Obi Castle Ruin is located in Miyazaki-prefecture. The moss-covered stone walls, broad stone steps in front of the Ote-mon main gate, moat ruin, and old samurai residences all bring back the past. The Matsuo-no-Maru residence and Ote-mon have been reconstructed using the treasured Obi cedar wood. The land centering around the Obi Castle is designated as one of the nation’s Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic buildings.

Obi Castle Ruin…の続きを読む

  Kanmonkyo bridge is the suspended bridge crossing the Kanmon Straits, a stretch of water separating two of Japan’s four main islands. On the Honshu side of the bridge is Shimonoseki and on the Kyushu side is Kitakyushu-city.  The Kanmonkyo bridge was opened to vehicles in 1973 and connected the Kyushu Expressway in 1984. It is the 34th largest suspension bridge in the world with a central span of 712 meters.   The Kanmonkyo bridge was opened to vehicles in 1973 and connected the Kyushu Expressway in 1984. It is the 34th largest suspension bridge in the world with a central span of 712 meters.

Kanmonkyo bridge built in 1973…の続きを読む

  A dish made of wheat flour batter with eggs, vegetables, meat, seafood, noodles, and other desired ingredients added to it and grilled on a griddle. Eat with a special sauce, green seaweed, and dried bonito flakes.   There are different types of okonomiyaki depending on the region, such as Kansai-style okonomiyaki, in which ingredients are mixed into the batter and baked, and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, in which noodles and other ingredients are layered in the batter.

Okonomiyaki, お好み焼き…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

  Aso possesses the world’s largest Caldera with 18km west-east and 24 km north-south, created by 4 times of explosive volcanic activity in the ancient time, 3 million years ago. Surrounding the caldera is the world’s largest outer mountain, and there are 5 mountains.    There are many Onsen resorts where are located mountain foot of outer mountain. Onsen resorts are; Takamori, Minami-Aso, Tarutama, Toshinoki, Akamizu, Uchionomaki, and Kurokawa

Onsen resorts in Aso…の続きを読む

  They were very tired from walking 58km the day before, so they only walked 5km this day.    The route of this day was from Yamamoto to Tokusue, and stay at Tokusu.

26 Saints Pilgrimage route on February 0…の続きを読む

  Karato Fish Market, is a fish market in Shimonoseki establish in 1933, and the blowfish trading volume is Japan’s highest. This market is not only the wholesale market of fresh fishes taken in the sea around Shimonoseki but also the retail market for general consumers of fishes, marine products and sushi. Plenty of tourists including oversea people visit and enjoy shopping. The Special event is “Iki iki Bakngai” which is the food stall event held every weekend Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. There are so many kinds of seafood stalls that you’ll be spoiled for choice with Sushi, hearty seafood bowls and seafood soup.   We recommend having lunch of purchased sushi overlooking the Kanmon Straits in front of you.

Karato Fish Market established in 1933…の続きを読む

  Kawachi Wisteria Garden is a private garden at the Mountain foot of Sarakura in  Kitakyushu-city and famous for its spectacularly presented, large numbers of wisteria flowers. The garden is opened to the public seasonally during the wisteria season which usually peaks around late April to middle of May.   The garden’s most prominent features are two, roughly 100 meter long tunnels made of wisteria trees of differing varieties and colors, ranging from white to dark purple.

Kawachi Wisteria Garden, in Kitakyushu-c…の続きを読む

  Christian missionary activities in Japan began after Francis Xavier came to Hirado in 1550. The Jesuit missionaries who accompanied Francis Xavier carried out missionary activities in Hirado, Omura, Nagasaki, Goto, Kuchinotsu, Shimabara, Iki, Amakusa, Bungo, etc. And then many people converted to Christianity.    main missionaries; Cosme de Torres (Spanish), Juan Fernandes (Spanish), Luis de Almeida (Portuguese), Gaspar Vilela (Portuguese), Luis Frois (Portuguese), Melechor de Figueiredo (Portuguese), Alessandro Valignano (Italian)

Beginning of Japanese Christianity in 15…の続きを読む

  The route of this day was from Hakata to Yamamoto in Karatsu, the distance was 58 km.   Started at Hakata accommodation and heading Yamamoto using Karatsu walking road, through the Daimyo, Ikino Matsubara, Imajyuku in Itoshima, Nijino matsubara. Accommodation was Yamamoto.

26 Saints Pilgrimage route on February 0…の続きを読む