Fukuoka

Saturday Mads and I went to Fukuoka, the largest (1.38 million people) city on Kyushu Island. It was heaven..just great to be in the hustle and bustle of a metropolis. We took the highway bus (2,5 hours), a very convenient and luxury method of transportation (4.000 yen round trip).
Checked in to our hotel and walked through the town...good looking people and very friendly.
Saw some beautiful Buddhist temples (called tera 寺) one of which was the Shofukuji , where a priest called Eisai, after study in China introduced Zen-Buddhism and tea to Japan. The other one we visited is called Tochoji, famous for its large Buddha image (10.8 mtrs= 36 ft). Unfortunately it was too dark to get a nice picture.
Next was a visit to a Shinto shrine, called Kushida, 櫛田神社 where we happen to stumble onto a traditional wedding..very impressive indeed. Old Gagaku music was played and the ritual was performed by a shinto priest. Little childeren were also dressed up in the traditonal outfits and they really do look cute. Picked up a Korean guy called Shin Young Gun on the way and together we saw Canal City, a mega shopping complex with water features and a huge MUJI store over three floors. They do celebrate Halloween here in the sense that people do dress up, parents and kids alike, and there is an overabundance of pumpkins everywhere.
Had lunch at the Ramen Stadium, a whole floor where you can only eat ramen ラーメン(noodle soup) from different regions in Japan. Very busy...you had to stand in line with a prepaid ticket.
Major shopping here with megastores like Mitsukoshi, Daimura and other shopping plazas.

Next was Ohori Park, a oasis of peace in Fukuoka with a small lake, not unlike in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park in London.
Did go to one gaybar called Overall in a district apparently full of bars, with a nice crew behind the bar but few people inside. Tiny as usual but with a modern decor and huge plasma screens, playing Destiny's Child on and on and on..I think it was a DVD they liked.
Back on the bus to Nagasaki at 17.16 and home by 20.00.