Japan - July 2013 (part 1)
I hadn't intended returning to Japan in 2013 but I had some frequent flyer points left over and as I knew (due to my change in work circumstances) that I wouldn't be getting any more through 2013 and with the airlines constantly changing the rules on their use and the number you need (not to mention constantly changing the flights themselves and cutting off flights that used to be availalbel - like a direct flight between Perth and Tokyo!) on the spur of the moment I booked a trip to Japan.
So in July 2013 I headed off - fulfilling my first aim which was see Japan in all four season and as this trip was in their summer that was the last season for me to do.
The trip didn't start that great. Due to no longer having a direct flight to take we have to do a stop over at least somewhere before heading onto Japan. As I had decided to do the southern island being summer I was flying into Osaka, via Hong Kong. Unfortunately, due to a typhoon raging near Taiwan this delayed planes like you wouldn't believe. I actually didn't leave Perth more than 24 hours after I was originally booked which meant having to redo all flights, including connecting flights and also cancelling accomodation in one location and then having to try and find accommodation near Osaka which was nearly impossible, so just had to grab something and had absolutely no idea of really where it was, how to get there, and what it would be like.
Then, when I finally got as far as Hong Kong had another substantial wait of nearly eight hours, which meant that I was arriving in Japan around 11pm and trying to find my way to this last minute accommodation I had booked just before flying out. It wasn't the easiest to get to as it wasn't on the main train line so I had to jump off onto a local train which wasn't running too regularly but fortunately just managed to make it, then arrived at this little local station with hardly anyone around. The station master (who spoke no English) at least could point in the direction I had to go so I headed off with the meagre directions I had with me. It is now midnight, very few people around and the buildings situated on this little street I was heading along were looking a little...odd, to see the least. One had large neon butterflies over the front, another was called Chocolate and I could see a chocolate fountain in the foyer, another had Santa Clauses and reindeer all lit up. I finally managed to find my hotel tucked away, after a little wandering and wondered why I was questioned that I was alone, until I got up to the room and figured out where I actually was. Heard of a 'love hotel'? Well, that's where I found myself!!
i will say this though, it was all very tasteful and the massage chair was a godsend after all the travelling I had just been doing, and the bath was gloriously big and filled rapidly so it was just heavenly. Still, the room was quite an eye-opener and I could understand that it was pretty much completely set up that once you were inside you really didn't need to go out for anything. There are numerous menus provided to order from which is delivered, there was kareoke, a DVD player, TV, radio, little arcade machine in the corner, a fridge with snacks that you paid as you went. What I had a giggle over the most was that by the bed they provided an eye mask, a long feather, and a condom. If you need more don't worry, there's a dispenser machine right there in the room that you just pay as you want!
I headed off the next day by train to Kyushu island which was a pleasant trip and settled myself into the youth hostel I had booked there. This pretty much took all day due to it being a Sunday and having to use some small local trains which had anything up to an hour's wait between. The following morning I was up early to head for the streets where the Hakati Gion Yamakasa festival was running. Teams of men/boys pulled their floats along the streets - it was quite noisy.
{C}{C}{C}{C}
I then spent the rest of the day just wandering around the city and looking at various parks and architecture that I came across.
One of the lovely gardens.
You can take paddleboats along the lake if you want at {C}{C}Ohori Park{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}.
The ruins of the original castle in the area.{C}{C}Fukuoka Castle was also known as Maizumu Castle and was the largest on Kyushu once.{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}
I found this fantastic temple in the back roads of the city and it was just a magical place.{C}{C}It was Shofukuji Temple, which was the first Zen temple in Japan back in the 1100s.
{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}
The next day I moved onto Kagoshima and visited the Meji Restoration museum which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very interesting. There's small trams that move around the immediate area and these are very convenient, and walking around the city is very easy also. You see some wonderful statues as you wander along.
This was the view from my window - unfortunately did have time to take the ferry across to it.
The following day I made just a lazy one with a leisurely train trip to {C}{C}Miyazaki, a wander around and then slowly trained back to Kagoshima.{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}The following day I moved onto Kumamoto. Here I visited the castle, Shinaji Park, the cultural centre, zoo and botanical gardens.
Some parts of the interior of the castle have been restored to look as it would have in its prime.
Opposite the caste is a replica village, the shops are souvenir shops and restaurants.
I came across these gentleman - have no idea what the name of this sport is, and I say sport not game as they were obviously taking it very seriously. They were very good at manipulating these spinning tops.
The beautiful garden - a nice relaxing place to wander at the end of the day.
Have a tori or two... or more
The botanical gardens were nice - but I wouldn't recommend the zoo particularly.
The next day was heading off to Nagoya, with a stop in Kokura for the day. There was a drumming festival running this day in Kokura so I thought it was worth the stop - and it was. In the main train station there was a drumming display which was fantastic to watch and listen to. I then walked to the castle to look around, happened upon a singer and quite liked the song I heard (I looked it up later to find he was called Tomohisa Sako - no idea of just how popular he is or anything), then watched the procession of floats around the castle later in the afternoon. I didn't stay for the evening entertainment with all the stalls and no doubt fireworks as I had to move on.
