Trip in hidden Kyushu③ – Kitakyushu showa summer festival (Fukuoka)
[Music] Wow. Three out of three. [Music] Very hot, but it’s worth it. Prefecture. You only think that there is Fukuoka city, but actually uh there’s also Kokura. Hi, my name is Stefania. I come from Italy and we are right now in Takata station, Fukuaka. And we are going to go to Kitakushu, a city in the northern part of Kyushu, the southeast island of Japan. And we are going to participate to Matsuri, a Japanese uh festival. Today I’m wearing a yukata, but it’s pretty hot right now and it’s so humid. So humid compared to Europe or other countries. Hakata station is pretty big and it incorporates a lot of different uh means of transportation. So there is the Shinkansen that we’re going to take today. Here we are. And here’s our ticket. And then we can go. Right now we are uh near the train that we’re going to hop on the Nomi 40. But incredible of course because Japan it’s incredible. In the truck near the train just beside there is a 7-Eleven combin one of the combin chain so that you can grab something to drink or to eat and just hop on the train. We took the tickets for the nonreserved seats and it can be the Shinkansen can be pretty long. So just remember that you will have to walk a lot to reach your chain. [Music] We just arrived in Kokura in Kitakushu. We are at the station. I think that I will head to um Tangga Market. The trip was pretty fast, only 15 minutes by Shinkansen. Usually, if you take the bus or come by car, it’s takes one one hour, a little bit more. So, taking the Shinkansen is better, I think. Right now we are going to take the monorail monor a little bit diff difficult if you don’t know how to read here you can buy the tickets mon tickets we’re going to this place the third one I unfortunately there’s only in Japanese so it could be a little bit tricky but here it is our ticket so this is actually a digital Okay, there is no space where to put it inside. It’s different than all the other uh so there is this QR code. You scan it and then you can enter. [Music] [Music] The next stop is station number three, Tanga. Please get off here for Tanga Ichiba. And also the monorail until now only two station. We passed only two station. So uh it was actually too little of time. Uh it was pretty fun. So right now we are going to the market. So let’s go. So we’re getting out of the of the station with the QR ticket. Oh, okay. So you have to insert the ticket. So today we’re going to the Tanga market. If you’re coming when it’s cold, I guess you can try the Oden. It’s so tasty. Maybe it doesn’t look like it if you’re not used to it, but uh it’s very good. [Music] So, we are now going to try the um Saba miso. So it’s a mackerel boiled with miso for two three three hours. So it’s over here this one. So it’s going to be 400 yen for a piece. And actually you can pay with card but only over 3,000 yen. So for today we are going to go with cash. So remember to bring it with you. He suggested the stomach part. So we’re going with suggestion. Okay. So this is our change. So we are now going to try the saba mis. Here it is. So maybe if you’re not used to this kind of uh taste, it can be a little bit challenging, I think. But it I’m sure that it’s going to be nice. So, of course, we had the chopsticks. And here we are. Okay. So good. So good. You have to try the sabamis. [Music] So right now it was very very hot outside. So we decided we just found the kendu one of the 100 yen shop. So, uh, as the name, uh, suggests, you can buy everything for 100 yen or a little bit more depending on the product. We’re going to find the wet tissues right now. And we found the wet tissues. There are so many. And of course, for 100 yen. So, there even the spongyob one. the Kumamon that is uh the mascot for Kumamoto another prefecture of Kyushu. So many things in the 100 yen shop. So, kitchen supplies, plates, but also cleaning supplies for the bathroom, for the kitchen. Of course, gadgets for the phone if you forget something, if you forget the luggage locket, if you break your phone case or phone glass, and there also um makeup. So really if you come to Japan, you don’t have to worry about anything because there are really so many things here and all for of course 100 yen. Incredible and so comfortable. I suggest you to try everything that you can. They’re pretty interesting like tastewise and also this one is extremely good. Can I pay with credit card? [Music] [Music] [Music] There is actually a particular a special box here. It’s the first time that I use it, so I’m not sure, but let’s see how it