Date: 28th October 2024ย
Travelled: Fokuoka to Osaka ย
Visited: Dazaifu and Canal City Hakata ย
Stayed: Hankyu Ferries ย
Budget: 21 days @ $XX per day
After a morning walk around the Kokura district, a coffee, breakfast we pack and ready for another day.
We overnight on a ferry crossing the Japanโs Inner Sea tonight. This trip is full of contrasts.
Serena herds the lemmings into the bus our first destination is Dazaifu. Doesnโt seem far on the map but it still takes 60 minutes. Dazaifu was established in the 7th century, being the administrative centre of Kyushu for 500 years. Itโs a very popular and busy place.
Dazaifu Tenman-gลซ Temple and gardens are the highlight of our visit. The temple is completoy covered with screening, being under renovation. The temple gate is spectacular, colourful itself, being recently renovated. The bronze oxen are lucky to touch so Serena tells us.
We do find a good coffee as we wander back to the bus (early, we are normally early).
From Dazaifu it is only a short drive to Canal City Hakata. No itโs not Japanโs Venice but a gigantic shopping complex. After 15 minutes trying not to get lost, we bail out. A bit of Googling reveals a Pokรฉmon Centre near the railway station about 15 minutes walk.
Grandchildren can be a burden, but we would much rather go for a walk through a new city or town that spend a couple of hours in a shopping complex.
Finally back on the bus itโs a couple of hours to Kyushu Port and the ferry. Our large bags stay on the bus, we just take an overnight bag with us. Boarding commences on time and the bus rolls into the lower decks of the hull.
Our cabin is spacious but only a toilet, no shower. Where becoming very Japanese after a couple of weeks. There are two onsen (public baths) for men and another two for ladies. One inside the other outside in the open air.
As is our habit we enjoy an afternoon beverage as we watch our ferry disembark the port. Then dinner and off to the onsen to enjoy a soak in the big bath. The overnight passage was very smooth and a great change from another hotel.
Pictured above, smoking in any public space is banned in Japan, however you do see liitle rooms like this in railway stations etcโฆ
Michael + Pam
