Topics on airlines at Fukuoka Airport in 2019

A nice new year's eve to everyone.

I want to write about the recent trends on international airlines at FUK (=a three digit code for Fukuoka Airport).

The biggest trending topics of 2019 is the withdrawal of Delta Airlines from Fukuoka and the return of Hawaiian Airlines flight. Delta Airlines began operating a scheduled service between Fukuoka and Honolulu in December 2011. However, the company was withdrawn from service on May 8. Hawaiian Airlines, on the other hand, resume flight to Fukuoka four times a week on November 27.

Moreover when the diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea were worth after the export control of semiconductor materials to Korea in July, there are some airlines in Korea seems to be reduced flights and have downsized. Let's see an example. Air Seoul, a budget airline owned by Asiana Airlines that just begun in last August, was suspended flights to Fukuoka on October 26. Another example is Korean Air, the national flag carrier of Korea. The airline keeps the number of flights between Fukuoka and Seoul three times per day (or four times daily on a winter timetable). However, actual equipment will be changed to B737s depending on the day.

But there is a good news. Air Asia X, Malaysia's low-cost carrier, launched a new service from Kuala Lumpur on March 1. They also began flying from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok on July 5. In addition, Thai Lion Air, the Thai-Indonesian joint venture company, began operating a scheduled service between Fukuoka and Bangkok in February. Recently there is a strong demand for inbound tourism from South East Asia to Japan, which was followed by a series of new flights.

Visiting Sofuku-ji, the Rinzai temple in Fukuoka

On December 21, I went to Sofuku-ji (崇福寺), a Rinzai temple in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka. The temple was founded by the monk Tan'e (湛慧) in Dazaifu in 1240, but was moved to its present location in 1600 after it becomes the Kuroda family temple.

The temple's main gate, used as the main entrance of Fukuoka Castle, was moved during the Taisho period.

The main hall. It is always close because of young monks living together.

The Asahi Jizo Hall (旭地蔵尊 Asahi-jizo-zon). It is said that Tan'e, the founder of Rinzai temple, dug a hole and hide there. He was missing and later found a dead body in a sitting position.

Christmas illuminations in Fukuoka tower

On the evening of December 13, we went to see the Christmas light show in Fukuoka Tower, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka. The tower lights show up every day, but they hold such a special event during Christmas season. During that time, the light becomes a tree and it changes to red and green over time. Also, snowflake will be falling down in public, and Santa will come to meet you.

Beautiful tree decorations under the tower.

Air Asia Japan will be launched Nagoya - Fukuoka route next year

Air Asia Japan will began operating a scheduled service to Fukuoka next year. According to Traicy, a Japanese travel media, reported on November 21 that the airline has applied to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to open a direct flight between Nagoya and Fukuoka as soon as possible. However, Fukuoka Airport is designated as a congested airport by the Aviation Law, it must be approved by the transport council of the Ministry of Transport.

From Wikimedia Commons

The Nagoya based budget airline will be further expanded services from Chubu International Airport which is currently operating to three routes, Sapporo, Sendai and Taipei.

Beautiful autumn leaves of Yusentei Park, Fukuoka

On Friday, we went to see the autumn colors in Yusentei Park, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka. Yusentei is a historical park with a Japanese garden and a pond. It was originally built in the mid-Edo period (1754) for Kuroda Tsugutaka, the 6th domain head of the Kuroda clan. It was named after a later lord's tanka poetry.

The entrance. A ticket office is located just behind the right, so you have to pay an admission fee of 200 yen per person by cash.

We saw beautiful fall leaves on the street.

Let's take a walk to the pond garden.

Josui-an, an authentic tea house in the center of the garden.

The lovely Japanese style kaesansui garden in the villa.

Carps in a pond. They'll come together and want to eat your feed.

If we look to the other side, we could see a house on the pond.

Stunning autumn foliage on the garden.

After that we went into a tatami room.

The garden view from a room.

Lake Kinrin, a tourist attraction in Yufuin

In the evening, we walked around the Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖 kinrin-ko) in Yufuin. Yufuin is a tourist town in Oita Prefecture and a popular destination for bus tours. There is a picturesque lake in the town center, and the Oita River flows down and across the valley. 

The lake is always crowded; when I look around I saw lots of international tourists from Taiwan. And some Yoshimoto entertainers coming to Yufuin shooting a TV show on tourism.

After that we had a stroll around the pond.

Maple trees in front of Yufuin Kirin-ko Museum. It seems like the autumn leaves are falling a little.

Autumn colors getting started in the forest around the lake.

Sakurai Futamigaura, a famous scenic spot in Fukuoka

Yesterday, we went to Sakurai Futamigaura (桜井二見ヶ浦) in Itoshima, Fukuoka. It was a nice autumn day and the weather was fine, so we decided to go out nearby.

