So, on Sunday I went for a scooter ride to see what I could find around Osakikamijima. A little past the Board of Ed, I saw a sign that said "Mt. Shimposan" with an arrow to the right. Literally, that means "Mt. Shimpo Mountain," but the meaning came across. I took a right and just took any road that went uphill. The ride was awesome, most of the time it was narrow switchbacks with no guardrail, just a cliff and a nice view on my right, and a rock wall on my left. I passed through two tangerine farms and a big bamboo forest. On the way up it got noticeably colder, and my ears popped three times.




My little scooter that could.






The view from the top was pretty spectacular. My house is just at the foot of the bridge, about two houses to the left of that little pillar of smoke. Someone was burning yard waste for the whole day.


At the top of the mountain, I found two kids playing guitar and singing (not very well). I like that they went to the highest point on their island to sing their songs, even if they can't sing that well, at least they have big ideas.


Little buddhas with hats lined the road all the way up and down.







At the bottom of the mountain, I found a temple, made entirely of slotted and notched wood, not a nail in sight, weathered with age and completely empty as far as I could tell. It wasn't abandoned though.


Speaking of abandoned, this is Osaki's abandoned bowling alley. I will be in there soon, just as soon as I memorize "I'm sorry, I'm just a photographer, please don't arrest me" in Japanese.

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