JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN: Day 2 - Captain Natsuki Sparrow Arrives & Promptly Falls into a Waterfall | DIARY (Patreon)

Before I get into the Diary for Day 2 of Journey Across Japan: The Lost Islands, I just want to say thanks for all the birthday wishes!

I turned 31 yesterday and though I’m not remotely enthusiastic about ageing and continuing my journey into my 30s, I feel very lucky to do what I love and share my life with so many fantastic people around the world - ESPECIALLY you guys! So a huge thanks again, and here’s to another year of Abroad in Japan!

DAY 2 - Yakushima & Natsuki’s Arrival

Waking up in the humid barn in the jungles of Yakushima, to the cries of the goat, I awoke confused wondering where the hell I was and why I’d ended up here.

But this is Journey Across Japan and there’s no time for pondering such questions. I rolled out of bed, before Joey and I hit the road and headed to Yakushima’s airport to pick up Natsuki.

Driving along through luscious forests and alongside the coral blue sea, I quickly discovered why so many people make the journey to this remote island each year, to escape the hustle and bustle of Japan’s megacities for a more picturesque and tranquil setting.

However, the calm morning air was soon irreparably damaged, as Japan’s most eccentric man stumbled out of the airport wearing pirate gear and wielding a periscope, amidst the baffled expressions of the local townsfolk.

Natsuki had arrived and was quickly delighted to discover we’d rented a car big enough to handle his presence, and his staggering amount of luggage filled with pirate garments and Marlboro cigarettes.

Our first challenge of the trip was to catch our dinner, and after getting in touch with some local fishermen Natsuki and Joey did their best to reel in some of the local fish. Whether they were successful or not, you’ll have to wait and see.

Having spent the afternoon fishing, Natsuki lamented that he deserved to see some of the nature, after all “this is my holiday” he cried.

And so we took him to see the most beautiful waterfall on the island of Yakushima.

- Which he soon ended up in.

Whether he fell in or was violently pushed, again, you’ll have to find out in a few weeks.

Back at the barn, Natsuki bathed in the only facilities the accommodation had, which was essentially a cauldron. A pile of bricks, filled with water with a fire underneath. He seemed to enjoy it a bit too much.

Just as I was pondering whether we should add boiled Natsuki to the menu, we hopped in the car to see the local hot spring, which so happened to be on the coastline, halfway into the sea.

We went in the evening, during a storm and it quickly turned out this was anything but a good idea, as we were nearly washed away by the ferocious waves that quickly overran the bubbling hot spring.

Returning to the warmth of the barn, our second day came to a close and with our boat heading back to the mainland in the morning, our journey continues onward to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan and Natsuki’s homeland.

After all, his name is Natsuki Aso!
- And he's a real Aso through and through…