Readme before you journey
What is life? What are we born for?
This question popped into my head about a year ago. It was a time when many things were happening in my life. My mother passed away at the beginning of 2015 after a long illness. People around me were dying from illness and accidents... Death is so close to us. Realizing this, a 30-year-old tomboy like me started to have a question spark in my little brain: Besides doing good for society and the people around me, what do I want to do for myself? What can I do now that I won't regret if I have to breathe my last tomorrow? .... The answers came flooding in, but one thing stood out as the hero of the show. My rusty dream is "I want to travel and take pictures in 10 dream countries, and I want to start doing it right away." Even though the dream is a bit big, at least we've finally started counting 1!!!
Japan was chosen as our first target without hesitation. With many factors in the present, it is very conducive to people with limited income but big dreams like us.
A warm welcome to all, both Blue Planet residents and distinguished guests who have stumbled upon this line.
Let me explain a little more about the direction this thread will take.
- This is a story about our time spent in the Northern Kyushu region over a period of about two days.
- We intend to tell stories through photographs, which we have organized into groups based on what we want to see and photograph. Therefore, the locations in the images may be mixed up, but that's okay, right?
- This thread is not a review of travel information, but will try to provide details of the trip to the places in the pictures in the spoiler of each picture.
- We will divide the story into 3 parts to avoid making the post too long, as there are quite a lot of pictures. (This post is the first part.)
- As we focus on travel through photography, we would like to request permission to tag the camera room.
- This is our first trip to Japan, and it's also our first time traveling abroad alone. If there are any errors in the information I have provided, I would be very grateful if you could correct them.
Destination : North Kyushu, Japan
Equipment: Fujifilm X-E2, XF18-135 and XF 35 f1.4
Kokura welcomes us with a bright blue sky
Things to see No. 1: People and way of life
Location: Shiranoeshokubutsu park, Kitakyushu
How to get there: From Kokura Station, take the Local train to Mojiko Station and then take bus number 41 (the bus stop is in front of the station). Walk for another 3 minutes.
What's interesting: A variety of flower gardens, both cherry blossoms and seasonal flowers. There is also a light trekking around the garden, but it is easy to walk and the elderly can walk without any problems.
Elderly couple sightseeing and taking selfies to capture memories together
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we showed the driver a picture we saved from the internet, and when we reached the stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off. Hehe)
Points of interest: A steep stone path with a road in the middle, several old samurai houses, old merchant houses, a charming town, and female tourists in kimonos.
Cute Japanese children, fun to tease
Location: Shiranoeshokubutsu Park, Kitakyushu
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Local train to Mojiko Station and then take bus number 41 (the bus stop is in front of the station). Walk for another 3 minutes.
What's interesting: A variety of flowers, both cherry blossoms and seasonal flowers. There is also a light trekking around the garden, but it is easy to walk and even the elderly can walk without any problems.
The naughty little boy ran around and played, tireless, and ended up being caught as a model.
Location: Shiranoeshokubutsu park, Kitakyushu
How to get there: From Kokura Station, take the Local train to Mojiko Station and then take bus number 41 (the bus stop is in front of the station). Walk for another 3 minutes.
What's interesting: A variety of flowers, both cherry blossoms and seasonal flowers. There is also a light trekking around the park, but it is easy to walk and there is no problem for the elderly.
The little one came out to receive UV light
While walking in the park, we encountered almost ten families with young children.
Location: Shiranoeshokubutsu Park, Kitakyushu
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Local train to Mojiko Station. Then, take bus number 41 (the bus stop is in front of the station). Walk for another 3 minutes.
Highlights: The park features a variety of flowers, including cherry blossoms and seasonal blooms. There are also light trekking trails around the park, suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
While waiting for the bus at Kitsuki, it happened to coincide with the time when the children were leaving school. At that moment, it was as if the spirit of Brother Ae Supachai had entered my body, and I started clicking the camera shutter non-stop, secretly looking for children to enter the industry. Haha!
I'm all grown up now. I can walk home by myself.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we showed the driver a picture we saved from the internet, and when we reached the stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off. Hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, many old samurai houses, old wealthy houses, a cute town, and female tourists in kimonos.