Sakurai Futamigaura is a quite beach on the border between Nishi-ku, Fukuoka and Itoshima. A sight worth seeing is Meotoiwa (夫婦岩), a pile of rocks glued together, and the shimenawa rope tied between two rocks. Additionally there is a white torii gate stands on the beach.

I went down to the beach to see the rocks up close. 

Walking the samurai town of Taketa, Oita, part 2

After walking around the Buke-yashiki street, we went to another place, the Aizen-do (愛染堂) Buddhist temple. Aizen-do is the oldest temple in Taketa, a city in Oita Prefecture where the Oka Castle is located. 

The temple was built in 1635 by Nakagawa Hisamori (中川久盛) with support from Takeda Banshosaku Uemon (竹田番匠作右衛門), the artisan of Hida Province. Hisamori, the second daimyo of the Oka Domain in Bungo Province, was appointed as a member of the construction team of Nikko Tosho-gu. After he was completed his mission, he went back to his duties as a lord and ask Uemon to build the temple.

When you came to a side street called Hachimangawa Yokocho, you'll see the whole staircase that goes up to the temple.

Going up the stairs, there is a temple where Nakagawa was built as a prayer house. When you go to the left, you can see the Entsukaku (円通閣) stone wall gate as shown in the picture below.

The Aizen-do main hall. The main deity of the temple is Aizen-myoo, known as the god of love, that's why many couples go to pray their marriage.

Before going back to the car park, we saw statues of sixteen kannon at the entrance of the temple. Look at the picture. The 16 arhats standing on stone pillar!

Walking the samurai town of Taketa, Oita, part 1

After visiting the Taketa Yusui Springs Group, we strolled around the Buke-yashiki (武家屋敷) street in the Taketamachi area of Taketa. Taketa is a city located in the south of Oita Prefecture. The Oka Castle, a local historic landmark now in ruins, is nearby.

The first place we went is Tonomachi samurai warrior district. Many traditional houses are left on the street.

Once I got out of the street and went to a nearby place, the site of a hidden Christian (Kakure Kirishitan 隠れキリシタン) cave chapel. It is a place of worship located in caves of Oka Castle.
Some feudal lords in Bungo Province, such as Otomo Sorin who has believed in Christianity. When was Christianity banned in Japan during the Edo period, the hidden Christians continued to practice Christianity in secret. 

A long wall gate and a white wall warehouse along the street.

The Rentaro Tunnel named after Rentaro Taki, a pianist and one of the best-known composers of Japan.

Getting out the tunnel, there is a house of Rentaro Taki that Rentaro live at the age of 12 to 14 with his father's transfer. It is used as museum now.

After that we headed to our next visit, the Aizen-do Buddhist temple.

Visiting the Taketa Yusui Springs Group, Oita

In the afternoon, we went to the Taketa Yusui Springs Group (竹田湧水群 Taketa-yusui-gun) in the city of Taketa, Oita. It is beautiful springs located in the western part of the city. These springs are chosen for the best 100 spring water in Japan.

The spring water group is located in the basins of the Ogata River and Tamarai River that is tributary of the Ono River, and from the Aso Mountains as its origin. The total number of springs is about 60 along the Prefetural Road 8 in the Soho (祖峰) district, and the amount of spring water is roughly 60,000 to 70,000 tons per day.

The first place we went is Sensui Yusui (泉水湧水) Spring.

The water site which is known as one of the best drinking water in Kyushu Island.

The beauty of a water garden.

After that we went to Kawauda Yusui (河宇田湧水) Spring. It's close to the above mentioned Sensui Yusui and has the highest amount of spring water in the Taketa Springs Group, with 350 milliliters per hour!

The water station along the road. There are ten pipes for drinking water, so I bring a water plastic bottle from home.

Kotton, Chinese-style noodles restaurant next to the water station.

Nakajima Park is located on the opposite side of the road.

A slide pool. People enjoy swimming in water during the summer.

The cobblestone path of Futae Pass, Aso, Kumamoto

On November 5, we had decided to take a drive to see the stone paved road on Futae Pass in Aso, Kumamoto. I went there on the evening of October 15, but the time is already half past four. It was getting dark. The image was a bit blurry like a bad photo.

How do we get there? We were going straight to Kumamoto on Kyushu Expressway and taking Japan National Route 57 to the town of Ozu. We were going up north on Kumamoto Prefectural Route 339, commonly known as Milk Road, there's a small parking lot on the right side just above the intersection with Prefectural Road 23, from which the Bungo Kaido Historic Road has begun.

We're going down into the Aso Valley.

A sharp curve continues when you go down the stone pavement from the top of the pass.

Superb views of Mount Aso and the valley of Aso. Mount Nakadake, the active volcano currently erupting, can be seen in the background.