Visiting Bairin-ji Temple, Kurume

On Wednesday we had decided to take a drive🚙 Bairinji (梅林寺), a Rinzai temple in Kurume, Fukuoka. According to Wikipedia, the temple was the bodaiji of the Arima clan and originally located in Fukuchiyama in the Tanba Province, where it was called Zuigan-ji (瑞巌寺). In 1620, when Arima Toyoji was transferred from Fukuchiyama Domain to Kurume Domain in Chikugo Province, he relocated the temple to his new domain and named it Dairyu-ji (大龍寺). It was later renamed to Bairin-ji which is associated with his father Noriyuki's posthumous name, Bairin'in-den (梅林院殿) and became a mausoleum of the successive daimyo of the domain. 

The entrance gate of Bairin-ji.

Passing the temple gate, then go straight down the sando road to the main hall.

The Zen Hall of Bairin-ji🛕 It is always close because of young monks doing some practice😁 

The Kaizando (開山堂) founder's hall.

After that I went to the cemetery dedicated to the Arima family.

Autumn colors getting started around the garden🍂

The Chikugo River seen from the garden. Before the bridge was open in 1974, there was a ferry boat that connected the river from here to Nagatoishi-machi on the opposite bank. 

Visiting Bungo-Mori Roundhouse, Kusu, Oita

In the afternoon, we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Bungo-Mori Roundhouse Park in Kusu. It was built in 1934 when the Kyudai Main Line was fully opened. 

The loco shed🚂 Located to the east of Bungo-Mori Station🚉, it was a large roundhouse that kept 21 steam locomotives at its peak. 

The engine shed was in use until 1970 and could be up to 12 locomotives. 

A steam locomotive 9600 series used for coal transport in the Kyushu area such as Nagasaki and Karatsu during the working period. He was a brave hero that saved victims of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki👏 After the retirement in 1974, it was kept in Shime, Fukuoka for memories. But such a bad condition that the town council rejected the budget for maintenance repair, and it was waiting to be scrapped. However in 2015, Kusu Town bought for free of charge, and now on display😊     

 

Panoramic views of Kannawa Onsen from Yukemuri Viewpoint, Beppu

On the second day, we went to some sightseeing spots such as Bungo-Mori Locomotive Roundhouse🚂 in Kusu Town.

First, we went to Yukemuri Observatory in Beppu. From here, you can see the awesome view of the hot springs town♨ 😀　

Hot air and smoke rises from everywhere in the city. I think it's just amazing😄

Staying at Terrace Midobaru, a Japanese style hotel in Beppu

We went to Oita for 2 days on November 6 and 7. 

First I took pictures of buses🚌 in Usuki and Oita. After that we headed to Terrace Midobaru (テラス御堂原) in Horita Onsen♨ I've never stayed there so I was really looking forward to it.

This time we just stay for one night and booked on Rakuten Travel at cheapest price, ¥28000 per person per night with two meals🍴 

The room we stayed in was on the second floor of the West wing. It has both Japanese and Western, but it's quite simple😉 They put a carpet in living room instead of tatami mat😄  

The Wagyu beef Shabu-shabu hotpot dish I had for dinner😋

A bowl of Takikomi-gohan🍚 cooked with seasoning, salt and a whole yellowtail fish🐟 

The night view of Beppu from my bed room is beautiful🌃

An onsen bath🛁 in the room. I just took a relaxing bath anytime😇

The next morning my mother and I woke up at 7 am. 

We had breakfast at 8 o'clock so we have to go to the same place as dinner last night.

We got a Kabosu drink and blueberry yogurt for starter. By the way, Kabosu is local specialties in Oita Prefecture.

A variety of dishes.

Good morning city views from my room.

I had some delicious biscotti at checkout counter😊 

 

Visiting Harajiri Falls, Oita

On Wednesday, we had take a drive 🚙to Harajiri Falls🌊 This waterfall is located on the Ono River in Bungo-Ono, Oita♨ It is selected by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan🗾 

==Features==

Harajiri Falls is 20 meters tall and 120 meters wide. Due to its appearance, it is sometimes referred to the "Niagara Falls of the East."🌏 The waterfall is formed from the pyroclastic flows of an eruption of Mount Aso about 90,000 years ago😲

From Wikipedia

I'm going to cross a wooden bridge📸

A close up view of the waterfall is like this.

