The festival is held on the first Sunday of March. Kyokusui-no-en is a Japanese traditional ceremony held at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine on the first Sunday of March, a purification ceremony on a winding stream, is performed by ladies and gentlemen in a ceremonial court robe under the plum blossoms in full-bloom.      After the Tobiume-no-mai dance by shrine maidens, Kyokusui-no-En Festival begins. Vermilion-lacquered cups full of sake are set afloat down the stream.      Before the cups reach each of the participants sitting along the stream, they have to make up a Japanese poem called waka, and write it down on a strip of fancy paper. When the cups reach the participants, they drink the sake and hand the paper strip and cup over to an attendant.     The ceremony has its origin in a historical fact that Ono-no-Yoshifuru, an elder brother of a noted-calligrapher Ono-no-Tofu, held a ceremony to appease the soul of Michizane Sugawara and to beguile tedious hours in a rural life.        

Kyokusui-no-en at Dazaifu Shrine…の続きを読む

  Kyushu National Museum was opened in 2005 in Dazaifu-city next to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, as Japan’s fourth national museum after Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. Dazaifu is the place where played important role as an administrative center and a center for trade with China and Korea since 1300 years ago, therefore the concept of the museum is decided “Interpreting the formation of Japanese culture from the perspective of Asian history”.    

Kyushu National Museum…の続きを読む

                         Kokua Castle Garden made at the former site of Shitayashiki (lord’s guest house) located next to Kokura Castle. This garden consists of a Japanese garden and a daimyo yashiki  (a lord’s house), a building of the Shoin-zukuri type (a style of Japanese domestic architecture). In this garden, not only can you see Japanese traditional architecture, but also enjoy the Tea Ceremony at the Experience Zone.   Japanese Garden   Japanese Cultural Experience  Time to enjoy dressing in Kimono, tea ceremony experience, and Rickshaw riding experience  Kokura Castle Garden and Kokura Castle. You can also take beautiful photographs in this location to provide you with wonderful memories and recollection of your visit to Kokura.    

Kokura Castle Garden…の続きを読む

  Located on the lower slopes of the Kirishima Mountain with a distant view over Kagoshima Bay and Sakurajima below.  The area is made up of over a dozen Onsen, of which the largest and best know is Maruo Onsen. With its high  concentration of hotels and central location, Maruo Onsen is the representative resort town of the entire Kirishima Onsen area.   The hot spring towns around Kirishima Onsen are dotted with Ryokan and hotels of various sizes    

Kirishiama Onsen…の続きを読む

  The highest coastal tower in Japan. Fukuoka tower is the 234 metre high and is covered  with 8000 two way mirrors. The observation room located at a height of 123m offers a  breath taking and spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of Fukuoka-city and Hakata Bay.     View from observation room, 123 meter high  Lover’s Sanctuary  

Fukuoka Tower…の続きを読む

  The first-class civil construction heritage, the triggered the registration of World Cultural  Heritage of Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution  The Kawachi Reservoir was constructed for the industrial water supply to Yawata Steel Works. The dam was constructed at the Okura River and upper stream of the dam was expanded and making the 7milion cubic metre reservoir.     Specification of the dam   ・completion year : 1927 ・height : 43.1 metre  ・Width : 189 metre ・Water storage capacity : 7,000,000 cubic metre ・Owner : NIPPON STEEL      In the construction of the dam, the unprecedented design in the world has been applied in order to harmonize with nature and to save the construction cost. The stones come out from the mountain when the river was expanded have been utilized for construction of the dam.     All stones are cut into sizes and shapes by the stone technicians  according to the place of use.  The large size stone were used at the main construction of the dam and the small size stones  were used for other places as per size and shape. Construction was started in 1919 and was  completed in1927 by 900 thousand total number of workers.     Minami Kawachi-bashi bridge The only remaining lenticular truss bridge in Japan  ( lens type truss bridge), located at the south side of Kawachi Reservoir and it was designed by Hisanori Numata.  This shape and color really harmonize with nature and become a symbol of …

Kawachi Reservoir…の続きを読む

  Dejima was the fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki where was used as a trading port during Japan’s National isolation of Edo period. In 1636, the artificial island, Dejima was constructed to accommodate  Portuguese who lived in Nagasaki and to prohibit Christian missionary work. In 1638, trade with Portugal was prohibited and Dejima becaome an uninhabited island. In 1641, the Dutch trading post in Hirado was moved to Dejima, and then the history of trade with the Dutch began at Dejima as only the gateway to European in Japan Many European technologies and cultures were introduced here through Dutch until 1853.    Entrance of Dejima Fan-shaped artificial island, was built in 1636 Dejima used from 1641 until 1853   A project to restore Dejima is underway.   In 2000, five buildings including the Deputy Factor’s  Quarters were completed and opened to the public.    Dejima International Club   Building of residence, cooking room, warehouse  The old Dejima seminary, a Christian theological school   In the spring of 2006, the finishing touches were put on the Chief Factor’s Residence, the Japanese Officials’ Office, the Head Clerk’s Quarters, the No. 3 Warehouse and the Sea Gate.          

Dejima…の続きを読む

  Yanagawa Sagemon Festival is one of the most beautiful and very unique Japanese traditional Festival in Kyushu.  The festival is held from February 11 through April 3 in Yanagawa.  Hina dolls are displayed by families with girls to pray for safe growth of  their children, in Yanagawa, in addition to Hina dolls, colourful “Sagemon” are displayed.     Sagemon Meguri was started in order to showcase beautiful “Sagemon” to visitors. Each display of “ Sagemon” represents parents’ wishes for their girls to grow into beautiful, strong, and proud women.      

Yanagawa Sagemon Festival…の続きを読む

  Have you tried Foot bath before? Foot bath is called Ashiyu in Japanese and is a public bath in which people can bath their feet. Ashiyu in Beppu set up at Kannawa Onsen near the Hell tour spots.     You can easily enjoy it without having to remove all your clothing, only the feet and leg up to the knee are immersed. The Foot bath can still warm the entire body because of the large veins that run through the leg.    

Foot bath…の続きを読む

  Fukuoka Castle was built by feudal lord Nagamasa Kuroda in Fukuoka-city in 1601 and was called Maizuru castle.  Part of stone wall and canal, and the Tamon tower are still left intact as they were back then.     There is also a nice view of the city from the former main citadel. Parts of the castle’s former moats were used to construct nearby Ohori koen Park, a pleasant and picturesque public city park.     At the present, the area around the ruins of Castle is also part of Maizuru park. The place is famous for its beautiful plum and cherry blossoms.      

Fukuoka Castle Ruins…の続きを読む