Sakitsu Village, a world heritage site in Amakusa, Kumamoto

After visiting Oe Catholic Church, we headed to the nearest spot, Sakitsu Village (崎津集落 -shuraku). This is one of the World Heritage site which is newly added in Japan, designated as "Hidden Christian sites in the Nagasaki region".

We came here at 3 o'clock. Although this day was Friday, but it was crowded with tourists! We were going to the Sakitsu Catholic Church first, then walking around the village.

Sakitsu Catholic Church. In 1934, it was built on the ground where the footprints were done during the ban on Christianity in Japan. An alter is set up in the place of picture tramp.

The outside is Western style but the inside is a tatami floor.

The lady of Lourdes fountain. Bernadette worships Virgin Mary who is standing. There are lots of koi (鯉) carp in the pond. 

Minato-ya (みなと屋) is a museum that refurbished the inn at the early Showa era. You can take a look at the history of hidden Christian in the village.

A small path that leads to the church.

The fishing port of Sakitsu. It is so narrow that we can swim to the other side. There was no land route until the Five bridges of Amakusa was opened to traffic in September 1966, but only by the sea.

Before going back to home, I dropped by Sakitsu Suwa Shrine. Established in 1647, the shrine is prayed for big catch of fish and voyage safety.

A view of Sakitsu Church from the Ni-no Torii of Suwa Shrine. It is a mysterious place where the west meets the east.

Visiting Oe Catholic Church

A Merry Christmas to everyone.

In the afternoon of December 14, we went to Oe Tenshudo (大江天主堂), a Roman catholic church built on a hill in Amakusa, Kumamoto. Oe (大江) is a place where the first Christan church was built in Amakusa after the ban on Christianity in Japan was lifted in the Meiji period.

The current building was completed in 1933 by Father Garnier, a French missionary. He threw away his private property and built it.

I saw the statue of Virgin Mary when I got off the steps.

The church building from the side view.

The statue of Father Garnier. He came to Japan in 1885 for missionary work. From 1892 to 1941, he was the chief of the Oe Church until his death. He never came back to his mother country, France.

After that we went to a nearby spot, Amakusa Rozario-kan. At the museum, we saw a 3D short film of history of hidden Christian in the town.

Junkyo Park, Amakusa, Kumamoto

After visiting Matsuai, we stopped at Junkyo Park (殉教公園 -koen) in Amakusa. Like the ruins of Hara Castle we went there before, this place is known as the Shimabara rebellion, the greatest riot in Japan's uprising history between December 17, 1637 and April 15, 1638.

Driving on National Routes 266 and 324 from Matsuai and passing the Five bridges of Amakusa, we came to the central Hondo. However, there is a toll section called Matsushima Ariake road on the way; you should go through the old road unless you don't want to pay a 200 yen toll fee.

We arrived at the park around 12:30. As you went up the slope, you'll see a small mound in front of you. It is the tomb of Christian who killed during the war.

The Hondo city center seen from the road in front of the Amakusa Christian Museum. Hondo (本渡) was a city in Kumamoto Prefecture that existed before. On March 27, 2006, the city merged with nearby cities and towns, and become the new city of Amakusa.

The Amakusa Christian Museum shows explained the daily life of Hidden Christianity (=Kakure Kirishitan 隠れキリシタン in Japanese) during the Edo period such as footprints for Christian oppression and Maria Kannon, the Kannon statue secretly worshiped by the hidden Christian who imitated the Virgin Mary.

A little going down from the Christian museum, there is the statue of Saint Almeida and a Christian cemetery.

Walking Matsuai, a historical place in Uki, Kumamoto

On December 14, we had decided to take a drive to see churches in Amakusa, Kumamoto. Before going to Amakusa, we went to Matsuai (松合), a village located along the southern coast of Uto Peninsula in the former Shiranuhi town, now merged with Uki city.

Driving on National Route 266 from Matsubase Interchange on Kyushu Expressway and passing some gentle curves, we came to the small port town.

A street view of central Matsuai near the post office. The village is along the old road to the right from the national highway.

The Matsuai area has been developed as a fishing village of the Kumamoto clan during the Edo period, and it seems that the fish caught here was being carried to the surrounding areas by the hands of the paddler. After that, the present fishing port of Matsuai was set up at the end of the Edo era and the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto sent a supervisor to control the clan's fish market. In addition, the Sake brewing business using rich groundwater was also succeeded; the family who made profits in their business was also managed a ship and fish wholesaler with its funds, Matsuai was once prosperous fishing village in the Higo Province between the late Edo and the Meiji periods. However, when a modern harbor was developed in Misumi and the railway opens, the village's fishing industry falls rapidly, now only the townscape of this white house will make us feel prosperity at that time.

