24/12/2015
Kyushu Life 3 Months pass! But my journ…
Do you know we can change our visions by going out from our house to somewhere and exploring the world? Some people may interest in huge cities that have crowd of people but that's not me. I'm more interest in somewhere that have stories and Kyushu is one of the best place that I can go around to learn more about their story, remember it in my memory and also write it down in my blog (http://www.kazekim.com).
My journey started from October when I've arrived here in exchange student program for half a year. Let's see what's going on my last 3 months. What's happened in my new world and what I learn from my experience?
24/12/2015
Beppu
I am passionate for Onsen, especially in Beppu. At least twice per year I go there by bus from Hakata and I just love the view of mountains and rice field.
20/12/2015
JAPANESE HOLIDAY IN KYUSHU (Part 3: Ku…
The next day proved to be excellent. The temperature had dropped. Originally we had booked a Japanese coach tour to visit the Kunisaki Peninsular, but by chance Wakoka who organised our whole trip met an American working for the Kunisaki local government and he offered to take us round. This area is "old Japan" but as often happens with these traditional areas, it is suffering from depopulation, so they are trying to attract foreign tourists and help to regenerate the area. The mountains rise from the sea.
19/12/2015
JAPANESE HOLIDAY IN KYUSHU (Part 2: to…
The next day we started our tour of the Aso Caldera area with a few days at Mt Aso. We first booked into our hotel and then wandered around the village in pursuit of a shrine which we did not find; it turned out to be a long walk exploring the surrounding flatlands and cultivated fields. We had previously left our bags at the hotel but could not clock in until 3pm. Found good coffee and snacks in the cafe next to the hotel and noted that opposite the hotel was a very good patisserie, had to participate each day. (Does this show that we revert to our European roots!!?)The hotel is referred to as a ryokan. However we were a bit taken back when we saw it was a 20th century high rise building. We had a “Japanese room”, but a bit faded and a lot of imitation wood. The futons seemed rather thin, so sleeping on the floor, not the most comfortable for us. It did however have a seating area with chairs. The reception staff are cheerful and helpful, but the eating arrangements are more like eating in the works canteen and the women who kind of clear up and deliver your food look as miserable as sin. This to us seems very unusual because Japanese people are usually cheerful and friendly. On one occasion we actually walked out thinking the meal had finished, before being summoned back for a couple of pieces of fruit.
Friday off to the Volcano Museum, cannot walk anywhere near Nakadake as it is a little active. Looked around the museum, but it is looking a bit tired and in need of a revamp. We also did the circuit of allowed walks, guards being on duty to stop you straying into prohibited areas. Before coming to this area we had heard that there was a local helicopter trip, but it took a lot of finding! We finally discovered that if you went to Cuddly Dominion then they contained the flights. Cuddly Dominion is a kind of children’s zoo. Not so sure about the treatment of the animals, but you have to pay the entrance fee for this, in order to be able to get on the helicopter. A beautiful day so flew as close as we (or the pilot) could to the crater. Well worth doing.
16/12/2015
Kyushu round island trip
清水竹灯り aka Bamboo light festival is an annual event in Ogi , Saga. Every year from 15Nov to 23rd Nov it will be held. This is my first time seeing Bamboo light up and was very amazed by how it's done. Not because they did the carving on the bamboos , but to light up so many candles every night for this event is a huge task, Yes it's not electric light bulbs but candles like those use in aromatherapy , there must be at least 1000s of it. and the grand finale is the light up at the waterfall. The other thing about visiting events like this in Japan is that , transport is well taken care of to prevent traffic jams. They provided free shuttle bus services at 2 different carparks to the event place.
12/12/2015
Ureshii! Ureshino (嬉野) – top three be…
Beauty - no longer a daily-topic just for the ladies, men too, are getting more receptive towards grooming.
If you are going to Kyushu and would like to indulge into a holistic retreat (be it as a solo or a family trip), you will never choose to miss going to:
Ureshino Onsen Town in Saga 佐賀Prefecture (northwest part of Kyushu Island): 1 of the top 3 beauty onsen in Japan!!!
I did a day-trip from Hakata ward of Fukuoka Prefecture/ City (so simple! so convenient to a gaikokujin/foreigner who doesn't know Japanese language) and it will not take you more than 100 minutes to reach the onsen town from Hakata.
So what is so happy and wonderful/ureshii about Ureshino? Ladies and gentlemen, vain or not, read on!
09/12/2015
Addicted to Kyushu
The leap near Fukuoka Yufuoku! Dome reflects how I feel about my family trip to Kyushu.
"Wow!" x 1,000,000
Food, scenery, designer trains and Japanese-styled ryokans contribute to the "Wow!"s.
02/12/2015
Kitsuki, samurai districts and kimono
Welcome to Kyushu and welcome to Kitsuki city !
Located on the south of Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita prefecture, Kitsuki is one of the few places called the Kyushu's little Kyoto because of its remarkably preserved historic center and its efforts to preserve Japanese traditionnal culture.
Because Oita prefecture is mostly well-known for its onsen culture so I was surprised to discover that there are places with some unique historic heritage too.