PLACES WE WILL GO TO
Fukuoka Airport (福岡空港 Fukuoka Kuukoo) (IATA: FUK), is an international and domestic airport located 1.6NM (3.0km; 1.8mi) east of Hakata Station[1] in Fukuoka, Japan. The airport is located in Hakata-ku, south-east of the city centre. It is connected to the rest of the city by Fukuoka City Subway and road, and a subway from the airport to the business district takes less than ten minutes. Fukuoka Airport is the fourth busiest passenger airport in Japan.
Fukuoka (福岡市 Fukuoka-shi) is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan. Ranked as the 14th of the world's most liveable cities in the magazine Monocle in 2010, Fukuoka was praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. As of June 2011, Fukuoka is Japan's 7th largest city, having passed the population of Kyoto. Climate: Fukuoka has a humid subtropical climate and it has hot humid summers and relatively mild winters. The city also sees on average about 1600mm of precipitation per year, with a stretch of more intense precipitation between the months of June and September. The rainy season (tsuyu) lasts for approximately six weeks through June and July, during which time the humidity is very high and temperatures hover between 25 °C (77°F) and 30 °C (86°F). Summers are humid and hot, with temperatures peaking around 37 °C (99°F). Autumn, often considered to be Fukuoka's best season, is mild and dry, though the typhoon season runs between August and September.
Climate data for Fukuoka, Japan (1971-2000)Month / Jan / Feb / Mar / Apr / May / Jun / Jul / Aug / Sep / Oct / Nov / Dec / Year
Average high °C (°F) / 9.8
(49.6) / 10.5
(50.9) / 14.0
(57.2) / 19.2
(66.6) / 23.5
(74.3) / 26.5
(79.7) / 30.7
(87.3) / 31.6
(88.9) / 27.8
(82.0) / 23.0
(73.4) / 17.6
(63.7) / 12.5
(54.5) / 20.5
(68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) / 6.4
(43.5) / 6.9
(44.4) / 9.9
(49.8) / 14.8
(58.6) / 19.1
(66.4) / 22.6
(72.7) / 26.9
(80.4) / 27.6
(81.7) / 23.9
(75.0) / 18.7
(65.7) / 13.4
(56.1) / 8.7
(47.7) / 16.6
(61.9)
Average low °C (°F) / 3.2
(37.8) / 3.5
(38.3) / 6.1
(43.0) / 10.7
(51.3) / 15.0
(59.0) / 19.4
(66.9) / 24.0
(75.2) / 24.5
(76.1) / 20.6
(69.1) / 14.7
(58.5) / 9.6
(49.3) / 5.2
(41.4) / 13.0
(55.4)
Tourism: Sky Dream Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka City's western ward, was one of the world's largest ferris wheels at a height of 120 meters. It was closed on September 2009. Fukuoka Castle located adjacent to Ohori Park features the remaining stone walls and ramparts left after a devastating fire during the upheaval of the Meiji Restoration. It has now been preserved along with some reconstructed prefabricate concrete towers constructed during the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a trend across Japan to rebuild damaged castles as tourist attractions. Ohori Park is also the location of one of Fukuoka City's major art galleries. There is a newly opened Kyushu National Museum in nearby Dazaifu. The Marine Park Uminonakamichi is located on a narrow cape on the northern side of the Bay of Hakata. The park has an amusement park, petting zoo, gardens, beaches, a hotel, and a large marine aquarium. For tourists from other parts of Japan, local foods such as mentaiko, Hakata ramen and motsunabe are associated with Fukuoka. Yatai (street stalls) serving ramen can be found in Tenjin and Nakasu most evenings. Fukuoka Tower is near the beach in Momochi.
KURUME (久留米市 Kurume-shi) is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city has an estimated population of 303,277 and a population density of 1,319.51 persons per km². The total area is 229.84 km². Traditional products: Traditional products of Kurume are the kasuri (絣), roughly woven indigo dyed cloth; pork soup (tonkatsu) ramen noodles; and trays and bowls made from rantai shikki (籃胎漆器), a composite made from lacquered bamboo. In 2010, Kurume hosted the International Camellia Conference.
