Around Fukuoka

Nobuko at a bicycle rental shop on Shikanoshima

Thought maybe you'd like to join me for a tour around Fukuoka City and Prefecture.

We'll start at the northeastern tip of the land surrounding Hakata Bay and end up at the southwestern tip and a little beyond.

At the northeastern corner we find Shikanoshima, a small island that is connected to the larger island of Kyushu by a bridge.

The sands of Shikanoshima are blown into ridges by the north wind

More wind ripples

From Shikanoshima (literally: Deer Island) we travel on Uminonakamichi (literally: road between the seas) with the Genkai Sea on the left and Hakata Bay on the right to Gannosu (nest of the gan (wild goose)) and then via the "new land" called Island City to the waterfront of Fukuoka City.

The Sapphire Princess at the cruise ship terminal on the Hakata waterfront.  In addition to cruise ships from around the world there are two cruise ships per day from China and others from other Asian ports bringing shoppers to Japan.

Next stop the largest mall in the Fukuoka area where goods of every kind can be had for good prices. The main parts of the two shopping floors were occupied by tenants specializing in all manner of clothing and accessories. There was also a large grocery section. Three upper floors were dedicated to parking. Altogether I suppose the mall occupied an area similar in size to our own Northgate Mall here in Seattle. 

After the strenuous shopping we had to stop for a cup of ice cream from Baskin Robbins or "thirty-one" as it's known in Japanese with the English numbers pronounced Japanese style: Sa-chi-wan. The name might be diferent but the ice cream is the same but with some unusual (by US standards) flavors.

For a size comparison, here I stand in front of a Yamakasa

Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka City

Yamakasa in its garage waiting for the next Gion festival

This Yamakasa (literally: mountain bamboo hat) is one of seven that are carried in a race. The race starts at 04:59 on July 15th and the yamakasa, each weighing approximately one ton and carried by 32 men depart at five minute intervals for the timed race through the streets. 

When we visited Kushida Shrine this Yamakasa was parked in its garage welcoming visitors. The gold spots just above the red picket fence are the decorated ends of the carrying poles.  The men who carry the float wear a short summer kimono (happi) and cotton shorts. There are two or three hundred members of each team and they spell each other off as they race along the course being splashed with water.

I've never been part of the million or so tourists who attend the Gion Festival which runs from July 1st thru July 15th each year. Good reason to go back to Japan in the heat of summer. 

Here we visit a covered shopping street similar to those in most cities in Japan. This particular street ran for seven blocks with no vehicles allowed except during the night when stocks are replenished. The large red sign with the three block yellow letters says ki mu chi (kimchi).

I'll take a break here and continue our trip around Hakata Bay with the next post.