The laputa road of Aso mountains

Before returning home, we pass the Aso Tenku-no-michi road (阿蘇天空の道), commonly called the laputa road of Aso (ラピュタの道). It is a steep street running through the somma of Aso mountains. The road is very popular for motorists. We saw many motorcycle enthusiasts there.

This is a good place to take a picture located on the edge of cliffs of Aso mountains. From here, you'll see Mount Kijima, one of the five mountains of Aso, and Aso caldera in front of your eyes.

A panoramic view of the five mountains of Aso from Mount Daikanbo

We arrived at Daikanbo Peak (大観峰) at 4:50 pm. The peak is one of the somma of Aso mountains, which is located north east of Uchimaki Onsen (内牧温泉) hot spring. 

The main gate parking will be closed at 5, so we stopped our car in front of the main gate. We walked the trail for about 10 minutes, we reached to the viewpoint. From here, you can see a magnificent view of the five mountains of Aso. Mount Neko (根子岳), a long jagged mountain chain on the left side, Mount Narao (楢尾岳) in center picture and Mount Kijima (杵島岳) in the foreground.

I took a photosphere of Mount Neko and Mount Narao from the main gate.

Hakusui Dam, Taketa, Oita

After leaving Kuju Mountains, we visited to Hakusui Dam, a concrete gravity dam on the upper reaches of the Ōno River in Taketa, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed in 1938 and is 86m wide and 14m tall.
It appearance has gained it the designation of Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

I tried to take pictures at a different angle.

A view of Kuju Mountains from Kuju Pleatau

I'm taking two pictures of Kuju Mountains from Kujumachi Oaza Kuju, Taketa, Oita. The mountain is considered one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The 1,700 m (5,577 ft) high mountain lies on the border of Kokonoe and Taketa in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. They are part of Aso-Kujū National Park.

View from Nakagumi Vineyard (中組ワイナリー). There is a great Ishigama-kobo (石窯工房) Italian restaurant and a shop. We ordered two pizzas, Chicken teriyaki and asparagus for me and Margarita for mom. We ate both, so we got a full stomach.

About 300m further down the road from the vineyard, you can find a camping site. From there, you'll see the magnificent Mount Kuju in front of your eyes.

Ikeyama Suigen, Ubuyama, Kumamoto

After leaving Tsuetate, we visited to Ikeyama Suigen fountainhead (池山水源) in Ubuyama, Kumamoto. It is the origin of Tamarai River (玉来川), a branch of Ono River (大野川). To keep the water temperature of 13.5 Celsius year-round and a rich hard water of groundwater which contains 30 tons per minute. It has been selected as a meisui-hyakusen (名水百選) or the best 100 water in Japan in 1985.

A meisui-hyakusen monument is standing at the entrance.

Walking along the tree-lined avenue for a while, we arrived at the spring.

A moss and a brook

A natural stream of water that flows to the Tamarai River.

   

We saw colorful koinobori flying in Tsuetate River

We arrived at Tsuetate Onsen (杖立温泉) hot springs at 12:20 pm. We stopped the car at a parking located in front of Tsuetate River, the main venue of Koinobori carp-streamer festival held until May 11. According to the Japanese version of Wikipedia on Tsuetate Onsen, this place is the origin of Koinobori festival, now become a popular festival throughout Japan in May. The festival was started around 1980. It was the small number of 40 carps in the beginning, but the number of koinobori are increasing; about 3000 to 3500 carps flutter in Tsuetate River today. During the festival, many tourists visiting from across the country.

A close up of flying koinobori

  More carp-shaped windsocks flown in the south of Tsuetate Onsen area.

Kuncho Sake Breweries factory and museum, Hita, Oita

First, we visited to Kuncho Sake Breweries factory and museum (薫長酒造酒蔵・資料館 Kuncho Shuzo Sakekura-Shiriyokan), located in Mamedamachi (豆田町), Hita, Oita, traditional rows of houses along a city street. We went to there twice. But I didn't take a picture of the building yet. So we decided to go there.

The entrance. Inside the factory, there is a museum, you can see the manufacturing process of sake. The museum opens from 9 am to 4 pm. It's a free of charge.

The building. This sake brewers, founded in 1703, has continued to produce now.

