Going to Takeo Onsen (武雄温泉) hotsprings, Saga

After seeing autumn leaves at Mifunemaya Rakuen Japanese Garden, we went to Takeo Onsen located in the heart of the city. It's little far away from the Mifuneyama Garden, about 20 minutes drive from there.

The Romon (楼門) gate is a symbol of the spa town. Along with the Shinkan building which is mentioned below, it has been designated as the Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Both have been completed in April 1914 that has been designed by Tatsuno Kingo.

Entering the gate, you'll see a public bath called Motoyu (元湯) and the Shinkan building. There are three bathrooms inside the house, Motoyu, Horaiyu (蓬莱湯) and Saginoyu (鷺乃湯).

The Shinkan (新館) building. Built in the early Taisho era, it was a public bath until 1973. The building reopens in March 2003, and it has now become a museum open to the public.

Plane spotting @ FUK on 23 November 2015/2015年11月23日福岡空港での飛行機たち

On Monday, I went to the airport to see planes takeoff and landing. I was staying there about three hours from 11am to 2pm. I was so enjoyed to watch planes such as a China Airlines new route from Kaohsiung on 26 October, a Hong Kong Express plane was coming at noon etc.
月曜日（23日）は飛行機を見に行きました。午前11時から昼2時ごろまでの3時間ほどいたのですが、去る10月26日から就航したチャイナエアライン（中華航空）の高雄便やいつもだと夕方に来る香港エクスプレス機などがこの時間帯に見られてとても楽しかったです。

Let's start uploading.
それではUPしてゆきます。

At 11:08 am, an EVA Air flight BR106 from Taipei was landing on Rwy 16.
午前11時08分にエバー航空の台北発BR106便が滑走路16へ着陸。

Special upgrade the aircraft for flights of the day. They sent 77W instead of the usual Kitty jet plane. It's my favorite plane, I was very lucky to see it.
この日はいつものキティジェットではなく僕の好きなB777-300ER機で飛来していたのでとてもラッキーでした。

At 11:52 am, a Thai Airways flight TG649 to Bangkok was taxiing on Rwy 16.
午前11時52分にタイ国際航空のTG649便バンコク行きが滑走路16をタキシング中。

Presently, the airline stop using the B787-8s and changing A330-300s during the winter time. It will come back again after 27 March 2016.
同社は2015-16冬季スケジュールにおいてB787-8機での運航を中止し、A330-300機での運航に変更しています。来年3月27日から再びB787-8機を投入するようです。

At 12:06 pm, a Hong Kong Express flight UO1600 from Hong Kong was arrived at gate 50.
午後12時06分に香港エクスプレスの香港発UO1600便が50番ゲートに到着。

From 25 October, the airline increased their previous 10 flights per week on the route to 2 flights per day.
10月25日から同社の福岡便はそれまでの週10便から1日2便に増便しました。

Just after the Hong Kong Express plane was arrived, the Thai Airways plane was taking off.
And a runway change was done to the opposite side, 34 immediately.
香港エクスプレス機が到着後すぐにタイ航空機が離陸。そしてすぐに反対側の34へ滑走路変更。

At 12:34 pm, an EVA Air flight BR105 to Taipei was taxiing.
午後12時34分にエバー航空のBR105便台北行きがタキシング中。

Following after the plane, an Air China flight CA804 to Shanghai was also coming and waiting for takeoff.
当機の後に中国国際航空のCA804便上海行きも来ていて離陸待ちでした。

The plane was taking off at 12:43 pm.
飛行機は午後12時43分に離陸。

At 1:12 pm, a Hong Kong Express flight UO1601 to Hong Kong was taxiing.
午後1時12分に香港エクスプレス航空のUO1601便香港行きがタキシング中。

There was no landing plane at that moment, the plane is soon to be taking off.
このとき着陸機がなかったので飛行機はすぐに離陸。