So in July 2013 I headed off - fulfilling my first aim which was see Japan in all four season and as this trip was in their summer that was the last season for me to do.
The trip didn't start that great. Due to no longer having a direct flight to take we have to do a stop over at least somewhere before heading onto Japan. As I had decided to do the southern island being summer I was flying into Osaka, via Hong Kong. Unfortunately, due to a typhoon raging near Taiwan this delayed planes like you wouldn't believe. I actually didn't leave Perth more than 24 hours after I was originally booked which meant having to redo all flights, including connecting flights and also cancelling accomodation in one location and then having to try and find accommodation near Osaka which was nearly impossible, so just had to grab something and had absolutely no idea of really where it was, how to get there, and what it would be like.
Then, when I finally got as far as Hong Kong had another substantial wait of nearly eight hours, which meant that I was arriving in Japan around 11pm and trying to find my way to this last minute accommodation I had booked just before flying out. It wasn't the easiest to get to as it wasn't on the main train line so I had to jump off onto a local train which wasn't running too regularly but fortunately just managed to make it, then arrived at this little local station with hardly anyone around. The station master (who spoke no English) at least could point in the direction I had to go so I headed off with the meagre directions I had with me. It is now midnight, very few people around and the buildings situated on this little street I was heading along were looking a little...odd, to see the least. One had large neon butterflies over the front, another was called Chocolate and I could see a chocolate fountain in the foyer, another had Santa Clauses and reindeer all lit up. I finally managed to find my hotel tucked away, after a little wandering and wondered why I was questioned that I was alone, until I got up to the room and figured out where I actually was. Heard of a 'love hotel'? Well, that's where I found myself!!
i will say this though, it was all very tasteful and the massage chair was a godsend after all the travelling I had just been doing, and the bath was gloriously big and filled rapidly so it was just heavenly. Still, the room was quite an eye-opener and I could understand that it was pretty much completely set up that once you were inside you really didn't need to go out for anything. There are numerous menus provided to order from which is delivered, there was kareoke, a DVD player, TV, radio, little arcade machine in the corner, a fridge with snacks that you paid as you went. What I had a giggle over the most was that by the bed they provided an eye mask, a long feather, and a condom. If you need more don't worry, there's a dispenser machine right there in the room that you just pay as you want!
I headed off the next day by train to Kyushu island which was a pleasant trip and settled myself into the youth hostel I had booked there. This pretty much took all day due to it being a Sunday and having to use some small local trains which had anything up to an hour's wait between. The following morning I was up early to head for the streets where the Hakati Gion Yamakasa festival was running. Teams of men/boys pulled their floats along the streets - it was quite noisy.
{C}{C}{C}{C}
I then spent the rest of the day just wandering around the city and looking at various parks and architecture that I came across.
One of the lovely gardens.
You can take paddleboats along the lake if you want at {C}{C}Ohori Park{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}.
The ruins of the original castle in the area.{C}{C}Fukuoka Castle was also known as Maizumu Castle and was the largest on Kyushu once.{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}
I found this fantastic temple in the back roads of the city and it was just a magical place.{C}{C}It was Shofukuji Temple, which was the first Zen temple in Japan back in the 1100s.
{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}
The next day I moved onto Kagoshima and visited the Meji Restoration museum which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very interesting. There's small trams that move around the immediate area and these are very convenient, and walking around the city is very easy also. You see some wonderful statues as you wander along.
This was the view from my window - unfortunately did have time to take the ferry across to it.
The following day I made just a lazy one with a leisurely train trip to {C}{C}Miyazaki, a wander around and then slowly trained back to Kagoshima.{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}The following day I moved onto Kumamoto. Here I visited the castle, Shinaji Park, the cultural centre, zoo and botanical gardens.
Some parts of the interior of the castle have been restored to look as it would have in its prime.
Opposite the caste is a replica village, the shops are souvenir shops and restaurants.
I came across these gentleman - have no idea what the name of this sport is, and I say sport not game as they were obviously taking it very seriously. They were very good at manipulating these spinning tops.
The beautiful garden - a nice relaxing place to wander at the end of the day.
Have a tori or two... or more
The botanical gardens were nice - but I wouldn't recommend the zoo particularly.
The next day was heading off to Nagoya, with a stop in Kokura for the day. There was a drumming festival running this day in Kokura so I thought it was worth the stop - and it was. In the main train station there was a drumming display which was fantastic to watch and listen to. I then walked to the castle to look around, happened upon a singer and quite liked the song I heard (I looked it up later to find he was called Tomohisa Sako - no idea of just how popular he is or anything), then watched the procession of floats around the castle later in the afternoon. I didn't stay for the evening entertainment with all the stalls and no doubt fireworks as I had to move on.