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.

Walking the Chinese settlement of Nagasaki

In the evening we went to Nagasaki Chinatown. As usual, we bought some "Monkey" Chinese New year goods at Min-min boutique shop there.

The distance between Karatsu and Nagasaki is so far, it takes about 3 hours via national highway. We went through the Huis Ten Bosch (ハウステンボス) Dutch theme park in Sasebo. It reproduced the streets of the Netherlands and a replica of the original Huis Ten Bosch palace in the Hague. After passing through Huis Ten Bosch, we could see the big arch bridges called Saikai Bridges (西海橋 -bashi). The bridge spans the Hario Seto (針尾瀬戸) Straight which is known as the three biggest rapids in Japan. Finally we arrived safely to Nagasaki at 5 o'clock.

We stopped our car in the parking lot in front of stone gates. Here is the entrance of Tojinyashiki-dori (唐人屋敷通り) Street that leads to the Kannaimachi (館内町) settlement area. The Nagasaki Lantern Festival will be held after one week, that's why they already have colorful lanterns in the street.

When the walk just a little bit, you'll see the huge Chinese-style entrance gate to Kannaimachi. The gate, a height of 8.7 meters, has become a new landmark of the area.

The history of Nagasaki Tojinyashiki (唐人屋敷) area

After the isolation of Japan in 1639, the Edo Shogunate avoided exchanges with ordinarily Japanese and foreigners, thus the Shogunate allowed to live foreigners to special zones such as Dejima. They decided Chinese immigrants to move Tojinyashiki area located in a place called in the current Kannaimachi district. Tojinyashiki is almost the whole area of Kannaimachi, and it was completed in 1689. 
The area is twice as large as Dejima (出島), surrounded by a double in a brick wall and arrow bamboo fence. The doorway was installed two gates, Daimon or the main gate and the second one. The entrance to the area had been strictly limited by these gates.

Going up some steep hills, we came into the temple street. The first place we've visited is the Doshindo (土神堂) temple. As the name suggests, it's a temple that was dedicated to the god of earth. It was originally built in 1691 and was rebuilt in 1977.

Next, we went to the Tengodo (天后堂) temple. The immigrants from Nanjing who pray for safety of the voyage, it was dedicated to the god of voyage "Our lady Tin Hau" has to be the origin.

We went further walking to the street, we arrived at the Kannondo (観音堂) temple. The main hall has been enshrined Avalokitesvara and the emperor of Qing. It seen to be founded in 1737 and the current building has been renovated in 1917. There is a very very funny place inside the temple, a nursery school with a swing and slide set!

The last one is the Fukken (福建, Fujian) Hall, built in 1897. It's a rare temple style building with a brilliant wood curving.

The time is already 5:45. We got very hungry, so we had decided to go Chinatown to have dinner. We found a good restaurant at the corner of a busy street, called Shinwaro (新和楼). Delicious food and friendly staff. They have English and Korean menu that would be helpful for international tourists. We want to go there again.

A day at FUK on 11 February 2016, part 2/2016年2月11日福岡空港での飛行機たち（その2）

After having a short break at Seven-eleven convenience store near the airport, I went back to my usual spot on the end of Rwy 16. I was keep going to take pictures of planes takeoff and landing until the sunset.
空港近くのセブンイレブンで休憩後、いつもの撮影場所である滑走路16エンドに戻ってきて日が暮れるまで撮影を続けました。

At 3:54 pm, an All Nippon Airways flight NH257 from Tokyo Haneda was landing and taxiing.
午後3時54分に全日空の東京羽田発ANA257便が着陸＋タキシング。

When the plane was landing, it was coming to the Youme (pronounced as Yu-me) jet special livery. I was amazed to see ANA's special jet.
飛行機が着陸した瞬間になんとゆめジェット塗装機で来ていたのでわくわくしながら見ていました。

At 4:10 pm, a Tiger Air Taiwan flight IT241 to Taipei was taking off.
午後4時10分にタイガーエア台湾のIT241便台北行きが離陸。

At 4:53 pm, an All Nippon Airways flight NH262 to Tokyo Haneda was taking off.
午後4時53分に全日空のNH262便東京羽田行きが離陸。

At 5:30 pm, a V Air flight ZV212 from Taipei was landing and taxiing.
午後5時30分にVエアの台北発ZV212便が着陸＋タキシング。

V Air, a budget airline of Taiwan, began operating a scheduled service between Taipei and Fukuoka to 1 flight per day from 25 January.
去る1月25日から同社は福岡ー台北線を1日1便で就航開始しています。