A traditional Japanese-style house at the west end of the village. There are many white wall buildings along the narrow and windy street.

This building is now used as a folk museum.

3 houses in a row on the west side of the old town area. Do you know why are there many white wall houses lined up along the street? Because of its topological structure, bad damages such as a fire took place from long time ago, but in particular as a lesson from the frequent occurrence of fire between 1826 and 1831, that's why they have to make a strong building against fire.

Matsuai Visitor Center is a rest area for tourists.

Singapore Airlines B787-10 welcomes to Fukuoka!/シンガポール航空のB787-10型機が福岡へ！

I took pictures of a Singapore Airlines (SQ/SIA) flight SQ655 to Singapore yesterday. It's the first flight of SQ's B787-10 to Fukuoka on this day, so I want to take pictures of it. I left home at 9 in the morning and headed off to the spotters place next to the south runway 34.
昨日はシンガポール航空B787-10型機の福岡就航フライトを見に行きました。朝 9時前に家を出たのでシンガポールからのSQ656便はすでに到着していて折り返しのSQ655便だけを撮影しました。

The plane was started push back at 9:41 am. The aircraft registration number 9V-SCC was used for flight of the day.
飛行機は午前9時41分にプッシュバックを開始。機体番号は9V-SCCでした。

The plane on the go to runway 34. That day was using a runway on the south until noon because of the strong winter winds were blowing in the morning.
飛行機は滑走路34を走行中。この日は冬型の気圧配置で朝は強い北風が吹いていたので昼過ぎまで南側滑走路を使用していました。

I was trying to take some up close pictures.
走行中の飛行機を間近で撮影してみました。

A China Eastern Airlines flight to Shanghai was also waiting for takeoff.
このとき中国東方航空のMU532便上海行きも離陸待ちでした。

The plane was taking off at 10:01 am.
午前10時01分に飛行機は離陸。

Have a pleasant journey in Singapore.
どうぞシンガポールでの楽しいご旅行を。

Singapore Airlines B787-10 welcomes to Fukuoka

Singapore Airlines announced that will be introduced Boeing 787-10 to the Singapore - Fukuoka route on December 9. The airline began operating the world's first scheduled service to Osaka on May 3. After that the company expanded to other cities of Japan, Tokyo on May 18 and Nagoya on July 28 respectively. And this time they will put the same aircraft onto the Fukuoka route.
This route is currently operated 7 flights per week. It is using A330s on the route until the introduction of B787s.

NB: This image is borrowed from Singapore Airlines official site.

Air Asia X to launch Fukuoka - Kuala Lumpur route!

Air Asia X will begin operating a scheduled service to Fukuoka on 28 February 2019. Air Asia X announced that will be launching a service between Kuala Lumpur and Fukuoka after the Malaysia Airlines flight was discontinued in August 2006. 

From Wikimedia commons

Daizenji Tamatare-gu, Kurume

In the afternoon, we went to Daizenji Tamatare-gu (大善寺玉垂宮), a Shinto shrine in Kurume, Fukuoka. The shrine is famous for its Oniyo (鬼夜) festival held on the evening of January 7 every year. It is counted as one of Japan's three great fire festivals.

The Genna Torii (元和鳥居) and Somon.

Before going to the main temple, I washed my hands at Chozuya.

Going through the Romon gate, I got into the shrine.

Honden or the main shrine.

I found bamboo sticks leaning over the barricades. They will make a big torch to be used for the above-mentioned fire festival. 

 The bell tower. I wonder why are there Buddhism things still left?

There is a bamboo grove in a corner of the shrine grounds.

A big torch used for the Oniyo fire festival put on display in the corridor.

Beautiful autumn leaves of Daikozenji, Kiyama, Saga

On November 14, we went to Daikozenji (大興善寺), a Tendai temple in the mountainous area of Kiyama, Saga. It's the best spot for azaleas in spring and autumn leaves in November.

We stopped our car in a big parking lot. While seeing a typical Japanese countryside on both sides of the road, we came to the temple entrance. From here, we must go up a long staircase to the temple.

When we went up the stairs of 127 steps, we'll see a Sanmon or the temple gate.

We saw beautiful autumn colors around there.

The main hall.

After that we took a tour to the Chigiri-en (契園) azalea garden. An admission fee of 500 yen per person is payable by cash.

Stunning autumn foliage on the grounds of the temple. 

We found a lovely Japanese garden on the way.

The garden. In the later half of April and the early half of May about 50,000 azaleas are in bloom here.