Sakura at Maizuru Park (舞鶴公園), Fukuoka on 30 March 2013

Yesterday, I went to Maizuru Park for hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties). This year, hanami parties about 10 days earlier than usual. Here's cherry trees in full bloom. People enjoy having hanami parties under the cherry blossoms.

• Cherry trees grow in the ruins of castle.

•  Cherry blossoms at Maizuru Park.

• Hanami parties on the Fukuoka Castle ruins/Maizuru Park.

• Night time cherry blossoms at the Fukuoka Castle ruins.

AKB48's Haruka Shimazaki (島崎遥香) getting ready to celebrate her 19th birthday today!

Happy birthday to Paruru!

She became a leading member of AKB48 when she was co-starring a Japanese TV drama "Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou" with Hokuto Matsumura (松村北斗) last year.

She won the 4th Janken Tournament last year.

Note:I do not own this photo.

Sakura at Isshingyo big cherry tree (一心行の大桜), Minamiaso, Kumamoto on 25 March

After we left Takachiho, we had scheduled a Hanami Party at Isshingyo big cherry tree. Last Saturday, we asked for the blooming time of cherry tree this time. They said, here's cherry tree approaching in full bloom, with over 50% of the flowers already open. Today was a nice weather, so we had decided to take a drive to see cherry blossoms in full bloom there. People enjoy having Hanami parties under the cherry blossoms.

• A close up of some blossoms.

• Cherry blossoms at Isshingyo big cherry tree.

Takachiho-kyo Gorge (高千穂峡) on 25 March

After we left Kunimigaoka hill, we went to Takachiho-kyo Gorge. Manai Fall (真名井の滝) is considered one of Japan's top 100 scenic spots. We were visited there since October 2009.

• Manai Fall

• A view of Shinto Takachiho Bridge (神都高千穂大橋) from a path on the way to Manai Fall.

Kunimigaoka hill (国見が丘), Takachiho, Miyazaki

First, we climb up to Kunimigaoka hill, famous for sea of clouds. It is visible on early autumn morning.

• Kunimigaoka hill memorial stone. The hill is located 513m above sea level.

• Ninigi-no-mikoto (瓊瓊杵尊, ニニギノミコト) statues

• A view of Shinto Takachiho Bridge (神都高千穂大橋) from the hill

• A view of Sobo mountain range (祖母山系) from the hill with Okuaso Bridge (奥阿蘇大橋) in the foreground.

Day tripping to Takachiho, Isshingyo big cherry tree and two shrines in Aso

Yesterday, on 25 March, we were decided to take a drive to Takachiho, Isshingyo big cherry tree (一心行の大桜) and two shrines in Aso. We had fine weather on that day. First, we were visited to Kunimigaoka hill (国見が丘) Viewpoint and Manai Falls (真名井の滝) in Takachiho. Next, we went to Isshingyo big cherry tree in Minamiaso. Here, cherry tree is approaching full bloom, with over 50% of the flowers already open. Finally, we were visited to two shrines in Ichinomiya area; Kokuzo (国造神社) and Aso. At Aso Shrine (阿蘇神社), cherry trees are in full bloom.

AKB48's Mayu Watanabe (渡辺麻友) getting ready to celebrate her 19th birthday today!

Happy birthday to mayuyu!

NB:I do not own this photo.

Re-uploaded: A field of rape blossoms in Saitobaru Kofungun, Miyazaki

Rapeseed in full bloom in the ancient tomb. Taken in April 2009.

Singapore Airlines B777-200ER (reg:9V-SRQ) at Singapore Changi International Airport, December 2007
シンガポール航空B777-200ER(機体番号:9V-SRQ)2007年12月シンガポールチャンギ国際空港にて

Taken before boarding flight SQ318 to London. This fleet is still active and registered by Singapore Airlines./SQ318便でロンドン行く前に撮影しました。当機は未だシンガポール航空に在籍して活躍しています。

JAL Ways B747-200 (reg:JA8150) "Reso'cha" livery at Fukuoka Airport, June 2007/2007年6月福岡空港でのJALウェイズB747-200(機体番号:JA8150)"Reso'cha"特別塗装機

I took this plane near the domestic terminal 3 in June 2007. This fleet, mainly used for their Japan ~ Hawaii routes, was retired in December of the same year. It has been placed outside the boarding gate because of the aircraft trouble.

当機は2007年6月国内線第3ターミナル近くで撮影したものです。当機は日本～ハワイ線を中心に活躍していましたが同年12月で退役しました。この日は機体トラブルのため搭乗ゲートの外に置かれていました。

Hakushu Kitahara Birthplace (北原白秋生家), Yanagawa, Fukuoka

The house where Hakushu Kitahara was born in 1885. Since 1969, it has been opened to the public.
Next to the house, there is the memorial museum opened in 1985.