Visiting Atomic Bomb Ruins of Shiroyama Elementary School, Nagasaki

Yesterday we had take a drive🚙 to the A-bomb Ruins of Shiroyama Elementary School in Nagasaki. Shiroyama Elementary School is a public primary school near the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park🏞 During the World War Two, it was called Shiroyama Public School, and was located just 500 meters from the hypocenter of the atomic bomb💣 The elementary school building suffered extensive burns when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki City, at 11:02 am, August 9, 1945; over 1400 students and staff losing their lives. Now a part of the school building at the time of the bombing still remains, and is used for peace education. 

When I took a picture in front of the elementary school, a kindly man told us about history of the school building🏫 He's a great guide, he explained us in more detail. And he was very happy that you came😊 I recommenced you to go there if you intended to visit. The museum is free of charge❗

Messages from visitors. 

We went up the stairs to the second floor.

A Japanese laurel tree that survived the bombing of Nagasaki. 

Photographs taken right after the bomb was dropped😭

Beautiful Origami paper cranes made by children🐦👏

Visiting Hirado Xavier Memorial Church

After visiting Kawachi Pass observatory, we headed to the nearest spot, Hirado Xavier Memorial Church⛪, a Roman catholic church built on a hill in central Hirado. The magnificent Gothic style church was built in 1931 and factures of a good design that uses a sense of movement. 

We parked a car in front of Hirado Port ferry⛴ terminal. We want to see the scenic view of Xavier church and Buddhist temples along the street so we walk up the stairs😓

The statue of Virgin Mary. She loves you very much😃

Views from Kawachi Pass observatory, Hirado, Nagasaki

After visiting the Koxinga Memorial Museum, we went up to Kawachi Pass observatory in Hirado. Kawachi Pass is a scenic spot in Saikai National Park where you can see the various islands floating in Hirado Channel🌊

I tried to take a close-up picture of the North-West area. The sea seen in the back is Furue Bay, and beyond that is the Ikitsuki Island. 

Visiting Koxinga Memorial Museum, Hirado

Yesterday we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Koxinga Memorial Museum in Hirado, Nagasaki. Koxinga, famous for the puppet play The Battles of Koxinga by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, was born on Hirado Island and grew up there until the age of seven. 

The site of his birthplace is a prefectural historic site, and the Hirado City Koxinga Memorial Museum stands there.

In Taiwan, Koxinga is considered one of the spiritual pillars of the country as the founding father of its development. 

About Koxinga

Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功) was born on July 14, 1624 in Hirado to his father, Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant who was based in Hirado, and his mother, Tagawa Matsu from Kawachi district. His childhood name was Fukumatsu (福松). Zheng crossed the East China Sea alone at the age of seven, and at the age of 21, he was given the Ming dynasty's surname "Zhu" (朱) by the emperor Longwu, so people called him 国姓爺 (Guoxingye). Later, during the battle against the Qing dynasty, his father Zhilong surrendered to the Qing, but Koxinga raised the banner of Anti-Qing and Restoration of the Ming and, in the midst of the battle, invaded Taiwan and expelled the Dutch who were occupying it. After that, he established a government, enacted laws, developed the country, provided for the people, and made great effects to turn things around, but he eventually died of illness in 1662 at the age of 39.

When I took a picture in front of the mausoleum of Koxinga, a kindly old man told us about history of Zheng Chenggong👲 He's a great guide, he explained us in more detail. And he showed us the house Zheng was born is now a museum. 

The statue of Koxinga and his mother🤶

Now, let's go inside😊

A replica of Koxinga's portrait hangs on the wall.

The Mazu goddess alter statues from Taiwan: The one on the top row was sent from Tianhou Temple in Tainan, and the other one is from Lugang in Changhua County.

Armor used in the film titled the Sino-Dutch War 1661 starred Vincent Zhao as Koxinga.