Xmas lights at Fukuoka Tower

Today we decided to take a drive to see Xmas lights at Fukuoka Tower, the landmark of Fukuoka,“Momochi Blue Lights Christmas” is held. With the 108 meter-long Christmas lights appearing on Fukuoka Tower as a main attraction, Momochi area twinkles with blue lights.

We saw a beautiful Christmas illumination in front of the tower.

Onta-yaki (小鹿田焼)

Finally, we visited to Onta, a scenic pottery village producing Japanese pottery called Onta-yaki.

Watermill makes clay for Onta pottery.

Onta climbing kiln

 Onta pottery drying in the sun.

 We bought a dish and a coffee cup in the shop at the end.

Plane spotting at Fukuoka Airport on November 20, 2013/2013年11月20日福岡空港での飛行機観察

Yesterday, I went to Fukuoka Airport to watch planes both domestic and international. It was the day very cold cloudy.  The strong northerly winds which blow at times, planes were taking off and landing from the south side runway 34R.
昨日福岡空港に行って国内・国際線両方の飛行機を見ました。曇りでとても寒くて時折強い北風が吹いていたので飛行機は南側滑走路の34Rから離着陸していました。

First, I'm posting United Airlines Boeing 737-700 (reg:N13720) Star Alliance livery on UA166 to Guam taxiing and takeoff at 11:57am.
まず午前11時57分撮影のユナイテッド航空のB737-700機（機体番号：N13720）スターアライアンス塗装のUA166便グアム行きのタキシング＋離陸をUPします。

Next, Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 (reg:HL8233) 7C 1401 to Seoul Incheon takeoff and ANA Boeing 737-500 (reg:JA61AN) on NH222 to Nagoya Chubu queue up and takeoff at 12:37pm. Until 29 March 2014, Jeju Air will be increased on their Fukuoka route twice per day.
次に午後12時37分撮影のチェジュ航空B737-800機（機体番号：HL8233）ソウル仁川行き7C1401便の離陸および離陸待ちの全日空B737-500機（機体番号：JA61AN）全日空222便名古屋中部行きをUPします。2014年3月29日までチェジュ航空の福岡線を1日2便に増便しています。

Cathay Pacific B747-400s come to Fukuoka!/キャセイパシフィック航空B747-400機が福岡に飛来！

As I told yesterday, I took Cathay Pacific B747-400 (reg:B-HUE) CX511 to Hong Kong via Taipei takeoff on Rwy 34R at 10:36 am in Japan time. I saw Cathay's jumbo jet since 6 May 2010.

キャセイパシフィック航空CX511便台北経由香港行きのB747-400機（機体番号:B-HUE）を午前10時36分に滑走路34Rから離陸するところです。キャセイのジャンボ機を見たのは2010年の5月6日以来です。

•  Movements of the plane on Rwy 34R between 10:36 and 10:47am./午前10時36分から10時47分にかけて飛行機の動き。

• At 10:47 am take off. When taking off, Korean Air KE788 to Seoul queue up and waiting for takeoff./午前10時47分：離陸。離陸時に大韓航空のKE788便ソウル行きが離陸のため待機して並んでいる。

My schedule for tomorrow

I'll go to Fukuoka Airport to watch CX511 takeoff near Rwy 16R. I was checked it out on Cathay Pacific website today, tomorrow's flight will be operated by B747-400s. This fleet rarely comes to Fukuoka, so I want to take a picture. I've already seen to Cathay's jumbo jet at Fukuoka in May 2010.

Koishiwara-yaki (小石原焼)

 After leaving Hikosan Jingu, we stopped at Koishiwara, a scenic pottery village in Fukuoka prefecture, now part of the village of Toho. It is famous for Koishiwara-yaki, deriving its name from a village in Fukuoka, is a traditional Japanese pottery that has been loved by general public for everyday use. Originated by a Korean potter in the 16th century.

About 150m further go to the narrow road, we arrived at the Traditional Industrial Hall of Koishiwara Pottery (小石原焼伝統産業会館), also called Koishiwara Ceramics Museum. At the museum, you can learn about the history of koishiwara-yaki ceramics and also check out the profiles of 51 potters.

Reisen-ji Temple, Soeda

Today, I'll talk about the history of Reisen-ji Temple (霊泉寺), as a center of training for the Shugendo sect of Buddhism, in Soeda, Fukuoka.

The temple was originally built in 740 as the head temple of the of the Tendai Buddhism. However, the Shugendō temple was abolished by the separation of Shinto from Buddhism, introduced after the Meiji Restoration. Thus, the entire ground of former temple was converted into Hikosan Jinja (英彦山神社).

Hikosan Jingu

Yesterday, on November 12, we visited to Hikosan Jingu, located on the Fukuoka prefecture side of the mountain. We stopped our car at Omotesando (=front sando) of Hikosan Jingu, next to the old Kameishi-bo Garden. We climbed very steep stone stairways to the shrine. I went up the stairs easily, but my mam looks so tired even she borrowed a cane at a shop next to Omotesando. She took a break four times on the way.

 Finally, we arrived at Hohei-den (奉幣殿), a large lecture hall built in 1616.

We saw beautiful autumn leaves on the way.

To came down the stairs, we went back to our car. After that, we visited to Kane-no-Torii (銅鳥居), a bronze Shinto gateway built in 1637.

After leaving Hikosan Jingu, we headed off to Koishiwara.

Daytripping to Hikosan Shrine tomorrow

Tomorrow, we decided to take a drive to Hikosan Shrine (in Japanese: 英彦山神宮; Hikosan Jingu) to see autumn colors. We never been there, so it'll be fun. Before and after going to there, we'll visit two scenic pottery villages of Koshiwara (小石原) and Onta (小鹿田), producing distinct Japanese pottery called Koshiwara- and Onta-yaki. I'll tell you later.

Re-uploaded:Autumn colors at Akizuki Castle ruins, Fukuoka

I'm uploading four of my best photos taken in last November.

1. Nagayamon (長屋門) was a moat, stone wall and back gate of the ruined castle.

2. Kuromon was used as the main gate. Now, it was rebuilt as a gateway to the Suiyo Shrine (垂裕神社), dedicated to Kuroda Nagamasa.

3. Colorful autumn leaves around the Kuromon main gate.

4. Autumn colors with a traditional Japanese-style house at Notori River (野鳥川). 

Dejima Wharf, Nagasaki

Dejima Wharf (出島ワーフ) is a commercial complex, located inside the port of Nagasaki. A variety of restaurants, Japanese, Chinese and Western, is gathered on this site.

Dejima and Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum are nearby.

A view of Mount Inasa from the wharf.

Nagasaki before sunset from Mount Inasa

Before taking a night view of Nagasaki, I took four photos of panorama before sunset. These photos are categorized by the each direction.

• The Central Nagasaki

•  North

• South

I saw the sunset over the East China Sea.

Congratulations on my 400th post!/祝400回投稿達成！

I'm posting Sydney Buses Ansair 'Orana' bodied Scania L113TRB 14.5m 3428 operating on route 400. This route, a limited stops service connecting with Eastern and Western suburbs of the city, is operating from Bondi Junction to Burwood via Airport. Taken at Bondi Junction Bronte Rd. on April 19, 2011.

シドニーバスの400番バスをUPします。市内東部と西部郊外を急行で結ぶ同路線はボンダイジャンクション（Bondi Junction）から空港を経由しバーウッド（Burwood）まで運行しています。写真は2011年4月19日にボンダイジャンクションのブロンテロード（Bronte Rd.）で撮影したものです。