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.

Seeing a huge rock in Daihikan Park

After visiting Nagushiyama Park, we went to Daihikan Park (大悲観公園 -koen). The park is located the former Kozasa town, now merged with the city of Sasebo.

When we walked to the park, there are stone steps on the right side. We went up there for awhile, a big rock is coming in front of us! It's absolutely huge, with a height of 20 meters. The large characters of Daihikan (大悲観) engraved on a big rock were carved in 1830 by Matsuura Hiromu, the 10th lord of Hirado Domain.

Before going back to home, we dropped by Asago Catholic Church. It is a small wooden church facing a quiet Saza-ura cove inlet where can be seen the 99 Islands.

She told me that she likes me.

Panoramic views of the 99 Islands from Nagushiyama Park

After visiting Ohashi Kannon, we wanted to go to the place where we can see the 99 Islands in the north. We know Nagushimayama Park (長串山公園 -koen) in the Shikamachi area of Sasebo city. The park is one of the best place to see the islands, so we decided to go there.

The Azalea garden. In the later half of April and the early half of May about 100,000 azaleas are in bloom here.

We tried to go up to the top of the mountain.

After that we went to another place called Hiyamizudake (冷水岳) observatory. From here, you can see the awesome view of the many small islands in front of you.

Ohashi Kannon, Sasebo

After seeing Megane-iwa, we went a little further north to Ohashi Kannon (御橋観音), a Buddhist temple of Shingon-shu Chizanha.

The temple precincts are a natural stone bridge made by erosion of tertiary sandstone with two lines. It is one of the Hirado Hakkei (平戸八景) eight landscapes within the former territory of Hirado Domain.

Hondo or the main temple building. There is a sanmon gate on the left and the old temple is beyond that.

 Let's take a tour.

 The old temple building.

Statues of Fudo-myoo (不動明王) and Kukai near the old temple.

We found a bronze kannon around there.

Now we're going to see the stone bridge.

Finally we got here.

I looked back on the old temple from the stone bridge.