Japan -day 16 : Iwaya, Sightseeing, Onsen

My friend Atsushi had recommended that I go today to Iwayasan, a flight area in Aogaki town. It was the only area nearby that at least showed a small window for a flight before it would become too windy. But that meant, that I would have to take the first train from Osaka to Kaibara at 0555.

It's interesting to see how close the sequence of trains on a specific platform can be: as short as 3 minutes between trains. I think that's something only the Japanese manage to do!

In Kaibara I was picked up by Shoichiro, Tak-san's son, and driven to launch.

note the wooden 'extension' of the launch platform

LZ is the green field in slightly to the left of the center of the pix (just beyond the river)

As forecasted there was only this one short sledder. But Shoichiro and Tak-san took us pilots on a short sightseeing trip. But first was lunch - never to be missed by any Japanese pilot ;-)

Soba lunch (Tak-san: left / Chikuchi: right)

Izushi Castle

Tulip Festival

Shoichiro repairing my cockpit

Tak-san is now 73 years old. He started hangliding in the 70's and ran his PG.school until a few yeras ago, then his son Shoichiro took over. But he still assists on TO, Ldg and with driving. I was happy to meet him again and also to see that he still is very fit: biking/ hiking up to launch every week more than once.

Later in the afternoon Atsushi came to drive me back to Osaka: we had Onsen on the way and Shabu-Shabu for dinner.

a place to relax in the Onsen

Shabu-Shabu with Atsushi

Atsushi even offered to drive me on Thursday (his day off) to Hakuba. But I had to decline his generous offer, as it would be a 6.5hr drive (one-way!) in rainy conditions.

Japan -day 15: travel: Kumamoto-Osaka; Dinner

Today was the first day I really had to travel with all my gear ;-)

...carrying to much stuff (as usual)..

Yuko had brought me in the morning to Kumamoto Station, from where I took the Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka.

and if it says '1003', then the train leaves at 1003!

There I had a taxi take me to the hotel. Rather surprisingly it cost only 740Yen...

...a typical (double-) room in a Japanese business hotle

I'll stay here for 3 nights, hoping to fly Tuesday and also Wednesday.

Tonight I had dinner with some friends...

Saichiro-san; Atsushi, me

Saichiro-san in the end picked up the tab for a really sumptous dinner - Thanks a lot!

While we had dinner Atsushi tried to contact Sochiro-san at Iwaya. Given the wind forecast, this seems to be the only possibke place nearby where I might be able to fly. As the wind is supposed to increase quite a bit during the course of the day I have to be there rather early: my train leaves at 0555; Soichiro will pick me up at Kaibara station at 0744...

Japan -day 14: Komenoyama, Minou-Kankake

Finally we made it to Komeoyama. The local 'boss' -Kaneko-san- (we had met him a week ago at Dainkbo) had kept us up-to-date during the whole week about flying conditions here. I also met Partick Bal (F), a retired United airlines captain, living in Fukuoka. He gave me a thorough site introduction - thanks! This site near Fukuoka is another typical Japanese flight area: well maintained, managed by a local club, good access to launch and a large LZ. Sunday and the good conditions had brought out many pilots (incl some Hangies). But it was surprisingly relaxed as everybody was flying rather 'controlled'. Although it was a little 'sporty' nothing but some wingtips collapses...

Kaneko-san

Pix by Kaneko-san - thanks!

LZ and launch

LZ

As the flying today was happening  mostly in just one place (near/ above launch) I didn't go up for another flight.

Instead we started driving south. I wanted to have a look at another site:( Minou-)Kankake. This site is on the same mountain as (Minou-) Glideryama, where I had flown earlier.

Minou-Kankake

Unfortunately high clouds had started to move in and 'killed' any possible lift. So it was just a sledder down to an abandoned rice paddy. Without the clouds I think it could have been rather good -but that's probably no one else was here...

Dinner on the way back: Shabu-Shabu.

Japan -day 13: Uono (Yatake)

After an easy 1hr 40min we reached Yoshimatsu where we met Yoshimitsu-san at the LZ of Uono. Once more a flight area with perfect infrastructure: huge TO and LZ with toilet on launch and sun-shade in both places. The grass is nicely cut and in better shape than on some (golf) fairways I've played ;-)

Uono LZ

looking towards LZ and TO (center of oix)

I flew for a little over an hour and could get to 900 meters over launch (550m / 1450m). My vario recorded climb rates of up to 7 m/s, but not very bumpy.
After landing we went looking for Yatake's LZ and TO nearby. This site is only about 7km from Uono. Everbody had said that this site might be good in the afternoon. We easily found both places, but I couldn't/ didn't launch as the wind was always coming from the right side, putting the TO in some kind of lee. According to Rick this happens quite often and he only goes there if Uono is not flyable.

Yatake: LZ to the left of the white 'building' in the center

On the way back we stopped at an Unagi (Eel) restaurant.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we'll leave at 1000 for Komeno-yama near Fukuoka for (hopefully) a good flight - it will be the last one here on Kyushu for me...

Japan -day 12: Kuratake

Luckily I let myself convince by Rick yesterday to stay another night here on Amakusa. His forecast (once more!) proved to be accurate and the day turned out to be excellent - a 'Hammertag' as we call it ;-)
I had an easy launch at 1100 and flew for a little over 2 hours: cloud base rose steadily and lift was strong and more than abundant.

looking towards 'Hondo'

looking NE

looking W

Flying for many more hours would certainly have been possible, but due to a very lousy night I landed shortly after 1400. But what a beautiful flight area this is!!

Tomorrow Rick is sending me to Uono /Yatake and for my last day here on Kyushu (Sunday) he thinks that Zojiro might be worth a visit..

Japan -day 11: Kuratake

We met Rick at 0900 at the designated meeting point/ parking for the drive to launch. He had brought along Pete and 2 Japanese pilots. Later Leanne would also join us. Furthermore he had his tandem glider, so Yuko could make a flight with him.Kuratake is a most senic flying site with great views of the Amakusa cosatline and the outlying islands!

Kuratake launch

Yuko's flight lasted around 40' and she liked it very much :-)

As the wind stedily became stronger and out of the West all of us (except Rick) landed after a while. Rick headed east taking advantage of the wind and landed short of Misuni.

The rest of the day was spent driving along Amakusas coast and enjoying the views.

As Rick was predicting toworrow should be as good (or even better) than today, I decided to stay another night on Amakusa. This time we lodged directly at the Onsen...

Japan -day 10: no Fly > sightseeing

Another non-flying day :-(  I spent the morning at the hotel washing all my cloths. In the early afternoon we left for Amakusa, where we hope to fly tomorrow morning. 
It's normally about a 2-hour drive from Kumamoto to Kuratake (Rick's home site), but we followed the coastline, so it took a bit longer. Sightseeing-wise Amakusa is the part of Kyushu I liked best so far.

Misuni

inside 'Pyramid'

We couldn't really figure out the purpose of this building called 'Pyramid' by the locals,,,

near Misuni

east coast

Sunset near Hondo

more Sushi with Dr.P.

On the way to dinner with Dr.P. we stopped once more for Onsen ;-)