Miyazaki Edition] Kagoshima & Miyazaki In-Depth Tour by D&S Train

Day 2 of Kagoshima & Miyazaki In-Depth Tour by D & S Train

Next, we'll introduce the luxury D&S train “36+3”.”

The name of the car alone is very distinctive.
This is an incredible train! It will travel on five different routes in five days, traveling all over Kyushu, the 36th largest island in the world!
This time, we chose to take the Friday line that runs between Kagoshima Chuo Station and Miyazaki Station.

The moral of the story is that there are 35 vignettes on the 5 routes, and we want the actual riders to learn about all of them over the course of the 5 days, and to draw the 36th vignette themselves.
The 36+3 is unique in its appearance.

The black body of the car is embellished with a gold name.
The exterior is so overflowing with a sense of sophistication that it's hard to associate it with the train.

The gold-colored embossing adds to this upscale look.
But as a train, it's more than that.
What follows is a series of surprises and emotions.

The first thing you'll notice when you enter the car is the luxurious and colorful decor.
Whether it's a private room or a regular seat, every seat in the car is luxurious.

Do you believe this is the roof of the train?
It's simply stunning.

This is actually a corner of the train compartment!
It was also the box we chose for this occasion.
With a wide tabletop, the sofa-like seating is heavy and thick.
There is even a lamp.
There is also a bus guide on the table.

As soon as the train departs, the staff starts to prepare the meal.
This time we specially booked the lunch package from the "36+3" travel goods and took the train. The package was very convenient as it included the required ticket and a meal in the compartment. However, it should be noted that you cannot use the JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS with this package, so be careful. If you want to use the JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS on the "36+3", you will need to purchase an additional green ticket for the section you want to ride. Passengers can also choose to bring their own food or enjoy a buffet on the train or food and drinks purchased at stations on the way, so you can have a great time on your journey.
Please refer to the official website for details:
https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/train/36plus3.html

Even the drink coasters are so luxurious.

Meals are delivered to your seat in a chunky wooden box.

This is the menu.

It's a lot to look forward to.

Each dish is delicious, with the homemade consommé, sea bass pie with white wine cream sauce and roast beef made with A5 grade beef being particularly tasty.
The soup has the freshness of tomatoes and the beef tendon is carefully braised to melt in your mouth.
The Roast Beef was a surprise on the train as it was made from A5 grade beef, which was tender and flavorful. The special feature of the sea bass pie was the white wine salsa, which had a rich, sweet flavor that complemented the pie perfectly.
Their homemade sorbet desserts are amazing.

The dessert of the day was a blueberry sorbet, which was so rich and mellow that you forgot it was just a sorbet, and it was all gone in no time.
The flavors of sherbets available on the train change with the seasons, for example, in spring, cherry blossom sherbets with cherry blossom petals are available.
It's fun to look forward to the flavors of the sorbet you'll taste on your trip.

Kirishima Jingu Station

After everyone had finished their meal, the train arrived at Kirishima Jingu Station.
During the train's stop, passengers can get off the train and participate in some simple experiential activities.

Various events are held at the station on different days, such as on-site promotional food sampling of local specialties and taiko drumming experiences.
(These events do not take place every day.)
Commemorative postmarks are also available.

The station building at Kirishima Jingu Station is very unique, so we took advantage of the parking time to stroll around the outside of the station.

There is a torii in front of the station.
The station building was designed by the designers of the D&S train “Kanpachi/ichiroku”, and its design is extremely elegant.
The station building is heavily decorated in wood, right down to the details of the clocks and the borders of the train timetables.

The stores in the station also use a lot of wooden materials.

Timber was also used in the passageway from the ticket gates to the platform.

The whole station looks very pleasant.

Go back to the car for a walk.

Then we'll go back to the car and walk around a bit.

This is a saloon, and the word "gorgeous" is an understatement.
Various experiential activities are also organized here.

Next is the dining car compartment.
A wide range of drinks, snacks and limited edition items are available.

Payment can also be made using WeChat.
As you walk around the train, you will notice that there are different types of seats.

Each seat is luxurious and I want to experience them all.
Then the train will reach the next intermediate stop.

Osumi Okawara Station

The next stop is Osumi Okawara Station.

When you get off the train and walk out of the station, you will be greeted by a mobile food cart.
Including local refreshments and ingredients, there are many ready-to-eat delicacies to give visitors a taste of the walk-and-eat atmosphere of the trip.

When we got back to the train, we found out that there was going to be an experiential activity in the saloon, so we decided to join in.

The day's experience consisted of tasting and comparing the specialty black vinegars along the route.
The staff introduced us to balsamic vinegar and then we started tasting.
After the tasting, we also participated in a quiz activity, and the atmosphere was very enthusiastic.
Advance reservations are required to participate in these events, so it is recommended that you make your reservations as soon as you board the bus.
Reservations can be made by scanning the QR code in the menu on your seat, filling out the form and submitting it.

Meanwhile, the train soon arrived at Miyazaki Station.
It was sad to think that our luxurious time on the 36+3 train was coming to an end.
Next time, be sure to ride all five lines.

Miyazaki Jingu

Here are the sightseeing spots in Miyazaki.
The first place to visit is the Miyazaki Jingu Shrine.

This is one of the most historically significant shrines in Japan and is dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan.
The impressive walkway that stretches from the Otorii to the main hall is located in the heart of the city, only 10 minutes from Miyazaki Station, but the garden is quiet and filled with a solemn atmosphere.