Notable people
Famous people from Kurume include: the family of the Bridgestone Tire Corporation (Shojiro Ishibashi), George Shima (the "Potato King" of California), the pop group Checkers, the singer and actress Seiko Matsuda, anime creator Reiji Matsumoto, the television celebrity, Rena Tanaka, actor Ryo Ishibashi and the late Izumi Sakai of Zard. The Bridgestone Tire Corporation has its origins in Kurume as traditional footwear manufacturers, producing the sock-like shoe (tabi), used by farmers. They found that by coating the bottom of tabi with rubber, farmers could be protected from the invasion of parasitic worms that live in rice paddies.
Hiroshima (広島市 Hiroshima-shi) is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It is best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. Its name 広島 means "Wide Island".
Hiroshima is known for okonomiyaki, cooked on a hot-plate (usually in front of the customer). It is cooked with various ingredients, which are layered rather than mixed together as done with the Osaka version of okonomiyaki. The layers are typically egg, cabbage, bean sprouts (moyashi), sliced pork/bacon with optional items (mayonnaise, fried squid, octopus, cheese, mochi, kimchi, etc.), and noodles (soba, udon) topped with another layer of egg and a generous dollop of okonomiyaki sauce (Carp and Otafuku are two popular brands). The amount of cabbage used is usually 3 - 4 times the amount used in the Osaka style, therefore arguably a healthier version. It starts out piled very high and is generally pushed down as the cabbage cooks. The order of the layers may vary slightly depending on the chef's style and preference, and ingredients will vary depending on the preference of the customer.
Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park is one of the most prominent features
of the city. Even visitors not looking for the Peace Park will likely stumble
upon the large park of over 120,000 square meters. Its trees, lawns, and
walking paths are in stark contrast to the surrounding downtown area.
Before the bomb, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political
and commercial heart of the city. For this reason, it was chosen as the
pilot's target. Four years to the day after the bomb was dropped, it was
decided that the area would not be redeveloped but instead devoted to
peace memorial facilities. The park's main facility is the Peace Memorial
Museum. Consisting of two building, the museum surveys the history of
Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its main focus though is on
the events of August 6; the dropping of the bomb and its outcome in human suffering. The personal details displayed are quite upsetting. The museum is geared to accommodate its international visitors. The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building served as a location to promote Hiroshima's industries. When the bomb exploded, it was one of the few buildings to remain standings, and remains so today. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past.
Shukkeien Garden: Shukkeien's name can be translated into English as "shrunken-scenery garden", which is also a good description of the garden itself. Valleys, mountains, and forests are represented in miniature in the garden's landscapes. Through carefully cultivated land and vegetation, the garden mimics a variety of natural formations and scenic views. Shukkeien has a long history dating back to 1620, just after the completion of Hiroshima Castle. The garden displays many features of the traditional aesthetics of Japanese gardens. Around the garden's main pond there are a number of tea houses which offer visitors ideal views of the surrounding scenery. The entire garden is connected by a path which winds around the pond at the centre of the garden. The path passes through all of Shukkeien's various miniaturized sceneries.
Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called Carp Castle, is five stories tall and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. There is a shrine on the grounds, as well as one main gate. Hiroshima developed as a castle town, whereby the castle was both the physical centre of the city and the source of its prosperity. Built in 1589 by the powerful feudal lord Mori Terumoto, Hiroshima Castle was an important seat of power in Western Japan. It was spared the destruction that many other castles met during the Meiji Restoration, and survived into the modern era. Unfortunately, like the rest of the city, Hiroshima Castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. Rebuilt after the war, Hiroshima Castle's wooden exterior makes it a reconstruction with a considerable semblance of authenticity. Inside the castle is a small but informative museum on Hiroshima's history, Hiroshima Castle, and Japanese castles in general.