From Yanagawa city on Travel-around-japan.com

I ate a special pancake at AKB48 Cafe & Shop for two days!

I was ordered "Sumero-day Pancake" (780 yen; with one drink), a special menu is available between 11 and 17 March. If you ordered this menu, you can get up to 2 member cards. In the first time, you must draw them at random. In the second time, you can choose your favourite teams, A, K and B. I was tried to get my oshi-men (推しメン) Yuko Oshima or Yuko-san, the captain of  Team K. Finally, I got it!

• On 15 March, after I had a dinner at Milan Indian restaurant in Yakuin.

• For my lunch on 16 March.

• I got Yuko-san's card in the second time.

After lunch, I bought Yuko Oshima's new poster and two her original goods for my souvenir.

 

 

Magome Catholic Church (馬込教会), Iojima, Nagasaki

Magome Catholic Church, also known as St.Michael's Church, is located in the former town of Iojima, now part of the city of Nagasaki. This Gothic style church was built in 1931. It is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

Today, it'll be two years from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami,

BUT,

AKB48's Mariko Shinoda (篠田麻里子) getting ready to celebrate her 27th birthday today!

Happy birthday to Mariko-sama! Same as me, she's from Fukuoka. The earthquake was happened on her 25 years old birthday.

NB: I do not own this photo.

Lake Lotus, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan/蓮池潭（台湾・高雄市）

In the 6 days morning, on 7 April 2007, I went to Lake Lotus. Lake Lotus is a man-made lake and popular tourist destination on the east side of Zuoying District in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.

6日目(2007年4月7日)の朝蓮池潭（れんちんたん）に行きました。蓮池潭は台湾の高雄市左営区にある人造湖で観光スポットになっています。

• Dragon and Tiger Pagodas/竜虎塔

• Taoist God statue (left) and Pei Chi Pavilion (right)/道教の神像(左)と北極亭(右)

• Pei Chi Pavilion/北極亭

• Spring and Autumn Pavilions/春秋亭

Re-uploaded:Sakura at Maizuru Park (舞鶴公園), Fukuoka in April 2012

On 7 April 2012, I went to Maizuru Park for Hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties). Here's cherry trees in full bloom. People enjoy having Hanami parties under the cherry blossoms.

• Hanami parties on the Fukuoka Castle grounds.

• Cherry trees grow in the ruins of castle.

• Cheery blossoms at Maizuru Park

• A close up of some blossoms

• Cherry blossoms in bloom near the Fukuoka Castle Tamon Yagura (多聞櫓) turrets.

Plane spotting at Fukuoka Airport on 1 March (Part 3)/3月1日福岡空港にて飛行機観察（その3）

I saw something unusual scene at 12:30pm, JAL B777-200 (reg:JA771J) New Tsurumaru One World livery JL314 to Tokyo Haneda and Asiana Airlines B747-400 (reg:HL7418) OZ131 to Seoul queue up and waiting for takeoff on Rwy 34R. Because of the bad weather, a runway for international flights was closed, so these flights were using the runway side.

午後12時30分に日本航空のB777-200(機体番号:JA771J)新鶴丸塗装機JAL314便東京羽田行きとアシアナ航空のB747-400(機体番号:HL7418)OZ131便ソウル行きが滑走路34Rに離陸のため待機し並んでいる珍しい場面を見かけました。悪天候の影響で国際線用の滑走路が閉鎖されたためこれらの便は片側を使用していました。

Plane spotting at Fukuoka Airport on 1 March (Part 2)/3月1日福岡空港での飛行機観察（その2）

Yesterday, on 1 March, I saw two special planes of JAL B777-200 New Tsurumaru One World livery and ANA B767-300 Yae no Sakura Jet.

昨日（3月1日）日本航空B777-200新鶴丸ワンワールド塗装機と全日空B767-300八重の桜ジェットが飛来しているのを見ました。

• Movements of JAL B777-200 (reg:JA771J) New Tsurumaru One World livery from 12:25pm to 12:35pm./日本航空B777-200(機体番号:JA771J)新鶴丸ワンワールド塗装機、午後12時25分から12時35分までの動き

• ANA B767-300 Yae no Sakura advertising jet/全日空B767-300八重の桜ラッピングジェット

This advertising jet, which is collaborated with a Japanese TV series for NHK's taiga drama 2013, is operated from this February.
2013年のNHK大河ドラマと協賛した当機は今年２月から運航に入っています。