27/11/2015
Unforgettable Kyushu with my mom
Konnichiwa, everybody. I’m Tan from Bangkok. This is the first time in my life to travel with my mom in a foreign country. My mom has visited Japan a couple of times before. Specifically, she has been to Tokyo and Osaka with tour agents. I, myself, have traveled with friends to several cities in Japan during the past few years. But, for both of us, this is our first visit to Kyushu.
My mom was very impressed with Kyushu because of her last experienced in Japan mostly with tour agents and travelling in the big city but actually she really like country-side more than city-side.
Thanks to the nature of Kyushu that make her very happy. She said to me, “This is like the first time that I can feel really Japan.”
26/11/2015
My Second Kyushu Trip
I visited Kyushu again during 13-19 November 2015. My first time in Kyushu was in the same month of last year. Why Kyushu? The answer is because of the beautiful scenery of many perfectures and of course because of hot springs.
This year I've been to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Saga and Oita Perfectures. With the rented car, I could go to many attractions. Kikuchi Keikoku Valley was also one of my destinations.
26/12/2014
Fukuoka- First Impressions
I had a chance to visit Japan in Dec 2015 for the first time. Having heard of many wonderful stories my friends had in Japan, I could only imagine Japan from their experiences, and other travelers' articles, photos and blogs.
I chose Fukuoka, as I had a friend doing her PhD with Kyushu University. Stepping out at Hakata Station, I was greeted by beautiful Christmas Lights. The atmosphere was jovial and light-hearted, with many people taking photos with the beautiful lighting. The Christmas spirit is very much alive in the evening!
26/12/2014
Childhood Dreams:
When I was a child and being later, I always had a passion for looking views full of greenery, forest, trees, river, waterfall, birds, nature and so on. However, these dreams just came true by my first oversea travel to Japan. The first place where I had a stay almost for 4 days and really enjoyed was Fukuoka. One day we went out for sightseeing along with my colleague. In order to join cable and slope cars we took tickets and guide pamphlet from JICA Center and after 10 minutes walking we reached to Yahata station. It was on weekend and shuttle bus free services were also available for everyone, carried through to the foot mountain station from where we have started a short journey to the top of the mountain. A beautiful green mountain covered by dense trees called Sarakura. We had slope car straight toward the top and after that cable car was used for looking around. Both cars were full glass and very helpful to see each point easily. On the way to the top we felt like flying gradually to the sky whereas cable car presented the beautiful view of the city and green edge of the Sarakura heap. Roads and stairs across the whole mountain provide comfort for people walk or drive. In spite of seeing incredible spectacles, we met a Japanese astrologist and two other personalities from Turkey and Algeria to whom we exchanged ideas about own culture and social behaviors. Anyhow, we captured different photos along the way and near about to leave we relished amazing sunset.
25/12/2014
Nakagawa Seiryu Onsen, Fukuoka
Before going to Kyushu, Japan, there were friends telling me the scenery of Kyushu is unique, it’s different to Hokkaido and Tokyo (Japan Mainland). I have been to Hokkaido before, I love it, and hence I was very much looking forward to visit Kyushu, just to experience the different scenery of Japan.
23/12/2014
Ceramics, Hikes, and Local Stories
KAMI-ARITA
Arita is a picturesque old town, surrounded by mountains, known for its ceramic kilns and pottery shops. The Kami-Arita train station is in the midst of the historic old section of Arita, where you can see tombei walls, made of bits of pottery and bricks from abandoned kilns. The main road between the Kami-Arita train station and the Arita train station is lined with pottery shops in historic buildings.
22/12/2014
Kyushu, What led me live here: Friends,…
First of all, I want to introduce myself. I am “typicaltomato”. Now I am an exchange student at Kumamoto University. Turn back to a year before I am here, I had to make many decisions for example where I would spend my time of exchange student, How the weather is, What are fascinating places around place I would go. Finally, I decided to come to Kumamoto, a prefecture in Kyushu.
Why did I choose here? There are three factors that led me here. First, my Japanese friends in Fukuoka we’ve met in other previous exchange program. That time I knew a lot about Japan and Japanese culture from them. Second is Kumamon, my bear friend who always tells me about Kumamoto and other prefectures in Kyushu and Third is JR Kyushu train, especially limited train designed by Mitooka Eji.
20/12/2014
First Time in Kyushu
For koyo (red leaves) hunters, it’s impossible for them to miss Japan as there are so many beautiful places that we can see Koyo. I’m one of these hunters so I’ve visited Japan every year. However, this is my first time in Kyushu.
I was a solo traveler who explored some parts of North Kyushu during 30 November to 5 December 2014. Although it was autumn, Fukuoka welcomed me with shower. Dazaifu Shrine was my first destination. The rain could not stop me from looking for red leaves.