This year I visited Yufuin(in Oita Prefecture) and Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture) for the first time. It was at the peak of the summer heat and reached 37 degrees C. Yufuin is in the mountains and it seemed cooler.
Rotenburo in our room at Sakura-tei, Yufuin (湯布院の 御宿 さくら亭）
We stayed at an excellent inn where each room had its own outdoor bath (rotnburo). The separate cottages were built around a Japanese garden, giving each room complete privacy. We had dinner in the main building but in private cubicles. As I get older, I appreciate being able to sit on a chair and not tatami!
They served a very nice Kaiseki Japanese dinner. The pprice was reasonable for this particular hot springs area. Prior to checking in, we walked around the onsengai street and did a bit of shopping.
Shop specializing in MonChiChi Dolls (湯布院温泉街）
We found this one shop that specializes in Monchichi monkey dolls which were so popular when my kids were little. Amazing that this woman has made a whole shop based on it!I believe this is the only one of its kind in Japan.
Historic Inn in Central Fukuoka (鹿島旅館、092-291-0746)
Leaving the Yufuin area, we drove to Fukuoka City, locating our inn and getting a parking space across from it. This inn, Kashima Ryokan, (鹿島旅館）is a nationally-designated Cultural site builtin the Taisho period (1912-1936). We were able to stay there with a Japanese-style breakfast included for ￥5000 per person. It is very centrally located. People from many countries stay here so language isn’t a problem. They gave us maps of Hakata town in English.
We visted the Kushida Shrine which is hte center for the famous Hakata Gion Matsuri, or festival, held in July. This is just two bliocks from the inn.
Kushida Jinjya (櫛田神社）in Hakata, Fukuoka
At Kushida Shrine
Hakata Gion Festival
Apparently, the Shin-Shin Ramen shop is famous for Hakata ramen noodles so we lined up for a spot! This is the second day in a row that we had ramen!! (The kids love it. ) We arrived at about 11:30 so didn’t have to wait long. But when we left, there was a long line outside the shop!
Queuing up for Ramen
Rob likes Shin Shin Ramen in Hakata
From here we wandered around trying to find a used clothing and nostalgia shop called “Going Bellbo-” (ゴイングベルボー、福岡市中央区大名2-2-44 092-771-6070)It was worth the trouble in our estimation! The owner. Go Kobayashi (小林ゴウ） loves the color and designs of art, fashion and objects from the ’60s and ’70s! Eri enjoyed looking at clothes and miscellaneous objects from another era! I just enjoyed looking and talking with the owner who is an artist too!
At Going Bellbo in Fukuoka-shi
After buying a top and a wooden brooch, we left to meet up with the guys! It was such a hot day so Hiroo and I went back to the inn to rest.
That evening we went to see the “yatai” street vendors , famous in Hakata. It was the first time for all 3 of us! We enjoyed the atmosphere and ordered 3 dishes as was required, I’d been told that the vendors are pricey so always ask the price when you order. You can’t order only a drink but you each have to order one dish too! I took a taxi back to the inn where Hiroo was babysitting while the kids stayed until quite late! There was a food festival going on adjacent to the line of yatai shops. They had good Korean food there and then stopped at another ramen shop on the walk back to the inn!!
The final day, we drove to Shikajima island (志賀島）to swim a bit in the sea. I was not impressed with this area and was disappointed with the “Umibe no Sato” michino eki and restaurant. They didn’t sell fresh seafood for us to take back as we had expected. The food was average.
Next time, I want to go to Daizai-fu to see the Fukuoka Prefecture Museum and I also want to visit some of the retro Showa era shopping arcades that still remain in Fukuoka! I would choose a cooler time than mid-summer!! It was fun! Still lots to see in Fukuoka!!
Japan Journal 