Islands of Japan 2019

Panorama of Fukuoka, Japan	Grain Elevator in Fukuoka, Japan	Early morning in Fukuoka, Japan	Westerdam docked at Fukuoka, Japan Cruise Center	Overlooking Fukuoka, Japan
Chikugo River in Fukoka, Japan	Kyushu is the third largest of Japan's five main islands	Downtown Fukuoka, Japan	Hakata Train Station, Fukuoka, Japan	Waiting to board the Bullet Train to Kitakyushu (shown on board as Kokura), Japan
Bullet train from Fukuoka to Kitakyushu (home of Kokura Castle); top speed is 170 mph	Bullet Train leaving Hakata Station, Fukuoka	Rice Paddies in Japan	Kitakyushu is the second largest city on the island of Kyushu	Interesting Pachinko-Slot Parlor just outside the Kitakyushu Train Station
Shirasu Lighthouse (built in 1873) is preserved in Kokura Castle Park, Japan	Reconstructed Kokura Castle Keep (first built 1602-08)	Kokura Castle was property of the Ogasawara clan (samurai) between 1632 and 1860	Kokura Castle's keep has the unusual feature that the fifth story of the castle is larger than the fourth	Torii Gate at Kokura Castle is the entry to Yasaka Shrine
Stone Lantern on path to Yasaka Shrine	First gate to Yasaka Shrine	On the path to Yasaka Shrine	Romon (tower) Gate to Yasaka Shrine	Yasaka Shrine was established in the 9th Century
Inside Yasaka Shrine (moved to Kokura Castle in 1934)	Komainu are statue pairs of lion-like creatures guarding Shinto shrines	Dragon fountain at Yasaka Shrine	Depiction of epic duel between Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi in 1612	Inside Kokura Castle are miniatures depicting life in and around Kokura during the Edo Period (1603-1868)
Miniatures inside Kokura Castle depict daily life of different classes in the Edo Period	Miniature depiction of a celebration at Kokura Castle	Bill battles a samurai at Kokura Castle	Matchstick replica of Kokura Castle	Another matchstick castle in Kokura Museum
A 'shachihoko' (believed to cause rain to fall) on top of Kokura Castle Keep	Looking down from top floor of Kokura Castle Keep	View of Kitakyushu from top floor of Kokura Castle Keep	Japanese Samurai and Armor in Kokura Castle Keep	Interactive Photoshop device to try tradtional Japanese looks
Playing with Interactive photshop for traditional Japanese costumes	Stones around the moat remain from the 16th century	Japanese Tea Ceremony is held in Shitayashiki (lord's guest house next to Kokura Castle)	Seasonal sweets served before Japanese Green Tea	It takes about one year to become a Japanese Tea Master
The Japanese Tea Ceremony is also called 'the Way of Tea'	Drinking Japanese Green Tea (matcha) from ceremonial bowl	Kokura Castle Garden	Black and White Koi in Kokura Castle Garden	View of Kokura Castle Keep from the Garden
Halloween Tree in Kokura Castle gift shop	Japanese lunch at Crown Plaza Hotel, Kitakyushu, Japan	Kitakyushu Riverwalk Complex on the Murasaki River	Strange statue on a bridge over the Murasaki River in Kitakyushu, Japan	The Murasaki River outside the Crown Plaza Hotel in Kitakyushu, Japan
Farewell performance on the dock at Fukuoka, Japan	Last look at Fukuoka, Japan	Sunset over Hakata Bay, Japan	Docked in Kagoshima, Japan	Leaving Kagoshima on a shore tour
Tomoka is our tour guide for the day	Tomoka was a Kabuki Dancer with the Japanese National Troupe when she was young	Another picture of Tomoka as a Kabuki Dancer with the Japanese National Troupe	Seawall in Kagoshima, Japan	Japan's pachinko market generates more gambling revenue than that of Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore combined
Houses above a retaining wall in Kagoshima, Japan	Houses in Kagoshima, Japan	Rocket replica near Kagoshima, Japan	KRose Garden in Kagoshima	Kaisoko River, Japan
Erosion retaining wall outside Kagoshima, Japan	Small port between Kagoshima and Ibusuki, Japan	Storm surge breakwater barrier at beach north of Ibusuki, Japan	JX Nippon Oil Terminal near Kagoshima has 57 tanks holding more than 46 million barrels of crude oil	Boats on one of the canals of Ibusuki, Japan
Ibusuki Golf Club Kaimon Course has hosted Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, and Seve Ballesteros	Headed to the Ibusuki Sand Bath	Instructions on how to enjoy the sand bath	Make sure your Yukata is left over right (right over left is how Japanese dress their dead)	Volcanic sand is heated to 120-130 degrees fahrenheit by hot springs under the beach
Volcanic sand is shoveled over participants	Susan's butt and feet are already burning	June and Graham waiting to be buried in sand	10-15 minutes under the hot sand is said to improve circulation and general health	Sand bath in Ibusuki, Japan
Susan needed to keep her feet out of the hot sand	Yukatas are soaked with sweat after the sand bath	Next step is hot pool to wash off sand	Not sure who this is, but Graham looks good as him	In the hall of the hotel with the sand bath