Mom came to pick me up
This little one will definitely grow up to travel the world with a camera. The bag is very promising.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we used the method of showing the driver a picture saved from the internet. When we arrived at the stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off, hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, many old samurai houses, old mansions, a cute town, and female tourists in kimonos
Kitsuki City is not only a city of castles, but it is also known as the Little Kyoto of Kyushu. This is due to the old-fashioned townscape, including samurai houses and wealthy merchants' houses that have been preserved and opened as museums for visitors to enjoy. Finally, what we consider to be the charm of this city that made us decide to travel here is the female tourists in kimonos. There are many kimono rental shops to choose from, and they are very popular with tourists.
Two girls with bright smiles
At first glance, I thought the two girls were Chinese or Korean tourists. But when I raised my camera to take a picture, the two girls started talking and giggling in Japanese, and they immediately gave us a bright smile like the one in the picture.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
How to get there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we showed the driver a picture we saved from the internet, and when we arrived at the bus stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off, hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, several old samurai houses, old wealthy houses, cute houses, and female tourists in kimonos.
Every girl would love to wear a kimono
Foreign tourists in kimonos are quite a sight to behold.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we used the method of showing the driver a picture we saved from the internet, and when we reached the stop, the driver would stop and tell us to get off. Hehe)
Points of interest: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, several old samurai houses, old merchant houses, a charming town, and female tourists in kimonos.
**Grandma and Bua are watering the plants.**
The main road in Kitsuki city center is lined with small flower pots like the ones in the picture in front of houses and shops, showing off their flowers in every house. It's perfect for the Spring season. It's a pleasure to see.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we used the method of showing the driver a picture saved from the internet. When we arrived at the bus stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off, hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, many old samurai houses, old wealthy houses, a cute town, and female tourists in kimonos.
The resident uncle of the samurai house
Aside from your uncle's outfit, another adorable thing was his effort to explain everything in the house to us using Japanese and sign language. He must have seen that we were trying our best to listen. Before we left, he volunteered to take pictures of us in different corners of the house as souvenirs. And before we parted ways, we also didn't forget to take a picture of him.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we showed the driver a picture we saved from the internet, and when we reached the stop, the driver stopped and told us to get off. Hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path on both sides with a road in between, several old samurai houses, old wealthy houses, cute houses, and female tourists in kimonos.
**The aunt who prepares the radishes**
While strolling around the town of Kitsuki, in a small corner of a house, we caught a glimpse of an aunt who was busy preparing radishes and putting them in a basket. We decided to walk over, smiled broadly, pointed at the basket of radishes, and raised our camera to take a picture. The aunt smiled and, fearing that we would not be able to take a picture comfortably, quickly made a move to get up from her chair. We said it was okay, could I take a picture of you with these radishes? (Translated purely from sign language) The aunt understood our sign language very quickly and was very cooperative. We took a picture and talked about radishes with the aunt for a while, then thanked her and said goodbye.
Location: Kitsuki, Oita
Getting there: From Kokura Station, take the Sonic Nichirin to Kitsuki Station and then take a bus from the station for about 15 minutes. (To avoid mistakes, we used the method of showing the driver a picture saved from the internet, and when we arrived at the bus stop, the driver would stop and tell us to get off, hehe)
What's interesting: A steep stone path with a road in the middle, many old samurai houses, old wealthy houses, cute houses and girls in kimonos.
The Throwing Lad
As I was strolling around Tenjin, my eyes caught sight of this young man. I couldn't help but find a seat to watch the exchange of the ball between the young man and his friend on the other side. His expression was very serious, and the tight pants he was wearing didn't hinder his throwing and catching in the slightest.
Location: Tenjin Chuo Park, Tenjin, Fukuoka
Wine Bar and Cafe' Juum Jim
In front of the Tenjin district hotel (Hotel Ascent), there is a small, cute bar where young men and women come and go to sip drinks.
In front of the Hotel Ascent Fukuoka
Cycling Gang
This photo was taken at 11pm while I was waiting in line at the Shin Shin ramen shop (in the alley behind the hotel). After a while, there was a loud commotion coming from the front of the shop. A big guy with tattoos all over his arms and neck (I don't know if he had any on other parts of his body, it was cold) who looked like he walked straight out of a yakuza movie walked up and grabbed a bicycle. They each rode off in different directions. Haha, yakuza riding bicycles.
