Fukuoka & surroundings - part I

Konnichiwa,

I'ts been a little over a week since I got here and I've seen a lot of the Japanese culture as I remembered it and the 'only in Japan' things, gadgets you won't see anywhere else. I've decided to write a seperate post about those subjects so to be continued! 

For now, this post contains; Exploring Fukuoka ánd a daytrip to Dazaifu & Yanagawa, followed by more Exploring Fukuoka :-)! Enjoy the read/pictures/videos 🤓☀️🤗!

Exploring Fukuoka (in random order) 

Guy making snacks, see second picture for results.

(Also typical here, displays of food)

Dinner at a local restaurant; Gyoza, pickled cucumber & leeks omelet

The contrast between old and new

Haha, schoolbus 

Japanese money ¥

4L plastic bottles of Bourbon & Whiskey

Shrine

Canal city

Japanese garden

View from Port tower

Dinner at a sushi train restaurant

Japanese garden

Where to next?! - taken at Ohori Park

Japanese garden

Day trip; Dazaifu & Yanagawa

Goood morning, after exploring Fukuoka for a few days, I decided to see a bit more of the surroundings. First up Dazaifu & Yanagawa, easy to combine since they have a combo train ticket & boat ticket. They are about an hour away from the city and also an hour between them but since they predicted rain in the morning, I didn't mind being 'on the road'.

It was dry all morning though and started in Dazaifu just when I headed up the shrine area, but it was nice and soon stopped. There was an inari trail I read about behind the shrine, and so I checked it out. I doubted for a second if I wanted to make the climb, but yes, let's do this!! Mind over matter/body, old mind, young body haha but I did it. And just so you know, when you think you finally made it up, there's álways more (after the first time you think that, but could be up to 4 times when you peek around the corner and there's more red 'gates').

After Dazaifu, I headed to my next destination, about an hour by train. Once I arrived and took a wrong turn, I asked directions and the guy tried to explain, but then he said, I will drive you haha. Okay? Okay! In another country I would think twice but these people have no ill will what so ever. I remembered that from my first trip when somebody walked with me to get me where I needed to be. They are so helpful, friendly, kind. I've also seen strangers do the same, Japanese amongts eachother, one asked the directions and the lady tried to explain which way it was and she was going the same way and then she hopped in and they went together.

Yanagawa, also known as the 'Venice of Japan'. The full boats reminded me a bit of Giethoorn though, but it wasn't as crowded with the amount of boats. And the surroundings were different of course. We went under about 11 low and narrow bridges and waterways in between houses. At the start, the boatman asked "Where is everyone from"? And he started naming countries to get a response from everyone and I didn't respond to any of them. So then he just asked me where I was from and they usually don't understand it when you say 'The Netherlands', so you're better off just saying 'Nederland'. And so I did and then I said 'Huis Ten Bosch' to make it easier because the replica they made is a few hours from here and all the Japanese laughed haha.

Exploring Fukuoka

Street Art

Gyoza take out

Fukuoka by night

Yatai (food stalls)

4L Whiskey bottle at one of the Yatai stalls

Fukuoka by night

Japanese garden

Port

Music-water-laser-light show at Canal City

Bird :-)

Going back to Japan ^_^

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Yes we're all booked (28th of febr)! Not just me, but also two of my best friends that are joining me for the last 9 days, and we'll all fly back together!

After working and going in to the office for a goodbye party and a team meeting, I shut down my laptop around 12ish. Still had to do a few things before leaving but no more work for the next three weeks! I was at the station around 4pm and at the airport around 530pm. Train ride was very relaxing :-)! And check in was smooth (didn't work online) and so was security and customs. My check in bag was 10kg and that included my Indonesian language course study material, a reading book and a lot of bath salt!! I was allowed 2x23kg haha.

The first flight was to Shanghai and it left around 8pm. I had read that there weren't a lot of English movies on the entertainment system and so I had downloaded some stuff on my phone just in case. I was so tired though, that I mostly slept. I don't think I've ever slept this much on a flight but time went pretty fast! 

Arrived in Shanghai and because I had an internation transfer they put a sticker on my shirt. I remembered this from before and still think it's funny but eh it works. I proceeded to the next gate and had a few hours before my next flight. I walked around for a bit but was still tired so I found a quiet space with reclining chairs close to the gate. Everything that's 'Google' is blocked in China so I couldn't get on Whatsapp, Messenger or Google but I was able to play Wordfeud and watch some of my AmazonPrime downloads. I also watched live entertainment outside, these yellow taxi looking cars with letterboxes on top with the words Welcome to Shanghai that were followed by landing airplanes to their designated gates.

My second and final flight was from Shanghai to Fukuoka and lasted a few hours. It was delayed for about 25minutes but I hadn't noticed because I was already asleep minutes after I sat down 😅. It was a semi short nap and after that I just read a magazine until we landed.

Arrived in Japan (late in the evening)! I got the same stamp in my passport as my last time here, 5years ago, and he put it on the same page :-)! And of course, went to the toilet. They all have so many buttons here but I just use the Flush one. My bag arrived pretty quickly and I ordered an Uber to take me to the hotel. Once in the Uber, I looked outside and it finally hit me; I'm here, back in Japan, my 4th visit and the same city I landed in on my 2nd trip 10years ago! A sudden rush went through my body. And so another adventure begins.. but first, I took a bath and tried out the massager machine for my feet/leg and the massage pillow for your back. Oh and I love how everything is provided in the rooms, even nightwear/pyjamas!