Saigo Takamori (the last true samurai) frequented the hot springs of Ibusuki, Japan	Mt. Kaimon is a 3,000-foot volcano sometimes called Little Fuji	Segedon was a historical drama television series about Saigo Takamori	Lake Ikeda is the largest lake on Kyushu Island, Japan	Issie is a Japanese lake monster said to lurk in Lake Ikeda
Lake Ikeda and Mt. Kaimon	Oragami Samurai Helmet made by Bill	Otafuku is the goddess of mirth in Shinto religion	Very Cape Cod-looking house on outskirts of Kagoshima, Japan	Hyottoko is the god of fire in this part of Japan
Westerdam docked in the shadow of Sakurajima Volcano	Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes and the symbol of Kagoshima	Kagoshima viewed from our balcony on the Westerdam	Farewell from Kagoshima, Japan	Sakurajima smokes constantly, and minor eruptions often take place multiple times per day
Sailing away from Kagoshima, Japan	Red sky at night, sailor's delight	Yagi Ko Lighthouse at the entrance to Amami Island	Holland America Westerdam docked at Amami (Oshima) Island	Kasarizaki Lighthouse sits on the most northern point of Amami Island, known as Yo Misaki Cape
Japan Coast Guard at Kasarizaki Lighthouse	Traffic on Amami (Oshima) Island, Japan	Touring Amami (Oshima) Island, Japan	Don't know if this restaurant serves chicken and snake or what	Erosion control on Amami Island, Japan
House with traditional Japanese roof on Amami Island, Japan	Sedome Church in Tatsugo-cho on Amami Island is over 100 years old	Screw Pine on Amami Island	Hillside on Amami Island with a lot of Amami Cycad plants	Cycads are an endangered plant that date to the Juraissic era
Driving along the East China Sea on the coast of Amami Island	Protected cove on Amami Island	Native people of Amami Island have a way to remove the toxins and use Cycad seeds in cooking	Katsugo Bay, Amami Island, Japan	Katsugo Bay picnic tables, Amami Island, Japan
Stop at the Hamachidorikan Shochu Brewery, Amami Island	Shochu is a Japanese distilled beverage less than 45% alcohol	Shochu at Hamachidorikan Brewery is made only with locally grown brown sugar	Break time at Hamachidorikan Brewery	Shochu comes in different strengths, flavors, and prices
Time for some Shochu tasting	Lots of kinds of Sochu available for tasting - didn't buy any	Tree growing out of lava rock at Sochu Brewery Store	Arriving at Amami Oshima Tsumugi Village	Amami Oshima Tsumugi silk is unique to Amami Island
Silk threads are tied in sections to obtain patterns when dying	'Dorosome' (mud-dyeing) is an all natural fabric dyeing technique that can only be found in Amami (Oshima)	Fine silk vertical and horizontal threads are woven alternatively (one over the other)	It can take up to 1 year to produce an Amami Oshima Tsumugi silk kimono	Takakura is a high-raised storehouse to protect the stored grains from rats and the humidity
Cycads only bloom once every three or four years	Cycads at Amami Oshima Tsumugi Village	80% of Amami Island is covered in vegetation	An Amami Oshima kimono sells for $3,000-6,000 in Tokyo	People waiving goodbye from Amami Island, Japan
Sunset over Yo Misaki Cape, Amami Island, Japan	Arriving in Naha, Okinawa, Japan	Naha is the capital city of Okinawa, Japan	Morning in Naha, Okinawa, Japan	A brief history of Okinawa
Okinawa World is a theme park about Okinawan culture	Entrance to Okinawa World	Shisa Dogs were adopted from China by Okinawans in the 15th Century to guard against evil spirits and misfortune	Entering Gyokusendo Cave in Okinawa World	Gyokusendo Cave is a major attraction in Okinawa World
There are over 1 million stalagtites in Gyokusendo Cave	Huge stalagtite in Gyokusendo Cave	An underground river supplies this waterfall in Gyokusendo Cave	Gyokusendo Cave is over 300,000 years old	Blue Fountain is about halfway through Gyokusendo Cave
Stalagmites that resemble carved statues in Gyokusendo Cave	This stalagmite in Gyokusendo Cave is 8.2 feet high and 102 feet in girth	Interesting stalagmite in Gyokusendo Cave with name in Japanese	In front of 'gathered drapes' stalagtites in Gyokusendo Cave	Formation in Gyokusendo Cave known as 'White Silver Aurora'
Finishing up the .55 mile walk through Gyokusendo Cave	Replica of Uezu House (a traditional Ryukyuan home) built around 1750	Shishu statues (known as shi-shi) were supposed to protect homes from evil spirits	Exhibit in Okinawa World	Very cool shi-shi in Okinawa Culture Center
Ceramic Pottery in Okinawa Culture Center	Replica of Okinawan trading vessel (1400-1800)	The Sanshin is an Okinawan musical instrument (developed in the 14th century)	The Sanshin is considered the soul of Okinawan folk music, the 'heart' of the Ryukyu people	Eating ice cream at Okinawa World -- in case Susan is not a fan of lunch