Every year in April, a festival is held in this area featuring the performance of the ryuzuru horses, where samurai dressed as kamakura warriors gallop their horses and shoot arrows with their bows.
I wish I could have been there to see it.

Qingdao

Next stop, we're in Qingdao.

Aoshima Island is located about 40 minutes by train or car from Miyazaki Station, and is a famous tourist attraction in Miyazaki. Aoshima is a small island with a circumference of only 1.5 kilometers, but it is also known as an energy field.
As you look along the coast, you'll notice that you're surrounded by oddly shaped rocks.

These rocks have been eroded by the waves over a long period of time and have taken on their present shape, which is why they are also known as Oni no Washboard.
One can't help but feel the extraordinary power of nature.

Aoshima Shrine

If you continue to walk deeper into the island, you will see the Aoshima Shrine.

It is said that this place can bring good marriages and visitors can make various wishes here.

One of the highlights is the large painting of a horse on the top of the head.

Inside the shrine, there are many plants that can only be found in the subtropics, giving you the feeling of exploring the jungle.

We recommend you to visit Qingdao to experience a different kind of flavor.

Sun Messe

Then we came to Sun Messe.

You can see the authentic Moai stone statues in person here.
The Moai statues here have a very strong Reptile Island flavor. It is said that only the Moai statue in Sun Messe has been recognized by the Complexion Island.

The huge size of these Moai statues can be seen against the backdrop of the tall coconut trees.
So be sure to take a photo in front of one of these stunning Moai stone statues.
Other than that, there's a lot of other things to see here, especially since there are a lot of really out-of-this-world hit points.

 

 

It is recommended that you leave enough camera memory in advance so that you can take as many pictures as you like when you arrive.

Ugudo Shrine

Then we visited Ugudo Shrine.

It is said that this shrine is so blessed that many young couples come to visit even on weekdays.
It occupies a wide area and takes some time to stroll through.

There are many cute rabbit-shaped stone lanterns and painted horses hanging here, so you can bring your children along to enjoy them.

The entire shrine faces the sea, and the ocean view is breathtaking.

It is said that if you can throw the ball of luck into the depression on the back of the turtle-shaped rock below the cliff, your wish will come true. That's why many people take up the challenge.
There is a lot to see here, so it is advisable to allow plenty of time for sightseeing.

GunKei

Here are some of the best foods in Miyazaki.
We came to “GunKei” where you can taste Miyazaki chicken.”
Every dish here is very carefully prepared, with the famous chicken sashimi having to be consumed within 30 minutes of being served, or it will be removed due to loss of freshness.

Because the restaurant is so meticulous, we didn't feel any fishy flavor when we tasted the chicken sashimi, and the meat was firm, elastic, and had a hint of sweetness, which was so delicious that we couldn't help but rave about it.

Of all the grilled chicken kebabs, the chicken meatballs are particularly delicious, and there are also signature dishes such as chicken meatballs with cheese, so you can taste a variety of flavors.

Among them, the restaurant's specialty is the fried chicken pieces, which are full of meat, delicious and full of flavor, which is a masterpiece.

In addition, Miyazaki's specialty, Chicken Nanban, must be mentioned. Chicken Nanban can be eaten all over Japan, but Miyazaki's authentic Chicken Nanban is very different from other regions.
It's so good that you can't help but feel that this is the authentic Chicken Nanban!

JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki

We would like to introduce you to the hotel where we are staying.
This time we stayed at JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki which is next to Miyazaki Station.
As in Kagoshima, I chose this place because it is very convenient for sightseeing, shopping and dining, and it was a very good choice.
The hotel room was also very comfortable.
The rooms are spacious and bright, furnished with user-friendly bedding and sofas, and there is plenty of room to unpack your suitcase.

Moreover, the bathroom and toilet are separated from each other, and the bathtub and shower are independent of each other, making it very convenient to use.

Overlooking the room, you can see the city of Miyazaki at a glance.

There is a convenience store on the first floor of the hotel, and everything is conveniently located less than a minute's walk from the hotel's entrance to the West Exit of Miyazaki Station, and less than a four-minute walk to Miyazaki AMU PLAZA.
This time we chose the room with breakfast, we heard that the restaurant would be more crowded during breakfast, so we rushed to the restaurant as soon as it opened at 6:30am, but even at this time of day, there were still a lot of guests dining in the restaurant.

Under the smooth guidance of the staff, we did not feel any inconvenience even though it was a bit crowded.

The hotel prepares a lot of Miyazaki specialties in the form of buffet, so if there is a delicacy that you forgot to taste during your trip, you may be able to have it here.

In addition, a variety of sauces, such as papaya salad dressing, are also recommended.

The excellent location, high standard of cuisine and rooms make it one of the most recommended hotels in Miyazaki.

What do you think of the above introduction?
This time, we visited Kyushu to ride the “Ibusuki Tamatebako” and “36+3” D&S trains. It was great to see the charming sightseeing spots of Ibusuki and Miyazaki while riding the train.
The idea of 36+3 is to bring together 35 short stories through 5 routes, so that we, the actual riders, can spend 5 days learning about all of these short stories, and portraying the 36th short story ourselves. By the end of the trip, I had already realized the depth of the idea.
Everywhere we went on the “36+3” train, we had interesting experiences, and the journals we created from these experiences form the 36th short story.
Welcome to ride the D&S train and write a new story.