Miyajima (宮島) is one of the crown jewels of Japan, and certainly one of its finest views. Located off the coast of Hiroshima, the serene beauty of the island is an essential coda to that city. Miyajima has been considered a holy place for most of Japanese history. In 806 AD, the monk Kōbō Daishi ascended Mt. Misen and established the mountain as an ascetic site for the Shingon sect of Buddhism. In the years since, the island's Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines have maintained a close relationship. In the past, women were not allowed on the island and old people were shipped elsewhere to die, so that the ritual purity of the site would not be spoiled; in fact, the island's real name is Itsukushima (厳島), and Miyajima is just a popular nickname meaning "Shrine Island". These days, strict measures are taken to ensure that the island's sole town retains a classically Japanese Edo-era look. Deer wander freely through the streets and parks. There are still a few bits of concrete warren that have snuck in, but the seafront promenade is particularly attractive, especially later in the day when the rampaging tour groups head home and the stone lanterns are lit.
· The orange pathways on stilts of Itsukushima Shrine. Standing in the bay in front of the shrine, the floating torii is the "gate" to Itsukushima. Note that whether the gate is "floating" or merely mired in mud depends on the tide. The Hiroshima tourist information office will be able to tell you the approximate time of the high tide, which is the best time to see the torii. If you spend a full day on the island, though, you should have the chance to see it both ways.
· Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社). UNESCO World Heritage Site, Itsukushima is a large, red-lacquered complex of halls and pathways on stilts, originally so built that commoners could visit without defiling the island with their footprints. Weddings are occasionally held at the shrine, but that doesn't bar visitors, and the priest's ceremonial dance is a memorable sight.
· Senjokaku (千畳閣). The name means "1000 Mat Pavilion", a fairly apt description of this gigantic wooden hall which doesn't actually contain much other than empty space. It was originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587, but left incomplete after his death. There's also a picturesque 5-story pagoda (五重塔 Gojuto) next door, and plenty of cherry trees if you are visiting in sakura season.
· Daisho-in (大聖院). Because it's nestled into the hills, this Buddhist temple is easily missed by tourists, but it features a number of interesting sights and a welcome respite from the crowds. Look for the Dai-hannyakyo Sutra (大般若経), the golden prayer wheels that are said to bring enormous fortune to anyone who touches them, and the Henjokutsu Cave (遍照窟), a fascinating and eerie collection of Buddhist icons related to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku.
· Museum of History and Folklore, 57 Miyajima-cho, a small, charming collection of folk crafts and pieces of Miyajima history, many donated by locals. The main building was originally the residence of a soy sauce mogul, built about 170 years ago, and has a traditional garden out back.
· Mt. Misen (弥山), (530 meters). If you have energy to spare, Mt. Misen offers gorgeous views of the island and sea. The hike takes about an hour, depending on rest stops along the way. Look for the signs for the ropeway, and when you reach it, just keep going.
· Momijidani Park (紅葉谷公園). The ropeway station is in the middle of Momijidani Park, but the park is worth a stroll even if you're not headed up.
· The main shopping street between the ferry terminal and Itsukushima. Oddly enough, Miyajima is well-known for its rice scoops (杓子 shakushi), spatula-esque wooden spoons used to serve cooked rice. You can even gaze upon the World's Largest Spatula (well over 5 meters long), showcased along Omotesando, the main shopping street. The sheer number of souvenir shops is mind-boggling. For the most part, they all sell the same things for the same prices — rice scoops, miniature floating toriis, and souvenir boxes of sweets are by far the most common items.
· There are many little restaurants and vendors in the shopping streets near the shrine. Momiji manjū (もみじ饅頭) are small cakes made in the shape of a maple leaf. Traditionally, they're made with sweet bean paste, but cheese, chocolate and other variations are also available. Keep an eye out for shop windows on Omotesando where you can see them being made. Age momiji (揚げもみじ饅頭) are fried momiji manju. They have a crispy surface, but inside the cake is very soft and sweet.