Summary
The following morning, at the Hotel Kinparo in Shin-Yatsushiro, we awoke to yet another extensive breakfast spread…
…before proceeding to the onsen to fully appreciate the relaxation it offered that morning.
Thereafter, it was time to embark on our journey, as we had a specific destination in mind we wished to explore before transitioning to our next ryokan.
As a side note, here is a brief 45-second video capturing our experiences during this phase. 😀 (I hope this video provides additional context regarding Kyushu).
In particular, our next stop was the Mizuhogiku Brewery, where we intended to sample some exceptional sake!
Our excursion began with an engaging overview of the sake production process, which primarily involves cooking a substantial quantity of rice before introducing mold to the mixture, subsequently allowing it to ferment and produce the sake that we had previously experienced on the Aru Ressha Sweet Train.
Moreover, during this educational experience, we discovered that there exists a broader variety of sake than commonly recognized at home. This includes cloudy sake (Nigorizake), which is less filtered, Namazake—an unpasteurized variant, Genshu—an undiluted sake significantly stronger than the typical sake available in stores, and much more!
Undoubtedly, tasting various types of sake was a delightful aspect of this visit. I have always enjoyed sake during our travels, and having the opportunity to directly engage with the production process in Japan was truly remarkable. 😀
After departing the Mizuhogiku Brewery, quite cheerful, we made our way to Taiyoshi for a lunch consisting of sashimi and other delectable items that I had begun to appreciate during our stay in Kyushu.
(*I still struggled to identify some of the dishes—we truly experienced an extensive range of flavors that could fill an entire volume of unique Japanese cuisine, far beyond what we are accustomed to in the UK).
Following our luncheon, we proceeded to Seiryuan in Akizuki, our final ryokan of the journey (we still had one additional night planned but that would be spent at a standard hotel in the city).
Seiryuan was indeed one of those enchanting locations that continuously impressed us! It felt as if we had been transported back in time to an exquisite traditional Japanese residence (or at least, that is how I envisioned such a place).
I was aware that Seiryuan would be a delightful location, and I was thrilled that our early arrival allowed us to appreciate it fully.
Since we had a few hours available before dinner, our initial activity was to indulge in the onsen experience, with each room (at least for our accommodations) featuring its own private onsen.
This location even featured a mechanism which I suspect resembles a compact sauna? (I was uncertain about its purpose and did not inquire, thus, its function remains a mystery – the onsen was more than adequate for me. 😀).
Eventually, we opted to take a break from the onsen experience and enjoy a stroll through the woods…
…before ultimately making our way back to Seiryuan for an exquisitely prepared dinner, exquisitely paired with both sparkling and standard sake!
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