We arrived at Incheon Airport 3 hours ahead of our flight. All visitors should arrive at a foreign airport as early as possible as we are not familiar with the traffic conditions. Take the metro whenever possible as it is normally the most reliable mode of transport. Book a hotel near a Metro station.
If you are early for the flight, we suggest spending time in the Duty-free shops or having a cup of coffee. It’s better to be early than miss the flight.
Our airplane preparing for the flight.
The flight from Seoul Incheon Airport to Fukuoka Airport took about 80 minutes. It was about 7.40 pm when we arrived.
As we planned to collect our rental car in the morning, we took the metro to our hotel.
The metro price to our preferred station was clearly shown on the signboard.
These were our paper tickets.
To pass through the gate, slip the ticket into the in slot and collect the ticket from the out slot.
The hotel rooms in Japan were generally much smaller than those in Korea.
Many of the hotels in Japan do provide Onsen free for guests. You should make use of it.
In the morning, we collected our rental car after a careful inspection with the staff.
The first place we visited was the reclining Buddha of Nanzoin Temple.
The reclining Buddha of Nanzoin Temple, located in Sasaguri, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, is one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha in the world and a revered symbol of peace, serenity, and enlightenment. This magnificent statue measures approximately 41 meters in length and is housed within the main hall of Nanzoin Temple, overlooking the surrounding lush landscape.
Visitors to Nanzoin Temple can marvel at the grandeur of the reclining Buddha as they explore the temple grounds, which also feature beautiful gardens, serene walking paths, and other sacred artifacts and statues. The temple offers a serene sanctuary for meditation, prayer, and spiritual contemplation, providing a peaceful refuge from the pressures of modern life.
Do obey all required regulations within the Temple.
For those driving, park at the free car park across the road. The entrance is the small road on the right side of this paid car park.
Our next destination was Farm Station Basallo.
At the station, we found fruits and vegetables harvested from the local farms within the areas.
We bought some Kyoho grapes to try. They were large, soft and sweet.
Just across the road was a Sunflower field with flowers taller than us. However, this was seasonal. As we returned a week later, the place was emptied with all the flowers harvested.
As we drove through farmlands, we came across many fruit farms.
Our next destination was the Ukiha-Inari Shrine.
Founded over a thousand years ago, Ukiha-Inari Shrine is one of the oldest and most revered Inari shrines in Japan, attracting pilgrims and visitors from across the country. The shrine’s main hall, adorned with vibrant red torii gates and surrounded by towering cedar trees, exudes a sense of tranquility and reverence.
Devotees come to Ukiha-Inari Shrine to pray for bountiful harvests, business success, and protection from misfortune. The shrine’s main deity, Inari Okami, is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who worship diligently and offer prayers and offerings.
One of the most distinctive features of Ukiha-Inari Shrine is its “Senbon Torii,” or “Thousand Torii Gates,” a tunnel-like path lined with thousands of vermilion torii gates leading to the inner sanctum of the shrine. Walking through this tunnel is said to purify the soul and deepen one’s spiritual connection with Inari.
We planned to have our meals here.
This was where you got to cook your food using the hot steam that rises from the ground.
There were 35 selections for us to choose from. Don’t expect much for the taste. The whole thing was for the experience to do something like this.
Our next destination after the meal was the Umi-Jigoku. Which means Sea Hell. There was a total of 7 Hells here.
The entry fee for each adult was ￥450.
Often referred to as “Sea Hell,” is a geothermal valley. This fascinating natural attraction is characterized by its rugged terrain, steaming hot springs, and volcanic activity, creating a surreal landscape that resembles a scene from another world. There were several ponds each with different colors of water.
There was even a hot spring foot bath.
In the evening, we paid a visit to Yufuin.
And Kinrin Lake.
The name “Kinrin” translates to “Golden Scale,” a reference to the lake’s shimmering surface, which is said to resemble the scales of a dragon. This enchanting quality makes Kinrin Lake a favorite spot for photographers, who come to capture the mirror-like reflections of the surrounding landscape on its calm waters.
Visitors to Kinrin Lake can enjoy leisurely walks along the lakeside promenade, where they can admire the scenic beauty of the area and bask in the tranquility of nature. The lake is especially popular during the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn foliage season when the surrounding trees burst into vibrant hues of pink and red.
We had a Unagi Rice dinner before heading back to our next hotel.
It’s another small but practical chained hotel.