Daytripping to Oita and Kumamoto on 7 May

Yesterday, on 7 May, we decided to take a drive to Oita and Kumamoto. Just finished Golden Week consecutive holidays on the 6th, it was less crowded in all places we've visited. First, we went to Hita. We visited Kuncho sake breweries (薫長酒造) in Mamedamachi (豆田町) and Sapporo Breweries Kyushu Factory (サッポロビール九州工場) to take pictures to upload to the Wikipedia. Then, we went to Tsuetate Onsen (杖立温泉) hot springs in Oguni Town (小国町) to see Koinobori (=carp streamer) festival held until the 11th. We saw many colorful carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate for Children's day.  After leaving Tsuetate, we're scheduled to go Manganji Onsen (万願寺温泉) in Minamioguni Town (南小国町). But we couldn't go there because the road is closed on the way. So we decided to go Ikeyama Suigen or fountainhead in Ubuyama Village. Here, the air is very clear, so we took a fresh air. After that, we had a lunch at Nakagumi winery farm. We ordered two pizzas, Chicken teriyaki and asparagus for me and Margarita for mom. We ate both, so we got a full stomach. Afterwards, we visited to Hakusui Dam (白水ダム), a concrete gravity dam on the upper reaches of the Ōno River in Taketa. Finally, we went to Mount Daikanbo (大観峰) in Aso where you can see a magnificent view of Aso caldera and the five mountains of Aso. We back home at 9 o'clock.

Koinobori festival in Tsuetate Onsen

Plane spotting on 2 May 2014/2014年5月2日の飛行機観察

This day, a white colored Hong Kong Express Airbus a320-200 was coming to Fukuoka. When I saw this plane a moment, I thought it's Spring Airlines of China on a test flight.
この日香港エクスプレスのA320-200白色塗装機が福岡に飛来していて一瞬見たとき中国の春秋航空のテスト機かなと思ってしまいました（笑）。

I realized that the plane is a flight of Hong Kong Express when I saw on a takeoff action of airplane at 6:08 pm.
飛行機が午後6時08分に離陸しているのを見て当機は香港エクスプレスの便だと分かりました。

I also took pictures of two planes just after takeoff. First, I'm uploading an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-8 'Dream liner' JA818A on NH264 to Tokyo Haneda.
離陸直後の2機も撮影しました。まず最初に全日空のB787-8’ドリームライナー’（JA818A）ANA264便東京羽田行きをUPします。

Next, Jeju Air's Lee Min-ho jet on 7C1103 to Seoul Incheon. At takeoff, a Hawaiian Airlines flight HA453 from Honolulu was landing and taxiing. They met each other.
次にチェジュ航空のソウル仁川行きイ・ミンホジェット7C1103便をUPします。離陸時にハワイアン航空のホノルル発HA453便が着陸およびタキシング中にお互いすれ違いました。

A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER at Fukuoka Airport/福岡空港でのハワイアン航空B767-300ER機

I also caught a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER. The aircraft registration number N588HA was coming from Honolulu on flight HA453, and arrived at Fukuoka 6:15 pm. It's a 10-hour long trip from Hawaii. The airline began operating a scheduled service to Fukuoka in April 2012. The load factor was approximately 80% in the first year. But it decided to suspend service on 30 June because it was less than the target of passengers in the previous year.
ハワイアン航空のB767-300ER機も捕獲しました。機体番号N588HAはホノルル発HA453便で10時間の長旅を終えて午後6時15分福岡に到着しました。同社は2012年4月から福岡線を就航、初年度の搭乗率はおよそ80%でしたが昨年の搭乗率が目標を下回っていたため6月30日で運休を決めたようです。

During landing and taxiing, Jeju Air's Lee Min-ho jet to Seoul Incheon took off the runway side.
着陸およびタキシング中にチェジュ航空のイ・ミンホジェットソウル仁川行きが片側滑走路から離陸。

I caught a China Airlines Boeing 747-400 today!/今日チャイナエアラインのB747-400機を捕獲しました！

I was able to take pictures of a China Airlines B747-400s on flight CI117 to Taipei today. It was a prefect sunny day. So I took some beautiful pictures of the plane.
今日チャイナエアラインのCI117便のB747-400機の写真撮影に成功しました。天気は快晴だったので撮影には絶好のコンディションでした。

Fleet info/機材情報

• Aircraft registration number/機体番号:B-18207
• Model/型式:747-409
• Registered date/登録日時:September 1998/1998年9月

Shooting started from a scene of taxiing and takeoff.
タキシングおよび離陸の場面から撮影開始。

Then, I had tried to take closer picture of the plane.
そして飛行機を近場狙いで撮影してみました。

The plane was taking off at 5:22 pm.
飛行機は午後5時22分に離陸。

I'm going to take a picture of a China Airlines Boeing 747-400 again tomorrow

I'm going to Fukuoka Airport to watch CI116/117 flights landing and takeoff tomorrow. I was checked it out China Airlines website today, flights are operated by B747-400s. She'll come to Fukuoka after a long time, since last December. The weather will be fine tomorrow, so I want to take a beautiful picture.