We continue our visit by driving to a trailhead further north in the Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park to hike also on the surface. The trail is almost a dirt road and meanders through a field of chest high vegetation. Everything is green but you can still see depressions from sinkholes and there are nice views of the hills. Suppose
dly there are a lot of different animals and birds here but the chance of seeing them is really low in all the vegetation. And we are not yet experts in seeing them or luring them out.
After returning to the car we make one last stop near the elevator exit of the cave. Here there is an observation tower with great views of the surrounding karstic area.
You can see sinkholes and sculpted stones and different surface features of the karstic plateau. And of course you can also walk and explore them which is what we do.
We walk around a bit on the hiking trails exploring the area and there are lots of different stone formations that catch our eye and we have to stop to take pictures of them.
Most trails here are more like footpaths and most of them disappear in the vegetation after a few minutes of walking. But we find a few that are more permanent and follow them for some time enjoying the flowers and the cooler air.
We didn’t expect so many flowers given that it is early fall, there is green everywhere and the air smells of leaves and flowers.
What we don’t know is that most purple flowers that we see are kudzu flowers, not that it would have made a difference. In fact kudzu is everywhere, we can see why it is invasive.
There are also some great views of the valley below and we stop for some time to enjoy them. Unfortunately it is getting dark so we have to move on and return back to Hiroshima and our hotel.
After parking the car back in the parking lot near the hotel and before climbing to our room we first go to the small supermarket across the street to buy some prepared dinner – it is warm and tasty and it fills us up nicely. Then we sit and enjoy the illuminated city before drifting to sleep, tomorrow we start on our return trip towards Tokyo.