At 1:35 pm, a China Airlines flight CI197 to Kaohsiung was taxiing.
午後1時35分にチャイナエアライン（中華航空）のCI197便高雄行きがタキシング中。

From 26 October, the airline began operating a scheduled service between Kaohsiung and Fukuoka twice per week.
去る10月26日から同社は福岡ー高雄線を週2便（月・木）で就航開始しています。

The plane was taking off at 1:44 pm.
飛行機は午後1時44分に離陸。

Seeing autumn leaves at Mifuneyama Rakuen garden

Yesterday, we went to Mifuneyama Rakuen (御船山楽園), a Japanese garden located in the spa town of Takeo city, Saga. It's the best spot for azaleas in spring and autumn leaves in November.

Buying two admission tickets (500 yen per person) at the entrance, we took a tour to the lovely garden. Going a little further down the walking path from the entrance, you'll see a gorgeous fall scenery around here.

We saw beautiful autumn colors on the way.

The cliff mountain with azaleas in the background. I'd recommend you to visit in spring because there are many types of azaleas in full bloom.

 I tried to take a picture of autumn trees in a pond.

Visiting Lake Miike, Miyazaki

On the second day, we went around the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, such as Miyama (美山) in Hioki city. It is known for producing Satsuma porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan.

Before going to Miyama, we wanted to go to the place where Mount Kirishima (霧島山) is visible. We know Lake Miike (御池) is the best place to see that mountain, so we just decided to go there.

Taking on National Highways 10, 268 and 223 and passing on a typical Japanese countryside, we arrived to Lake Miike.

Miike is the crater lake located on the border of Miyakonojo city and Takaharu town in Miyazaki Prefecture. It is considered to be the most deep crater lake in Japan which is 103 meters in depth.

The stunning view of Mount Takachihonomine (高千穂峰) in the background.

Then we went to another place called Tachikachihogawa (高千穂河原) in Kirishima city, Kagoshima. It is the place where the main shrine of Krishima-jingu (霧島神宮) was existed before.

To be continued..

What did we see on the way

Here, I'll tell you the places we went on the way to Miyazaki. We stayed at JAL City Hotel Miyazaki (JALシティホテル宮崎), located in the heart of the city.

Let's start uploading.

First, we stopped at Tensho Bridge (天翔大橋 -ohashi) in Hinokage Town. Tensho Bridge, which spans on the Gokase River (五ヶ瀬川 -gawa), is the largest concrete arch bridge in Japan. The height from the surface of the water to the bridge is 143 meters high, it has also the highest road bridge in Japan. 

Next, we took a rest at Michi-no-eki (道の駅; literally means Roadside Station in Japanese) Seiun-kyo (青雲橋) to see the beautiful bridge. The 410 meter arch bridge crosses over the Hinokage Town, it is the largest road bridge in the East as the road bridge across the national highway.

Further down the road to the south, there are some nice beaches in Hyuga city. These beaches are located in the corner of the Nippo coast extended from Oita to Miyazaki prefectures.

Oguragahama (小倉が浜) is a feature of the 4 meters wide sandy beach which has been chosen Japan's top 100 beaches. People can enjoy surfing and body board, and sea bathing in the southern tip.

Kanegahama (金ヶ浜) is the most famous beach for surfing. It's considered to be the best surfing spot in Miyazaki prefecture.

The time is already 5:30. It is getting dark at the moment. We were going straight to Miyazaki on National Highway 10. We arrived at a hotel at about 7 o'clock.

Panoramic views of Takachiho, Miyazaki from Kunimigaoka viewpoint

After seeing the five mountains of Aso from Tsukimari Park, Takamori, we headed out to the Kunimigaoka (国見が丘) hill in Takachiho, Miyazaki. According to the maths of Japan, Takachiho is the land where Ninigi descended from the heavens, sent by Amaterasu, the sun goddess.

Driving on National Route 325 from Takamori and passing some gentle curves, we'll get to Kunimigaoka viewpoint. We passed through the front of Takachiho Gorge (高千穂峡), Takachiho's most popular tourist attraction. It seems to be crowded because of the public holiday in Japan on this day. 