Location: Alley behind Hotel Ascent Fukuoka, Tenjin, Fukuoka
Things to see Point 2: Train
Experiencing the trains in Japan is one of the top things that come to mind. On this trip, we got to ride various types of vehicles, including trains, buses, and taxis. As for trains, we tried using the Shinkansen, Limited Express, and local trains. It was a very exciting journey for a Thai woman who is far from civilization like us.
Nozomi is beautiful, sharp, and agile like lightning.
From Hataka Station to Kokura Station, we were willing to pay 2,110 yen to experience this Shinkansen train once in our lives (the JR North Kyushu Pass cannot be used on this Shinkansen line). Although it only took 16 minutes to be on the train, it was a 16-minute journey that was definitely worth remembering.
Location: Kokura Station after exiting the train
Kyushu Railway
It is said that trains in the Kyushu area are beautifully decorated both inside and outside, with unique designs, such as the Aso Boy, Yufuin, and trains running on the southern Kyushu line. This time, we were not able to experience these trains, but we hope to do so next time.
Location: Kokura Station
The lonely platform
This platform seems quiet and deserted, but in reality, other people have gone to the Rest Area to get warm from the heater. Only I am here, happily taking pictures and forgetting about the cold.
Location: Beppu Station
Having a Pass allows us to enter and exit the station without worry. At Beppu Station, we stopped by to greet Uncle Shiny's monument and dipped our hands in the hand onsen to relieve the cold. Then we went back into the station again.
Location: Beppu Station
Lovely Mojiko
Mojiko Retro Town is a port town with a strong Western influence. Everywhere you go in the city, you'll find cute and stylish things (we'll have pictures of this city in the next episode). The small platforms in the station are just as charming as the city itself.
Location: Mojiko Station
Compact, cuddly, and huggable Moji
Moji Station, which sounds similar to Mojiko, is only two stations away. I remember it was around sunset, and the golden light was so tempting that we had to get off the train to take this picture.
Location: Moji Station
A medley of rural station platforms
We are particularly fond of platforms in small towns. They evoke a peculiar mix of endearment and melancholy.
Top left and bottom images are from Mojiko Station.
Top right image is from Kitsuki Station.
Bottom right image is from Moji Station, where the platform even has a hidden udon shop.
The train is running behind the yellow rape field.
I'm sorry, I can't translate this text. It contains personal information that I am not allowed to share. I can, however, translate the following text:
"I don't know when these images got stuck in my head, but we were determined to get pictures like this when we came to Japan. Even though we couldn't find the location in our plans, we were lucky enough to see a field of rape blossoms in full bloom while riding the train past Kitsuki Station. We marked the spot on our map, and after exploring Kitsuki City, it was time to follow the pin to find these yellow flowers."
Just getting this picture back to Thailand is a relief.
Location: From Kitsuki Station, walk east on the road for about 1.5 km.
And another clear picture of the front page.
Inside
Stepping into the train, I haven't even found a seat yet. Looking left and right, everything seems so unfamiliar.
For some short journeys of 5-10 minutes, we choose to stand and enjoy the view between the trains.
Some trains are long, so it's better to find a seat inside.
The old man with this kind of light, sitting in this position, quiet and cool.
While waiting for the train to depart from the platform, I came across interesting light and shadows and signs, and I couldn't resist capturing them in photos.
And what's indispensable is eating something on the train, enjoying the view, listening to the train announcements, it's such a joy.
Ending with a picture of a train, the Subway inside Hakata Station.
Things to see Point 3: Food and drink
Normally, when I travel somewhere, I make a list of interesting restaurants to include in my plan. But this time, I'm going to follow my cravings and see where they take me. I have a few things in mind that I'd like to try, including: beer (first on the list, haha), soft serve ice cream, Hakata ramen, convenience store coffee, ekiben (train station lunch boxes), an Izakaya (Japanese pub), and a Yatai (food stall) in Fukuoka.
The results show that in the 2-3 days we were there, we ate many meals, some of which we took pictures of and some of which we didn't (because we were tired and hungry). We have 6 dishes that we would like to recommend to others as a guide to what is worth trying. Let's take a look.
Note: This is a personal opinion.
No. 6 Starbucks coffee in convenience stores (price 2xx yen)
The taste for us might be called bland, but why is it ranked 6th? Because when you take it with you to sip on the train or in a flower garden with the cool air, it adds a lot more flavor and is well deserving of the 6th place ranking.
