Fukuoka - the fun and the fury. First the fun....

We love Japan. I'd say it's our favourite Asian country. We have travelled to several places in Honshu and around Shikoku, but we have a particular soft spot for Kyushu. Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan's four main islands and we think of it as a sort of Japan in miniature. It has everything Japan has to offer on a smaller more manageable scale.

At the start of our holiday we flew into Fukuoka. Fukuoka Airport is only two subway stops away from the centre of Fukuoka so it is very user friendly. When you arrive at the international airport, you take a free shuttle to the domestic airport and from there you can access the subway. We like to stay in Hakata, as it's extremely handy for Hakata train station and the shinkansen to other parts of Kyushu and Japan. To use the subway - check the chart for the price to your station. From the airport to Hakata is 260 yen. Press on 260 yen, then the number of passengers, then feed in your note and collect your ticket and change.

We had a clear view on our decent into Fukuoka.

We had a clear view on our decent into Fukuoka.

We had a clear view on our decent into Fukuoka.

We normally stay in the B Hakata Hotel which we both like, but this time we decided to stay in a new hotel near the B Hakata. It was called the WBF Hakata Grand Hotel. We chose this one as it had an onsen tub on every balcony, plus an onsen on the top floor next to its sky lounge bar.

On our arrival day we did not do too much, as we spent ages working out all the gadgets in our bedroom. We were particularly amused by the shower which should probably have come with a hundred page user manuel. I accidentally blasted myself across the cubicle by pressing something that sent ice cold skin removing jets of water at me at around a hundred miles an hour. It was not a lot of fun trying to put the bloody thing back off. I sent photos of the shower and toilet to various friends. Their reactions were funny. If they have been to Japan, they write back about the showers and toilets they had when they visited and how amazing they were. If they haven't, they write back saying: why the hell are you sending me a picture of a toilet? What's wrong with you?

Our room.

The shower we could not quite comprehend.

Japanese toilets, always a talking point

In addition to those aspects of the room, I also liked the make your own filter copy in a cup coffee bags.

Filter coffee in a cup.

By the time we'd finished messing around with all the stuff in the room, it was nearly dark, so we just went for a stroll in the surrounding neighborhood, including visiting two small parks with some beautiful blossom and spring flowers. Then we visited some convenience stores and a delicatessen to buy dinner. In Japan we do a mixture of eating out, plus eating sandwiches and sushi bought from convenience stores, as these are always so fresh and delicious.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

Spring time in the park.

We then came home and tried out our balcony onsen. Of course you don't wear clothes in it, but I did not feel travellers point was ready for that picture!!!! The onsen is outside on the balcony, each room has their own. The balcony overlooks a fairly busy street but you are shielded from view by a thick dark fixed curtain. It was quite relaxing.

Trying out my personal onsen.

After the onsen we went to the skybar where we tried different craft beers and enjoyed the nighttime view over Hakata. Then we had a very peaceful and quiet night in our reasonably comfy bed.

At the rooftop bar.

At the rooftop bar.

At the rooftop bar.

At the rooftop bar.

At the rooftop bar.