Earlier this July, I had my first visit to Kyushu. 'First visit ?' Yes, indeed. I mean - I could never say no to the pancake, kakigori (Japanese shaved ice), sushi and ramen in Tokyo, nor the Matcha goodies and classy historic spots in Kyoto. But hey, I'm here finally and I totally had a great time.
This time, I visited Saga and Fukuoka of Kyushu and here are some of my shots in Saga:
Karatsu Castle
Built by Terasawa Hirotaka in1600s, Karatsu Castle is the signature historic spot of Karatsu. It is also known as "Dancing Crane Castle"
Sweeping view of the downtown! How peaceful!
Hikiyama Exhibition Hall
Hikiyama Exhibition Hall is an exhibition centre displaying hikiyama (or giant floats). These Hikiyama are the highlights of every year's Karatsu Kunchi Festival and truly showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship of the locals.
Karatsu Shrine
Right next to the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall lies the Karatsu Shrine. The Karastu Shrine is well supported by the locals and of a peaceful ambiance to me.
Karatsu JA restaurant
A buffet lunch at the Karatsu JA restaurant was totally a treat- food was well prepared using ingredients from the nearby farmlands of Saga.
Karatsu JA supermarket
You just couldn't miss the fruit in Japan and here in Karatsu, fruits were even cheaper (but equally juicy and fresh!)
Yutoku Inari Shrine
The Yutoku Inari Shrine is not somewhere you should miss- it is one of Japan's top three shrines dedicated to Inari. The scale, colour and interior are totally enchanting!
Our tour guide however did suggest us to visit again in the red leave or sakura seasons, when the whole shrine would be surrounded by a sea of read leaves/sakura! Oh yessss, let me come again please!
But of course, you couldn't possibly miss the Saga-gyu when visiting Saga! (Many of my friends indeed spent 1-2 days to Saga just for the wagyu meal!)
A dinner at the representative Saga-gyu restaurant Kira is a big YES!(More details in my next blogpost!)
But to be very fair, what amazed me the most was this random Japanese breakfast I had in Saga. The food was very simple and yet super delicious- everything from the ingredients to the seasoning were fresh, original and 'simpler yet better'!
My trip to Saga was totally an eyeopening and fruitful experience! Not only did I learn more about the reputable Saga-gyu and Saga agricultural products, but I also got to experience the peace and beauty of Saga.
Saga was not a very touristy nor crowded place like Tokyo, and that kind of peacefulness and quiet was very precious. I do recommend a day trip to Saga if you are around!
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