#5 Canned or bottled beer at convenience stores (1xx-2xx yen)
As a beer lover, I think the beer coolers in these stores are like heaven. Hehe. And most importantly, Japanese beers (other than lagers) that I've tried are very smooth, similar to Belgian beers. My (self-proclaimed) selection principle is to look for gold-colored cans, look for the word "Malt", and finally, if it says "premium", the more expensive it is, the smoother it is. Haha.
P.S. If anyone has any other brands they like or other selection principles, please let me know.
#4 Hakata Ramen, Shin Shin
In Thailand, eating half a bowl of ramen can start to feel greasy. Some shops have salty broth, but when I tried this shop, I fell in love. The pork bone broth is not salty, it's well-rounded and not greasy, and the noodles are very soft. Slurping it down hot on a cold day, my mouth is watering...
When I searched for pictures of this shop on Google, I saw people lining up for tens of meters. So when I went, I chose to go late at night (11pm) and waited in line for about 10 minutes. The branch I went to is in Tenjin, in the alley behind the Hotel Ascent.
Ranked 3rd: Mojiko Retro Beer
This beer seems to be only available for sale at Mojiko (not sure about the information). The taste is smooth and enjoyable. The price is a bit expensive (5xx yen), but compared to the taste and the atmosphere of sipping beer while admiring the cool city, I wouldn't trade it for anything at that moment.
Ranked 2nd: Yatai-style restaurants
The reason why I recommend this type of restaurant is purely because of the "atmosphere". The atmosphere I'm talking about includes: cramped seating, shoulder-to-shoulder seating, the constant sound of Japanese people talking, and the smoke from grilling food that fills the air, like a concert effect by Bie The Star. But that's the charm of this type of restaurant. Not to mention the great taste and service. I highly recommend it! Don't miss it!!
This type of restaurant is only available in Fukuoka. There are many to choose from in the Tenjin area.
Number 1: Izakaya
Don't just say I like it, say I'm in love with it. That's closer to how I feel about Izakaya, a Japanese-style pub. The restaurant serves Japanese-style appetizers, grilled and fried dishes, and alcoholic beverages such as sake and beer.
We tried the grilled pork and grilled chicken skewers (Yakitori). They looked ordinary, but the first bite was like, "Wowwwwwwww!" It was so delicious that I had to look the owner in the eye and say, "Oishii!"
The restaurant we went to is located in Kokura, near the Hotel Relief. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the restaurant.
This restaurant impressed me so much that I had to give it the number 1 spot. Please excuse my longwindedness.
One of the advantages of traveling alone is that no matter which restaurant you go to, you will always be seated at the bar. Some people may not like this, but I love it because I can sneak a peek at the chefs and their assistants at work. As I was taking a picture of the sake bottles lined up in front of the bar, the old man sitting next to me said, "Sake!" and pointed to the bottle in front of him. Then he said a lot of things in Japanese. I guess he was explaining the different qualities of sake to me. I just nodded and smiled. At the same time, the old man asked the barmaid for a glass and carefully poured sake into it before handing it to me. Out of courtesy, I took a sip. Oh, uncle, it was so strong! It went straight to my nose. The uncle must have noticed my expression, so he asked the barmaid to add some water to dilute it. Oh no, I haven't finished my beer yet, and now I have to take responsibility for the uncle's glass too. I remembered that I had downloaded the Google Translate app before coming to Japan. I thought it would be a good idea to try it out in this situation. So I started a conversation with the uncle through the app with the first sentence, "I'm going to Beppu tomorrow, uncle." After that, we talked for a long time about many things. We understood some things, but not others. I mean, the uncle, the father, the mother, and the child behind the bar counter. We have to thank Google for making this app. Even though it's often wrong, it helped us have a conversation amidst laughter for almost 2 hours.
Before leaving, my uncle wrote the name of the city Beppu in Japanese for us, wrote the name of the restaurant he wanted us to try, and wrote the name of the horse meat menu on a small piece of paper. It's a pity that we lost it somewhere. We might have been drunk on sake that night. 555 Because of the impression, we chose this Izakaya restaurant as the number 1 choice for food.
The atmosphere inside the shop
Don't forget to order some beer to go with your snacks.
And then the thread Episode 1: People, trains, food and drinks has just ended
I hope this is helpful for those who are planning to travel to take pictures in Northern Kyushu.
See you again next time with pictures and stories of tourist attractions, shrines, and everything Japanese.
Hello.
Black Salmon
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:00 AM
