Riding the local train from Miyazaki to Miyakonojo.

The sky had been clear and blue during my stopover in Miyazaki, however as the train departed Miyazaki City, the sky had begun to cloud over.
I had walked back to the station after seeing City Hall, however the train took me back past there and then over a river, Oyodo River, which runs from just within the prefectural border of Kagoshima near Miyakonojo, and ultimately empties into the Pacific Ocean at Miyazaki City.
It’s of a decent width and is the main water body in Miyakonojo.

In no time at all the train was click clacking through deep countryside.

On the left is a smaller waterway, and, yes, in the top left that’s my camera you can see reflected in the window of the train.
The sheer amount of green that can be seen here is something that I have found acts for me as both a vanisher of stress, and also some source of excitement, I think, perhaps in a sense of vibrant, almost tropical abundance of plant growth, and even in an adventure-novel-the-foliage-covers-mysteries kind of way.
I often hear it said that the countryside is boring, there is nothing there, big cities are full of excitement.
I would be lying if I said that I don’t find excitement in cities, there are numerous streets and alleyways to explore, architectural oddities and classics, museums, libraries, and shops, even just new neighbourhoods to explore.
However, I also feel a sense of excitement in the countryside. What’s behind those mountains? What kind of view opens up around the next curve of the river? The way the clouds form, and undulate, and travel over the mountain tops.

So, greenery. Greenery and agriculture.

Greenery and agriculture and mountains.

And, rice fields. Rice fields nestled amongst the mountains, surrounded by forest.

I arrived at Nishi-Miyakonojo station. Not too long after setting off on foot, a small group of elementary school children called out to me, “America?”
“Australia”, I replied, and continued walking.
I had a map showing the location to my apartment, and apart from a tiny little concrete sided rivulet being marked as a river, found my way easily.
By this time it was late afternoon/early evening so I walked down to the shopping centre and bought some dinner.
Not a glamorous meal, but one of variety and it tasted good, and I was content with that.