Dream Ryoma @ Kanko-maru, Nagasaki Hansen Festival

April 27, 2007 - 9:04 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

Nagasaki Hansen Festival is being held at Nagasaki Port (Apr.26-30).
Out of seven big sailig ships on this show, I especially would like to focus on Kanko-maru, which is the simbol of Ryoma Sakamoto’s hope !

This is the replica of the sailing ship that Ryoma actually boarded.
What’s wonderful about this festival is that you can [...]

Romantic Nagasaki, Meet `Madame Butterfly’ @ Glover Garden

April 23, 2007 - 5:32 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

Nagasaki is the stage of Romance.
The story of the famous Opera `Madame Butterfly’ was created in Nagasaki, based on the romance between a US Navy and a Japanese woman.

Puccini (left) loved the performance of Tamaki Miura (right) so much, and he commented that she’s the best Madame Butterfly ever.

There’re two heart stones in Glover [...]

Luxurious Nagasaki; meet Ryoma @ Kagetsu!

April 12, 2007 - 1:09 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

What do you think this is?
And who did this?

He, is the person who made this mark with his knife,
and his name is, Ryoma Sakamoto !
So now you see how treasurable it is.

This pillar is preserved and chereshed in Kagetsu, the most well-known and traditional Japanese Ryotei in Nagasaki, and is, historic site.
Ryotei is a [...]

Fukuoka Sample Tour, Let’s visit Fukuoka Essencials!

April 5, 2007 - 3:00 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

Sorry, the application for this tour’s already closed. Please join in the next tour!

This tour is especially for people new to Fukuoka, interested in its local life, and for English speakers from abroad. No Japanese this time, sorry.
Full day tour, with only 1000 yen!
(It’ll be collected on the day of the tour, please check [...]

Hanami with Fukuoka Big Buddha & Haunted House

April 2, 2007 - 1:58 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

This weekend was the highlight of Hanami.
Hanami generally means cherry blossom viewing, but for some little girls, it means cherry blossom `chewing’.

This is Tochoji-temple in Hakata area (*).

It has something very special upstairs.

This is it !!
People believe Big Buddha exists only in Nara and Kamakura.
But now you see Fukuoka also has it, and it’s the [...]

Who is spinning and drying @ Yobuko, port town in Kyushu

March 27, 2007 - 7:04 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

Who do you think they are, dancing and spinning more beautifully than figure skaters under the sky?!

They are squid, caught in Yobuko.
These are dried squid you can take as good souvenier, but the best way to enjoy squid is, to eat it raw!

Doesn’t this look delicious ?!
Yes, Yobuko is `squid town’, so popular with fresh, [...]

Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival) in Hita, where Edo merchants’ life still exist

March 2, 2007 - 9:08 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Hita is a place which flourished in Edo period (Samurai Time), about 200-300 years ago.
It was actually the center of Kyushu, culturally, economically and politically,
and still protects and cherishes its tradition, just the way it was.

Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival) i(Feb.15-Mar.31) is the event you can enjoy the most beautiful season of Hita, by [...]

HAKATA, bean-scattering ceremony @Kushida Shrine

February 23, 2007 - 11:08 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Feb.3 is the day we celebrate the coming of spring.
Many shrines and temples hold soybean-throwing ceremonies around Japan every year, and Kushida Shrine, the most popular local shrine in Hakata, is no exception !

People are having exciting time, trying to catch as many sweets as possible. This year, they threw not only sweets but also [...]