shower, small kitchen. This is like flat sharing again. For those who think Japan is expensive it cost me £20.

The floor is all tatamis and you got a foldable futon mattress with a sheet and a blanket. It's up to you to make your bed in the fashion and orientation you want. I love it! Really comfy! I slept like a baby. I really recommend it for anyone who wants to visit Japan, at least one night for tge experience.

Today I'm flying to Seoul to meet a couple of Friends there : Cecile and Arnaud. I'm looking forward to see them and to discover Seoul. That will be my first time there!

It's gonna be a social event in my solo traveller life! I didn't speak that much to peoples the last two weeks. But that's true that when you are traveling alone people talk to you more.

Since I'm traveling all my landmarks have changed, from one place to another every 2-3 days. Unpacking, packing again. Im adapting myself to this new life and even after two weeks I can see that I didn't use half of what's in my bag. That make me think that you don't need much to live as an itinerant traveler : some good resistants and clean clothes, a jacket, a hat, sunglasses, some good shoes, a small toilet kit, few electronics devices to communicate and stay connected to the world. Up to you to turn it off! And thats it!

That's all I need! Less you have, less you carry, less you worry!

My camera, my GoPro and my laptop are taking a fair amount of space in my bag, maybe more than half of it. I also have my travel yoga mat which I didn't use yet.

I'm trying to re-organize my small backpack for the next part of my adventures and I'll need to make some hard choices haha!

Since I arrived I bought only 3 things : an umbrella (then I lost an umbrella and I bought a new one, this is the umbrella chain...), my hearplugs and a small Muji toilet kit, mine was too big.

Before leaving I found a garden on the map which was quite far, that was almost one hour of walk and of course I got lost! Haha!

I ended up walking/climbing a hill under a hot sun. I noticed that the houses there were very simple in the way they were made... No windows...

Well that was the cemetery!

I've finally arrived to the garden and again thought. : All that for that! A parking lot, few cars, few taxi. After buying some refreshing water I entered the garden, that wasn't only a garden!

I was happy to discover there some pieces of Okinawa history! Traditionals houses and a zen garden. Quiet and peaceful... With many paths and bridges to walk around.

There is two traditionals houses you can enter and visit. I was so happy that I spent my entire afternoon walking around and chilling.

Again, I felt like I was the only one in the garden. Where are the people!

That's a true pearl! A small gem in the city! When you sit and look around you can imagine kings and queens walking in kimonos, sandals and fan. Sometimes architecture and nature are speaking to you to remind you a past that you never knew. These gardens are the memories of the city, the latest witnesses of the old Japan.

Here I am, having my last breakfast/brunch in Okinawa! I honestly loved my time here! It's hot! I was always sweaty, chasing the shadows on my long walks in the city and inevitably got sunburn!

I've discovered some fantastic gardens, some curious traditions, some indescriptibles Islands and some very welcoming peoples. I've watched my first sunset in the rising country sun! I met a turtle! I had one of the best Soba in my life! I tried to be and not to do and I'll keep going. I learnt that there is so many way to communicate and to be understand, no need for a specific language. A simple smile sometime is a good start.

I'm still looking to find some questions to start to find some answers.

During these two weeks I realized that travelling is really something I want to do as much as possible and that is totally different that "long holiday".

I want to witness unknown cultures and meet differents peoples. There is a lot of to learn from difference.

Okinawa is a mix of the welcoming traditions of a tropicals Island and the legendary japenese hospitality.