The largest seated wooden image of Buddha in Japan. Tochoji temple was founded in 806 by Kobo-daishi Kukai and it is the oldest temple of the Shingon sect in Japan that  Kobo-daishi set up.  It is also known as “Tocho-mitsuji Temple”.  It is said that Kobo-daishi,  who returned to Hakata after undergoing ascetic training in China called Tang back then,  prayed for the eastward dissemination and perpetuation of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. The Fukuoka Daibutsu called Great Buddha of Fukuoka completed in 1993 stands 10.8 meters  tall and is the largest seated wooden image of Buddha in Japan.  The door of Rokkakudo in the premise is opened on the 28th of each month and 6 Buddhist statue can be seen. The wooden image of Senju Kannon (Thousand armed Avalokiteshvara), an Important Cultural Property, is housed in the main hall.  

Tochoji temple…の続きを読む

  Ohori-koen Park is close to center of Fukuoka City.  The park is complemented by a Japanese style garden and the Fukuoka City Art Museum.     Rich in greenery and encircling a lake two kilometers in circumference, the park is an oasis for city residents, who enjoy jogging, boating, bird watching and other activities here.      

Ohori-koen Park…の続きを読む

  China town at shinchi is one of the big three china town in Japan. There are about 50 Chinese restaurants and many Chinese sundries shops in there.         Nagasaki Lantern Festival  An annual festival in Nagasaki held on Chinese new year.  The festival has been started to celebrate a new year by Chinese who lived in Nagasaki, and it became the Nagasaki’s festival since 1994. More than 10 thousand lanterns are decorated at China town during the festival.    

China town…の続きを読む

  The folk museum depicts the life and culture of Hakata Fukuoka. It is located near the Kushida  Shrine, Tochoji temple and Canal City Hakata.      Exhibition hall, you can find the many faces and facets of the Hakata way of life, Machiya hall, is a superb example of traditional architecture and has been moved here and restored to provide a glimpse into the past.   Souvenir hall, here you can pick up traditional craft items here as gifts and souvenirs    

Hakata Machiya Furusatokan…の続きを読む

  Birth place of Steel Making Industry in Japan. Located at the food of Mt. Sarakura and  facing to Dokai Bay, which is used as a shipping port for the steel industry.  The area has  various Industrial Heritages and Museums.   Higashida No.1 Blast Furnace Only the Blast  Furnace in the world which preserved as it was. The birth place where  Japan’s steel industry began in 1901. It contributed greatly to the development of the Japanese steel industry and was used until 1972, and has been preserved just as it was.     First Head Office of the Steel Works  / UNESCO World Heritage Built in 1899, ahead of production facilities. It is an architectural fusion of Japanese and European design, a two story red brick building with bilateral symmetry and a central dome set in a Japanese tile roof.     Mount Sarakura Kitakyushu is the dynamic city where one million people are living and working, is creating the beautiful Night view which you have never seen before. The night view from the mount Sarakura is chosen the three major Night View in Japan. The area of Night view is the largest in the World ; about 40km east to west and 10km south to north and also the number of lighting to create the night view is the largest in the World.      Yahata port Japan’s Modern Steel Works history …

Higashida…の続きを読む

  The most largest basalt cave in Japan.  The entrance of the cave is 64 metre high and 10 metre width and the depth is 90 metre. It is designated as one of three major Basalt caves in Japan.       The 1st largest basalt cave in Japan consist of octagon and hexagon columnar joints.        

Keya Cave cruise…の続きを読む

  One of the most beautiful Shrine in Japan, the head shrine of Hachiman Shrine that is  composed 44,000 shrines that dedicated to the Hachiman Deity.   Emperor Ojin, who was deified as Hachiman-jin  (the tutelary god of warriors), is said to be enshrined in all the sites dedicated to him; and the first and earliest of these was at Usa in the early 8th century. The Shrine is was founded in 727.     Exploring the shrine           Main gate, Torii           2nd gate, Torii    Chozusha, purification place     Chozusha, purification  place                To purify         Dedication of Sake     Approach to the Shrine              Shrine Gate          Hachiman Deity                Lantern      Gourd for good fortune  Omikuji, Fortune telling paper            Shrine main building             Sacred tree   Lantern for Hachiman Deity    

Usa Shrine…の続きを読む

  The Onsen Resort located at the foot of the Kirishima mountains. Kirishima jingu Shrine is one of the most beautiful shrines in Kyushu surrounded by forest. You can enjoy hiking trails with spectacular mountain views and soak in volcanic hot springs     Where to explore     Kirishima Shrine    One of the most beautiful shrine in Kyushu, and is surrounded  by forest. The Shrine buildings are constructed in 1715 and designated as Important Cultural Property of Japan.   Kirishima Onsen　 Lying 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.   Black Vinegar in Kirishima  The Fukuyama area along Kinko Bay is home to the famous Japanese black vinegar. Over here, one can tour the old-fashioned Tshubobatake which literally means a field of vinegar jars, witness the traditional manufacturing process of the black vinegar, taste and purchase the finished product.   Kirishima                          

Kirishima travel guide…の続きを読む

  Chiran is a small town in the middle of the Satsuma Peninsula. It is called a “small Kyoto” and has a preserved Samurai district including a collection of Samurai houses and gardens. Another interesting place to visit is the Chiran Peace Museum.     Chiran Samurai Residence Those Samurai Houses were built about 250 years ago. Their gardens are beautiful designed, with Mt. Hahaga-dake as the background. Other natural elements are also incorporated, making the whole area resemble a series of miniature of Japanese  gardens housed in boxes.   Chiran Peace Museum for the Kamikaze Pilots This museum exhibits precious materials such as pictures, letters, wills, articles and mementos of the 1,036 Kamikaze pilots based in Chiran who participated in the Battle for Okinawa towards the end of World War 2.  It also houses a No.3 type fighter aircraft, Hien.     Chiran                      

Chiran travel guide…の続きを読む

  Miyazaki & Nichinan are facing the Pacific Ocean with a beautiful coastline contains placed of natural beauty, like Aoshima and Toi-misaki Cape. Also, on the Hitotsuba Beach of Miyazaki city are Ocean Dome, 700 hectare all-weather indoor water park, and Miyazaki Sea Gaia, a comprehensive resort complex complete with a wildlife park, golf courses and hotels.     Phoenix Seagaia Resort Phoenix Seagia Resort is Located in the center of a vast resort area and the Hotel building  is 154 meters above ground and all rooms have an east-facing ocean view. There are two Golf courses, Phoenix Country Club and Tom Watson Golf Course.   Udo Shrine Beautiful and exciting Shine,  located the cave of the cliff side facing the Pacific Ocean. In legend, a goddess of sea built a hut to give birth to a great god here. Then it is said that Empress Suiko (554-628) built the shrine there.   Horikiri Pass The suggested sightseeing spot in Nichinan. The 60m altitude pass allows you to look down at a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. The coastline here is lined with rocks that have been worn away by the waves splashing  against them, as well as beautiful phoenix palm trees.   Toi Cape Wild horses are living here. Gentle hills extend, and you can observe wild horses, called Misaki-uma, living and grazing there. It is said that the Misaki-uma are the descendants of army horses left grazing and …

Miyazaki & Nichinan travel guide…の続きを読む