Postcard from Yutoku inari Shrine, Saga pref, Japan

 

This one of the most stunning shrines I've ever seen! Up on a hillside, well off the beaten track in rural Saga Prefecture, Yutoku Inari Shrine is an absolute belter!

Wow! I got the right bus after all!

I was not optimistic on the busride from Takeo Onsen, as I was the only person on the bus...was I on the right one (never really know in Japan!)? The bus terminus itself was even less inspiring, just a gravel turning area, and not a soul around. But I followed the signs and along the main drag beyond a large stone torii, familiar trinket shops & snack vendors came into view. And then around a corner, wow! The view (above) was breathtaking. Couldn't help but congratulate myself for persevering to get here.

The weather was spot on; the leaves were just changing; not too many tourists though a few charmless ones walking through my photographs (not half as bad as Dazaifu though!). I hope my photos do the complex justice - full set is here on Flickr - every footsteep revealed another gorgeous angle or detail. Very Japanese contrast of colours. What I really was not expecting was the path up behind the shrine, through countless bright, and older more faded, red torii. A steep climb, and not for the faint-hearted (witness the 9 or 'rescue stations' along the way) though there were a number of people considerably older than my staggering up the roughly hewn steps.

How many torii? Hundreds!

The view from the top of the hill was also very rewarding - Saga airport in the distance across the sea, and a chance to suck in some air, share knowing smiles with other game hillclimbers that we'd just hiked up an incomparable, culturally & spiritually unique, path through the gods.

A must visit, off the tourist route, photographers' dream. Skip Kyoto & Asakusa!

Just in time for autumn

Postcard from Ouo Shrine - The Floating Gates in the Ariake Sea, Kyushu

 

What a great find, on the Ariake Sea! This is a beautiful spot to slow down and take in the view! Regardless of the tide, these Torii (gates) are stunning in red, against the sea & skyline of Saga.

I took the local train down the Nagasaki Line, from my sake stop-off at Hizen Hama. Not too far, but a lovely glimpse of the sea all the way. A short walk from the deserted station of Tara (and a careful note of the next trains from the timetable!) and this stunning view appeared behind an abandoned restaurant and discarded fishing gear. 

As you can see, the tide was out - so I could walk around to the ocean-side as well, for some reverse angle shots. Dilemma, walk on the soft sand & get wet feet, or crunch over the razor-sharp oyster shells & shred my shoes? As you can see, this was a superbly photogenic, lesser known yet iconic 'must' for any camera-toting traveller wanting to find the real Japan. 

And, as my train was not due for ages, why not tackle a few deep fried oysters & wash them down with a Super Dry?! Technically, "sitting down in the shade to edit my photos" :)

Want to see more photos? Check out the album on Flickr right here - and please leave a comment!

Postcard from Ariake Sea - Floating Torii Gates of Ouo Shrine, Saga, Kyushu

Floating Torii Gates of Ouo

When I was thinking about extending my little trip around Kyushu, I happened to notice this little spot onthe map as I was looking at local train routes...and I thought OK, maybe, if I have time. The Floating Torii Gates of Ouo Shrine.

Ariaki Sea, beyond the torii

As you can see, it was a really good choice to find the time, catch the late afternoon light, and make the10-minute walk from Tara station (Nagasaki Line) to these magnificent torii, that stand into the tidal Ariaki Sea; at low tide I could slip & slide along the 'undersea road' and crunch across the oyster beds as well.

Oysters & Asahi :)

The view was gorgeous, oyster farms & the Kumamoto coastline yonder. The torii themselves glorious in their bright red livery. And time to kill for the next train south = delicious deep fried oysters & a well-earned beer!

Postcard from Takeo Onsen, Saga, Fukuoka

Takeo station

 A quick 'hello' from western Saga - I got the train here from Tosu, via a walkabout in Saga to find the castle there (details about that detour soon!), and arrived after dark. Unfortunately I had a lot of work to do in my hotel after a Cambridge session, but did manage to finish in time to see the famous onsen's gate ('mon') lit up before it closed. 

I enjoyed a late onsen at the hotel, with a view over the town from the 10th floor...and an early start next morning meant I could bathe in the real onsen as well, before catching my bus to Yutoku Inari Shrine (again, another postcard owing!).

Sakura mon (gate) Takeo onsen

Kanji isn't my strong suit, nor vending machine ticket dispensers, but I ended up in the super hot Motoyu pool - 45.5 degrees hot enough to inflict actual pain! Water itself  'smooth' and very refreshing with its sodium bicarbonate content.

I wish I'd had more time (or actually a car!) to explore the area better, but this glimpse was well worth the trip!

lucky dip

Postcard from 1609 - Hirado Dutch Trading House

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to actually visit the Dutch Trading House in Hirado, but with the benefit of a zoom lens I got close enough to photograph it from across the quay...and from the top of Hirado Castle. Close enough, I think?!

Hirado Dutch Trading House

A very historical building (although destroyed by command of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1640... rebuilt 2011), as it is recognised as one of, if not THE, first western buildings built in Japan (1609), as a base of operations for the Dutch East India Company.

Not many people know where Hirado is these days, but way back in the early 1600s was one of the most sought after trading destinations from Europe & China...it's possible just as hard to get to now as it was then, though the newish Hirado Bridge has undoubtfully eased travel from mainland Kyushu & Japan's most western train station (more from there in another postcard!).