We have been following the news of Typhoon Krathon and we realised we had made the right choice in leaving a day early as the island is being hammered. Flights have been cancelled. The weather here has benefited from the typhoon as it is cool and drizzling. Yesterday was the first day of our trip that we were cold and were wearing our raincoats. It looks like the same today.
Breakfast was OK. Note: don't stay at businessmen hotels as there are absolutely no frills. Efficient but no frills.
Tochoji Temple
Step out of the hotel and there it was across the street. This is a working temple and there were lots of tourists and quite a few believers. Japanese temples are very different from Chinese temples. Everything was minimalistic and there was a sombre atmosphere unlike the riotous colours and mess in Chinese temples. Zen gardens all round.
Upstairs was a 16 ton wooden Buddha. It was started in 1988 and completed by 1992. Amazing work at scale. Made me happy to know that even in this day and age, we still have craftsmen and artists who are able to produce something like this. I had thought that creativity and Art were dead as evidenced by the crap being produced today. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed. We walked along a gangway under Buddha's ass with murals depicting the various hells. Very apt, I thoguht. A very good temple.
Supposed to be a 1000 year old Gingko Tree. Hard to believe. No chance in Australia as Main Roads will have to cut it down for a road
Under the Gingko Tree
they even bonsai grown trees
Beautiful colours
Pulling on giant prayer beads hoping for the Lotto numbers
Don't worry, that is not something sacred but just a lamp
Minimalistic alter
Kushida Shrine
Next stop was the Kushida Shrine which was only 500 m down the street. This was the shrine of the Fukuoka clan which was the power in 1700s. Again minimalistic and Zen. There were a number of very large tombstones where the Fukuoka lords were buried. It was much more crowded with tourists, taking bloody selfies and photo bombing., It photo bombing was an olympic sport, the Asians will be god medallist without fail!
Tombstone of one of the Lords
Guardian Lion
The red tunnel
Can't work this out .. ? Guard dog
Prayer tags and tablets
More prayers
drinking the sacred water
Very narrow rooms in this house
Under the giant lantern
Another guardian Lion - they are all over the place
Typical medieval Japanese house
Very hospitable these Japanese - they provide a smoking area. 
girl in period kimono costume for a photoshoot
I saw something soimilar in Belgiuim
As the shrine was very close to Canal City shopping centre, we decided to see it in the daylight. I didn't realise how big the place was... There were 4 buildings, North, South, East and West. The place was full of shops selling very cute Japanesey stuff. I managed to persuade to Deb to get a new wheeled carry on case. It is so she doesn't have to jam her main suitcase to the gunnels such that you would herniate out of every orifice lifting the monster. We also got her a bag which fits over the telescopic handles.
By now we have had enough. Retreated to base camp for the nap.
The City Museum
Got a taxi out to the City Museum. It was quite a way out from Hakata and the traffic was pretty bad. The museum was on a massive site. Some parts of the grounds was very well manicured but then there were other parts which seem to be neglected. The grass needs some mowing. Get a tractor, mate!
$2 AUD each to see the exhibits. The exhibits were pretty good, explanations mostly in Japanese with some English. The city seems to have festivals all the time. The arts and crafts were very good.
sculpture outside the City Library
One of the floats carried on street parades for one of the many festivals
Great good with the fabric
City Library, next door to the City Museum
City Museum entry - Arche de Fuk
Interesting gate - good enough to stop a tank
The fuk tower
This display is about Japan being bombed by the Allies. I noticed that there was conspicuous omission of their role in that little conflict 
Local band - Note that the lead singer looks like Mick Jagger
This is how you present your fish before the fish filleting contest
These are the most appropriate presents to bring to your in laws when you visit
Diaorama of one of the festivals - Karagama? festival
Medieval samuria armour. I think that the samuria of the times are just little fellas
These guys are way ahead of their time. They already have the G-strings that are so popular today! Bum floss
We had googled which informed us that we should have some ramen which is a specialty of the city. Ichiran was the restaurant to go to. It was a chain of ramen restaurants and the nearest outlet was at the Hakata train station. I don't know what Tokyo train station would be like but if it was anything like Hakata, it would be horrendous. The station is just gianormous. 9 floors? of shops and eateries. Confusing as hell. The only way of backtracking would need a bread crumb trail but that would be useless as someone will probably eat the crumbs. We walked around the place looking for the restaurant but failed. In the end we just chose a restaurant serving noodles. Delicious but ordering was a bit hit and miss as it was all done online with QR codes. I am starting to get the idea that this is going to be the norm for Japan. Fed and water (beered) and it was 10 min walk back to the hotel.
Aah... Bring back the good old days!
Happy Debbie with her noodles
My beef omlette dish
Gotta love the range hood arrangement
The Canals
Crossed eyed taking selfies
Long undercover shopping mall
New building material - anti earthquake?
The Ommlette shop
Leaving tomorrow on the high speed train to Nagasaki. whilst we were at Hakata Station, we sussed out the platform so it wouldn't too chaotic tomorrow. I arranged a taxi to take us and the luggage to the station tomorrow.
My first 2 days in Japan was more of a culture shock than I had anticipated. The language is completely different. I notice that there are japanese working in unskilled or low skilled jobs unlike Australia and the Western world. I am pretty sure that it is because they do not have immigrants so the locals have to/ get to do the jobs. At least they are not on welfare.
This featured blog entry was written by wilson.lim61 from the blog 2024 Japan.
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