Soft pink clouds and fields of gold
NANZOIN TEMPLE WITH
THE RECLINING BUDDHA
AN express train from the Hakata Station brings one to Nanzoin Temple in Sasaguri, a sleepy town in the Kasuya District, and home to a statue of the Reclining Buddha, touted to be the world’s biggest.
It takes a bit of an uphill climb to reach the bronze Reclining Buddha, known as Nehanzo, and, according to literature, built in 1995 to house the ashes of the Buddha and two of Buddha’s adherents. Measuring 41 meters in length, 11 meters in height, and weighing in at 300 tons, it is certainly a sight to behold—much bigger than the famous giant bronze statues of the Sitting Buddha in Kamakura and Nara, also in Japan.
After taking in the spectacle of the Reclining Buddha, there are more stirring views to take in. Just look out to the lovely town of Sasaguri that spreads below.
NOKONOSHIMA ISLAND FLOWER PARK
ON our last day in Fukuoka, we took a bus and then a ferry to traverse Hakata Bay, and visit Nokonoshima Island, where visitors can camp, play volleyball, or take in the magnificent views of not only even more cherry blossoms but also the island’s colorful flowers, most prominently the yellow rapeseed blossoms that blanket the park turning it into a sprawling field of gold.
The flower park has restaurants, cafés, and other facilities to host birthday parties and picnics, and at the end of our tour we parked ourselves at a lovely café to enjoy a cup of strong coffee and a slice of sinfully delicious cake.
It has been nine months since we visited Fukuoka, but the sensations from the trip continue to linger and bring a fond wistful smile to our face. The destination underscored for us that there is wonder and delight to be found in places that may have yet to become destination du jour in tourism routes. Then again, of course any trip always becomes even more special in the company of a love so profound that you see the world with fresh eyes and a deep gladness in the heart. n
n To avoid having to hunt down tickets for tours that your are interested in, leverage the Klook app on your smartphone. www.klook.com.
n To get around via bus or train in Fukuoka in particular, or Japan in general, or anywhere for that matter, have Google Maps on your smartphone, and it is unlikely you will ever miss a stop or get lost. maps.google.com.
n For accommodations beyond hotels and bed-andbreakfasts, check what is available on Airbnb. www. airbnb.com.
n Forget about data roaming offers of your carrier. They may be reasonable, but a better deal would be to sign up for pocket Wi-Fi access for five days as soon as you arrive at the airport. Klook also makes this easier.
n The largest airline in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific flies nonstop to Tokyo (Narita) from Manila and Cebu. It also has direct flights from Manila to Osaka and Nagoya daily, and to Fukuoka thrice weekly. With its seat sales, discount tickets and promos, Cebu Pacific’s affordable or cheap flights to Japan make travel easy and convenient for everyone.