KYUSHU EXPRESSWAY- 九州自動車道 - JAPAN TRIP

The Expressway network of Japan covers a total distance of about 7,000 kilometers from Hokkaido to Kyushu including Okinawa. Driving on the expressway should not be a problem for foreign visitors as all the major signs are written in both in Japanese and English. The speed limit is usually 80 or 100 km/h. Using the expressway to get from one city or town to another is very convenient. However, the Japanese tolls are quite expensive. I am no stranger to the Kyushu expressway as I used to drive around Kyushu on business trips in the 90's. My Japanese friend, Matsuzaka san was kind enough to lend me his car when I told him that we wanted to visit Yufuin, a small hot spring town near Beppu.

The Kyushu-Oita Expressway.

There are quite a number of tunnels along this expressway.

Approaching the Tosu IC

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On the Japanese Expressways, there are 2 types of rest areas, the small ones are called "Parking area" (PA) and big ones are named as "Service area". (SA). With the PAs, there are some small shops, restaurant, food stalls, vending machines (cigarettes and drinks) and toilets while the SAs provides a larger area where more services and facilities are available. They have free wireless LAN, 2-3 restaurants, ATMs, bigger shopping outlets, food stalls, gas station, toilets, garden and etc. On the way back to Fukuoka, we took a break at this Kiyama "基山" PA.

Shops and restaurants at this PA

The popular Umegae mochi "梅ヶ枝餅" (Rice cakes filled with red bean paste), Yaki Chikuwa "焼きちくわ" (Grilled fish cakes), Tempura "天ぷら" (Deep fried vegetables or seafood) and "Xiao Long Bao "小龍包"(Juicy Pork Soup Dumplings) were sold in this food stall.The famous Saga Wagyu "佐賀和牛" (Saga beef) was also available here. After a break of 25 minutes, we headed back to Fukuoka Entering the Fukuoka City Expressway (福岡高速1号線) after passing through the Dazaifu IC. The City expressway is a good example of spectacular engineering.

Returning to city via the Nishikoen exit.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas and A very Happy New year!!! Wishing every one a joyful and festive season. May 2010 be prosperous and bring happiness for all of us !.

Canal city - FukuokaThe clock tower of Shintencho - Fukuoka Streets lighted up in Tokyo

Christams trees are every where this season

Have a good time !

TENJIN CHIKAGAI 天神地下街 FUKUOKA - JAPAN TRIP

Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyushu has a population of about 5 million people. One of the popular places visitors must go, is the Tenjin Chikagai, an underground city. The Chikagai is a comfortable place to shop and ideal place to escape the summer heat and cold winter. When I was working in Fukuoka many years ago, I used to frequent the Chikagai, not for shopping but to enjoy good snacks in some of the fine cafes there. The Tenjin Chikagai is just underneath this Watanabe Dori, the main street of Tenjin. Visitors may not realize that there is an underground city right beneath this busy street.

The Tenjin Subway Station (天神駅, Tenjin-eki) is located in this Chikagai providing easy access to Tenjin area. There are many shops in the Chikagai and from the many exits, one can go to most of the best department stores in the Watanabe dori like Tenjin Core, Mitsukoshi, Iwataya, Daimaru, Solaria, Best Denki and Bic camera.

These are some of the shops in the underground city.

Revisiting this Chikagai brought back a lot of fond memories.

SOON - IT WILL CHRISTMAS!

Soon - it will be Christmas again !. Another year is almost gone - after Christmas, it will be New year. Christmas tree is up!The smell of freshly baked cakes and cookies emerging from the kitchen as my wife started her baking for Christmas. I like the aroma as it gives the house a very warm and inviting feeling. .

A 10lbs fruit cakes for the family
Small fruits cakes for friends and relatives.
Ginger nut cookies

Chocolate chip cookies - my children's favorite
As usual, I am the "taster" for these freshly baked cookies..I don't mind. They are really good!!!

HANADA - FUKUOKA : JAPAN TRIP

On 01st December morning, my good friend, Miura san, drove us from Narita to Hanada airport. It was very kind of him.

Along the highway, we could see beautiful autumn leaves. After 20 minutes drive, we were heading into the concrete jungle of Tokyo. Driving would be more relax with the GPS. Miura san admitted that he would not be unable to find his way in Tokyo without the GPS. As we were ahead of schedule, we took a side tour to the Rainbow bridge, a symbol of the bayside Tokyo. I was told that this Rainbow bridge is a 918 meters suspension bridge contructed in 1987 and completed in 1993. It provides the link across northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Wharf and the Odaiba waterfront. Crossing the Rainbow bridge and there was this a nice scenery of the Tokyo bay as per picture below. Hanada airport's (Tokyo International Airport)Terminal 2 check-in and departure level. The last time I used Hanada airport was in 1996. There were many check-in counters manned by staff, but this time, I could only see many "Self Service Check-in machines". As I did not know how to use the machine, I approahed one of the few ANA counter and found out that the check-in system has changed completely. Passengers have to check-in their tickets at the designated "Reservations and Check-in" desks or use the machines. Their baggage have to be check-in at a different area. We followed this process and after obtaining the boarding passes, we were told to go to baggage desk to deposit our baggage. We had to queue twice, but it did not take long as the traffic was not heavy that morning. ANA staff were very helpful.They spoke very little English but it was not a problem. Shops and restaurants are plenty on the landside as well as in the airside for passenger to dine, purchase Omiyage (Gifts), Obento and drink. Our Boarding gate - 62. ANA's standard boarding time -15 minutes before departure. While waiting to board the flight, I purchased this Obento (Lunch box) in the airside's shop. Boarding this ANA B777-300 - ANA has a large fleet B777-300 and 200 series operating their domestic services. The maximum capacity for the B777-300 is 514 passengers and 405 passengers on the 200 series. No meal services for this 1 hour and 55 minutes flight. Passengers could purchase their inflight Obento. However, coffee, tea, soft drink and soup were on the house. Arriving Fukuoka in the afternoon. Driving through the main street of Tenjin before checking in hotel. We put up at the New Otani, a very convenient hotel located at Watanabe "Dori" (road) near to shopping, "Chikagai" (underground city) and restaurants.