We arrived there at 2:45pm. We stopped our car in the parking lot first, then walked through a sidewalk to the viewpoint. From here, you can see the great views of Central Takachiho and the Shinto Takachiho Bridge.

We went further walking to the end of trail, we could see the Aso mountains far away.

Ninigi-no-mikoto (瓊瓊杵尊, ニニギノミコト) statues standing on the hill.

Aso panorama from Tsukimawari Park, Takamori, Kumamoto

After seeing the Tabaruzaka Battle Field, we wanted to go to the place where Mount Aso is visible. We know the best place called Aso-no-bo Kugino (あその望くぎの) in Minamiaso, so we just decided to go there. But it was so crowded because of the public holiday in Japan on this day. We went to another place, Tsukimawari Park (月廻り公園 -koen) in Takamori.

From here, Mount Nekodake (根子岳) is clearly visible that is right in front of us.

I had tried to make a panorama of the five mountains of Aso. Mount Nakadake (中岳), currently in eruption in foreground, Mount Takadake (高岳) in the center picture and Mount Nekodake, a jagged mountain in background.

Visiting to the Tabaruzaka Battle Field again

We went to Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima for 2 days on November 3 and 4. It's my 41st birthday anniversary on October 16, so we had decided to take a drive to see the best nature spots such as the five mountains of Aso, Takachiho, Kirishima mountain range etc. We also went to Miyama in Hioki city, Kagoshima. It is known for producing Satsuma porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan.

First, we had visited the Tabaruzaka (田原坂) Battle Field in Kita-ku, Kumamoto. We went there in June, but it was rainy day. It was nothing to do that because of the heavy rain. We want to take the best pictures, so we had decided to go there again this time.

The new museum. Unfortunately, it hasn't been opened yet. It'll be open to the public on November 15.

Dankon-no-ie (弾痕の家) or the house of bullet holes. The old museum next to the house was already closed, it was during the demolition work.

About 200m further down the pathway from the museum and Dankon-no-ie house, you can find an  equestrian statue of the young samurai (bishonen (美少年) in Japanese) and the Suretsu monument.

An equestrian statue of the samurai warrior who serves on the Satsuma forces during the battle flight against the imperial forces in 1877.

 The Suretsu monument of Tabaruzaka

The beautiful landscape of Mount Sannodake and Mandarin orange field from the Suretsu monument.

We had also visited the war cemeteries in Nanamoto. There are two separate cemeteries, the one is for the Satsuma forces and the another one is for the imperial forces. This is for the Satsuma forces.

The cosmos flowers in full bloom in the prescient.

A little away from here, there is a site for the imperial forces.

A remembrance pine tree for the lower ranks of Army Major General who died during the battle.

Walking Fukuoka's temple street

In the afternoon, we went sightseeing to the Gokushomachi (御供所町) area in Hakata-ku Ward which is the largest historic district of Fukuoka.

First, we visited the Shofukuji (聖福寺) Temple. It was founded by Eisai with support from Minamoto no Yoritomo, and construction was completed in 1195, making it the oldest Zen temple in Japan.

The Daiyuhouden (大雄宝殿) honden or the main hall. It was rebuilt recently, but it is unknown.

Next we took a short walk to Tocho-ji (東長寺) Temple. It was founded by Kūkai with support from Tadayuki Kuroda, the second lord of Fukuoka province, and construction was completed in 806, making it the oldest Shingon temple in Kyushu.

A noteworthy sight to see is Fukuoka Daibutsu (福岡大仏) or the Great Buddha statue in the second floor of the Buddhist hall. The statue is 10.8 meters in height and 30 tons in weight. This is the largest statue of a seated Buddha among the ones in Japan.

The beautiful five-story pagoda. It is 23 meters in height. The pagoda, using all Japanese cypress wood, was completed in the Spring of 2011.