Nanto Brewery at Okinawa World	Microbrewery beers at Okinawa World	Habu snakes used for making Habushu at Nanto Brewery	Habushu (Okinawan Snake Wine) is a liqueur that contains a habu snake in the bottom	Bill had to try Habuball -- habu snake extract blended with habu sake and citrus juice
Visiting the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum	The Cornerstone of Peace was unveiled on 23 June 1995 in memory of the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa	Inscribed purpose of the Cornerstone of Peace	Peace Memorial Park has concentric arcs of wavelike black granite stelai	Okinawa Peace Park Stelai contain the names of 241,281 combatants and civilians who died in the Battle of Okinawa
United States section of Peace Memorial Park contains the names of 14,009 Americans who died	The Flame of Peace is lit when visiting heads of state come to pay their respects to the dead	Cliffs where many civilians committed suicide to avoid the rape and mutilation they were told to expect from the Americans	View of Peace Memorial Park from museum observation tower	Memorial representing a cave where citizens of Okinawa hid and were killed by Japanese or committed suicide during the battle
The Okinawa Peace Hall contains a 12-meter-high lacquer Buddha - a symbol of peace	Modern house on Okinawa Island with shi-shi over the entrance	Interesting house on Okinawa	Nagado River on Okinawa	Man Lake near Naha, Okinawa
The Main Gate to Shikina-en gardens for use by rulers of the Ryukyu Kingdom	Shikina-en gardens were laid out in 1799 to embellish one of the residences of the ruling Ryukyu family	Shikina-en gardens in Naja, Okinawa	Udun Palace was used for reception of a Chinese envoy in 1800	Paper and wood dividers in the hall of Udun Palace
Kitchen in Udun Palace had 2 large and 6 small fireplaces with an open ceiling so smoke could escape	Pine trees are called 'Mastu,' which means 'waiting for a god's soul to descend from heaven'	Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion in Shikina-en gardens	Two arched stone bridges in Shikina-en gardens	Family enjoying nice weather in Shikina-en gardens
Cemetery in Okinawa	Kokusaidori Street in Naha, Okinawa	Store on Kokusaidori Street in Naha, Okinawa	Store on Kokusaidori Street in Naha, Okinawa	Susan with shi-shi on Kokusaidori Street in Naha, Okinawa
Pigeon whisperer in Naha, Okinawa	Streetscape in Naha, Okinawa	The dragon pillar monument was created to commemorate the friendship between Naha City and Fuzhou City, China	Docked at Ishigaki Island, Japan	Southern Gate Bridge is an icon of Ishigaki Island, Japan
View of Ishigaki Bay from Southern Gate Bridge	Map of ferry routes from Ishigaki Island to Taketomi Island	Leaving Ishigaki Ferry Terminal for Taketomi Island	Japan Coast Guard on Ishigaki Island	Taking a high-speed ferry from Ishigaki Island to Taketomi Island, Japan
Approaching Taketomi Island, Japan	Boats stored on Taketomi Island, Japan	Ferries to and from Taketomi Island, Japan	Ferry Terminal on Taketomi Island, Japan	Interesting boat at the Taketomi Ferry Terminal
Prayer ceremony send-off for group who were visiting Taketomi Island	Leaving the dock at Taketomi Island	Houses on Taketomi Island are built in the traditional style of the Ryukyu Kingdom (15th-19th centuries)	Kaiji Beach on Taketomi Island	Boats on the East China Sea at Kaiji Beach
Kaiji Beach is known for its tiny star-like skeletons of small one-celled organisms	Susan leaving Kaiji Beach on Taketomi Island	Bicycle parking at Kaiji Beach on Taketomi Island	Bicycles are popular on Taketomi Island	Kondoi Beach is the best beach for swimming on Taketomi Island
Old house on Taketomi Island buit in the traditional Ryukyu style	Shisas are placed on Ryukyu-style roofs to ward off evil	Shisa statue on Taketomi Island	Cooling down a Water Buffalo before a cart ride on Taketomi Island	Water Buffalo ready to start a cart ride on Taketomi Island
Our tour guide and water buffalo wrangler on Taketomi Island	Our water buffalo had to stop and pee a lot	Really pretty roof with 'shisa' on Taketomi Island	Water Buffalo Cart behind us	Crow and Shisa on roof on Taketomi Island
Taketomi Island is known for its traditional buildings, stone walls, and sandy streets	Flowers on Taketomi Island	Street on Taketomi Island	Guide playing 'sanshin' and singing traditional Japanese song	Interesting shisa on coral wall
Now our water buffalo has to poop	Sunscreen on Taketomi house	Bicycle rental on Taketomi Island	Traditional Ryukyu architecture on Taketomi Island	Some serious horns on the water buffalo
Our water buffalo cart and tour guide on Taketomi Island	Not exactly sure how to read this rating of water buffalo on Taketomi Island	Our high speed ferry from Taketomi Island	Returning to Ishigaki Island	Nice Yacht in Ishigaki Bay
Ishigaki Ferry Terminal	Cars drive on the left on Ishigaki Island	Holland America Westerdam Docked on Ishigaki Island	Sailing away from Ishigaki Island