Famous Road: Ibusuki Skyline

The trip is now approaching its final stages.

Although I arrived late at the hotel the previous day, I made an effort to wake up early. I was a bit sleep-deprived and felt the fatigue accumulating.

After getting ready, I got into the 911 and headed first for the Ibusuki Skyline.

In my opinion, the Ibusuki Skyline ranks among the top 5 famous roads in Japan. I had driven it before in a Boxster and was impressed by its beauty, light traffic, and length.

This was a must-drive route I had planned since arriving in Kyushu. Kyushu has many famous roads, especially around Aso, which are wonderful, but true driving enthusiasts should experience the Ibusuki Skyline.

The Ibusuki Skyline is partly connected to the expressway (managed by NEXCO West Japan) and partly managed by the Kagoshima Prefectural Road Public Corporation, so the road conditions differ significantly despite sharing the same name, which can be a bit confusing. (There are also sections managed by the Kagoshima Regional Promotion Bureau and the Nansatsu Regional Promotion Bureau, adding to the complexity.)

Among these, the “Ibusuki Skyline” I refer to is the section south of Taniyama IC, where a toll of 100 yen is charged. This 100-yen section is fantastic. As I mentioned before, I personally think it’s worth about 4,000 yen.

Traffic drops sharply from Taniyama IC. First, a series of medium-scale uphill winding roads with continuous medium-speed corners. The 992’s turbo engine is torquey; while I said there are few chances to rev it on regular roads, here you can really push it.

Shifting manually through 2nd and 3rd gears, I tackled each corner. One of the highlights of the Ibusuki Skyline is the viewpoints where you can admire Sakurajima.

After a while, the road widens and you encounter many sections of gentle uphill high-speed corners. There are climbing lanes, so you can safely overtake slower cars.

This is where power really matters.

It feels absolutely wonderful. There’s no one around, and hardly any cars. This is a famous road where you can safely drive at your own pace.

When Mount Kaimondake appeared in the distance, I turned around to enjoy this famous road once more. The Porsche comes alive and runs so happily. You don’t have to drive fast to enjoy this road—it’s truly a pleasure. The sense of freedom and feeling like you have the road to yourself is unbeatable.

Returning to Taniyama IC, I then took the expressway toward Kirishima. I had never been to the Kirishima area before, so I was eager to visit.

To Kirishima Shrine

Heading north on K60 toward Kirishima Shrine. Although it was the Golden Week holiday period and traffic was somewhat heavy, the roads were good. After a while, a large torii gate appeared—this is the torii of Kirishima Shrine.

I drove further past the torii, parked the 911, and headed to the shrine. There were many people, but it didn’t feel overly crowded. The magnificent main hall exuded a sense of historical weight. However, the line for worship was long, and since I’m not patient with waiting, I gave up.

While admiring the large sacred cedar tree on the grounds, a guide told me, “The branch protrusions look like little gods worshipping here.” Indeed, it does look like that—like priests dressed in ceremonial robes praying.

I quietly put my hands together and left the shrine.

Next, I took K223 “Kirishima Bird Line” and then the wide-area farm road “Miyama Kirishima Road.” It’s a great driving route through fresh greenery. I stopped by a pond along the way and took a short break by the lakeside. There seem to be other good roads around here, so I want to explore more another time.

Tonight’s Accommodation: Miyazaki City

After several days of long driving, I decided to head early to a hotel in Miyazaki City. I enjoyed a smooth drive on the empty Miyazaki Expressway and arrived around 4 p.m.

By the way, I stayed at a business hotel called Hayashisou, which cost 3,500 yen for a room only. It was the only hotel with parking available, so I chose it. Although it’s old, it was cleaner than I expected and the facilities were fine.

For the price, it was a very satisfactory hotel where I could rest well.

Route Map for This Trip

(Added to the route map from previous posts)

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