Finnair welcomes to Fukuoka!/祝！フィンエアー福岡就航

I took pictures of a Finnair flight AY075 from Helsinki yesterday. It's the first flight of Finnair to Fukuoka on this day, so I want to take pictures of it. I left home at 6:45 in the morning, and headed off to the Rwy 16 in about an hour. Here, it's the best place for plane spotting. When I arrived there, some plane spotters came here already. Like me, they take pictures of the airline's inaugural flight to Fukuoka.
昨日（5月8日）はフィンエアーの就航フライトであるAY075便を撮影しに行きました。朝6時45分に家を出て自転車で向かい、1時間ほどで絶好の撮影スポットである滑走路16へ到着。すでにそこには大勢の飛行機マニアたちが記念すべきフライトを撮ろうと駆けつけて来ていま した。

At 7:47 am in Japan time, a plane from Helsinki was touched down. The aircraft registration number OH-LTO is a Unikko special livery in collaboration with Marimekko, a well-known Finnish design brand.
午前7時47分にヘルシンキからの就航便が着陸。機体番号はOH-LTOでフィンランドの有名デザインブランド、マリメッコと連携した特別塗装機「ウニッコ」でした。

After the arrival of a plane at Gate 50. No boarding bridge is installed here, so all passengers and crews must be moved to the terminal by bus.
50番ゲートに到着後の飛行機。ここにはボーディングブリッジが設置されていないのですべての乗客乗員はバスでターミナルまで移動しなければなりません。

The AY076 return flight to Helsinki was taking off at 10:06 am.
午前10時06分にAY076便ヘルシンキ行きが離陸。

Have a pleasant journey to Europe!
どうぞヨーロッパでの楽しいご旅行を。

Finnair to launch Fukuoka - Helsinki route

Finnair will begin operating a scheduled service to Fukuoka on May 8. Finnair announced that will be launching a service between Helsinki and Fukuoka immediately after the KLM flight was discontinued on January 5. It will be maintained direct flights between Fukuoka and Europe.

Sakura at Minami Park, Fukuoka

On Tuesday, we went to Minami Park for hanami (花見, cherry blossom viewing parties). This year, hanami parties about 10 days earlier than usual. Here's cherry trees falling petals little by little. But people still enjoy having hanami parties under the cherry blossoms.

A daytrip to Munakata on March 16, the end

Before going back home, we stopped at Tsuyazaki (津屋崎) Fishing Port in Fukutsu. We've never been to there, it's the first time to visit. The Umigame fresh seafood market next to the fishing port. A morning market, known as "Asaichi" (朝市) in Japanese, is held on Sundays.

Anchoring fishing boats at the inner harbor and the Umigame seafood market.

 The fishing port as seen from Tsuyazaki Beach.

After a few days I was looking up more information about Tsuyazaki town on the Internet. I found a nearby place which save the old houses along the street, called Tsuyazaki-senken (津屋崎千軒). The hydrangea and iris viewing garden in Miyajidake-jinja Shrine will be open in the middle June, maybe I'll go there again then.

The end.

A daytrip to Munakata on March 16, part 2

In the afternoon, we took a walk on the Satsuki-matsubara (さつき松原). A 300-year-old black pine trees planted along the roadside that makes a arc sharp and the beautiful pines extend to five kilometers away. 

Jinoshima Island as seen from the black pine trees.

A close up of the black pines and Jinoshima Island in the background.

 Kanezaki (鐘崎) Fishing Port as seen from the square.

Further on up the Prefectural Road 300 from here, you'll see the Hibiki Tourist Hotel on the right. In front of the tourist hotel, there is a small beach called Kanezaki-Fukahama (鐘崎深浜), located on the boarder with the town of Okagaki (岡垣町 -machi).

Looking through the most powerful sea waves of Hibiki-nada (響灘) along the coastline, we came out to Hatsu (波津).

Taking a short break there, we're going to the next destination, Tsuyazaki (津屋崎) Fishing Port.

To be continued..

A daytrip to Munakata on March 16, part 1

On Wednesday, we made a short trip to Munakata. I want to take pictures of the coast region in the north of the city, so I was planning this trip.

First we went to Miyajihama (宮地浜) Beach near the Miyajidake Shrine. A 3km long sandy beach spreads along the coast of the Sea of Genkai, it's sometimes referred to as the West of Shonan (湘南) by locals. There are all calm beaches, so are the ideal place for marine sports such as windsurfing, jet skiing etc. 

 A distant view of Ainoshima (相島) Island from the beach.

Further on up the National Highway 495 from the beach, you'll see the pond on the right. When we entered the narrow pathway for a while, we arrived at the Katsuurahama (勝浦浜) Beach. This beach is the coast of the northernmost of Fukutsu city which is located to the east of Fukuoka. It's a famous thing for sea turtles occasionally come here and do egg laying. 

A small fishing village just north of the Katsuurahama Beach.

After a lunch break, we went to Hokutonomizukumi Seaside Park (北斗の水くみ海浜公園 -kaihin-koen), immediately on the back of Michinoeki (Roadside Station) Munakata. Recently, the park has been rearranged and it becomes more beautiful beach.

Climbing to Mount Aburayama, Fukuoka

On Tuesday, we climbed up to the Mount Aburayama (油山), a 597 meter mountain located in the place from the center of Fukuoka city, about 10km to the southwest. This mountain is easily accessible from the downtown by car and is loved by local people as a relaxation spot.

We stopped our car in the parking lot in front of tourist information office. We really want to go three tourist spots in the mountain, the Central (Katae) Observation deck, Meoto-iwa twin rocks and Yamakasa Waterfalls. How did we take the course? We went to the waterfalls first, and cross the suspension bridge across the valley, then come back while watching the stunning views of Fukuoka city at the Central Observation deck. We didn't go to the rocks this time because we don't have enough time to visit.

Walking the paved mountain road towards the momoland ranch at about 20 minutes, we'll reach the citizens forest camping site. From here, we climbed up the steep path for a while, we'll see the Yamakasa Waterfalls. There are beautifully sharped rocks which is about 20 meters high. The name Yamakasa (山笠) suggests that is taken from the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival take place for 15 days from the beginning of July.

About 500m further down the road from the waterfalls entrance, you can find a suspension footbridge across the valley. This bridge is the fastest way to go the Central Observation deck.

It like this.

Going to the top of the hill and finally we arrived to the observatory.

I made a panorama on my panorama maker 5. Although it was sunny in the morning, but the entire city was covered in haze due to the influence of the yellow sand from China. Because of such weather condition, the image is much darker, but please enjoy this photo.