works. So, actually, we can change the language to English. So please remove the labels and caps and touch the screen. Okay. So we are just going to do that. So also the cap we do not have the this card but I guess you can uh earn points. Oh okay. Okay. Okay. Done. Okay. Nice. And now we only have this plastic. We are going to participate to the matri and um I guess enter the castle. [Music] So we just came at the Natsumati over there. You can see all the decorations and the food stand. And we just received this uh the fan of the Shawa Natumi. And with this um the Natumi Showa and with this we can go inside the castle for free. That is so interesting. In Italy, you would not call the clients like that, but it’s very very common here in Japan. They say that it’s like um welcome, come inside, uh come buy from us. Uh it’s pretty interesting the characteristic of Japanese customer service. [Music] We are right now going to the uh Kokura Castle and here it is. Wow. Very interestingly, it’s in the center of the city and it’s very near river the river walk uh department store. So, it’s a very interesting architecture near the uh such an ancient um castle. And this is the Kokura with Japanese gardens, the study hall and some ancient materials. So here there is Yasaka Ginga. So Yasaka temple a Shinto temple nearby the castle and it’s a pretty infamous spot. So we are going to the matsuri to the festival. There are a lot of uh different uh tastes. So uh we’re going to see what we have here in Kokura. So we are here inside the matsuri. There are a lot of different food stands. [Music] Japanese people are very welcoming. And there’s also Turkish food. So very international here in Kokura. Here’s Yakisoba. If you’re thinking of coming here with family, it’s very nice. I think it’s interesting to see that there are not only Japanese food stands, but also internationals uh bringing their culture here and everybody is enjoying it. So it’s very nice. Right now there is also a concert so live music. There’s also ramen karag. Karag is the Japanese fried chicken. So this one if you have the chance it’s I suggest you this easy to eat even if you’re standing and everybody love this. There are a lot of there are really a lot of children and they’re playing with water. So I guess they are feeling very reflex compared to adults at the moment. Pretty hot and humid. [Applause] [Music] This is all games. What should we try? Yoyo. Okay. So only cash. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] No, not not very good. Not a nice player. We have three chances to uh blow those um what do you say? Those balloons. And we’re going to make it this time. Okay. So, I’m better at this one. Three out of three. Nice. [Applause] It’s a different type of music. It’s a different type of way of intending the movement. [Music] Was the first time even for me to participate in this kind of event. Very hot, but it’s worth it. like not only the museum, the tourist areas, but also like it’s interesting when you go to a country, when you come to Japan to participate to the activities of the real people that live in the place. So I really suggest you to participate to this kind of event. Okay. M [Music] this on top the condensed milk. Very nice. Very tasty. It’s a bit difficult to eat. It’s called ramon. It’s actually not open like this right now. So we have to force it down. Okay. Okay. Okay. It’s a sweet sweet a sweet sweet uh drink with bubbles. I’m not sure what I’m drinking. Ramon is raon. No explanation given. I don’t know. But you can try it. It’s very cheap and you can find it in the mats usually. [Music] [Music] I had a very nice day today. So I get to enjoy the matri and the bongodori. So if you have time to spare here in Fukuoka Prefecture, just come to Kokura and uh drink something at the Natsumasuri. So we are now at the ending of this trip in Kokura. You can see over there in my back on my back the uh castle lightened up. We are now going back to Faka and we’re going to uh go back by Shinkansen. It’s only going to take 15 minutes again. So it’s I really suggest you to come to Kokura if you have some times and uh you’re uh you’re coming to Fukuoka city to Fukoka Prefecture because uh in Fukoka Prefecture you only think that there is Fukuoka city but actually uh there’s also Kokura soakushu and Kokura with all the events and uh cultural activities. So, how was today? It was very fun. We enjoyed, we could enjoy uh both the matsuri, the castle and uh the bongodori. That is not something that you can easily experience. Now, we are going to go back to Fukuoka city. So, let’s head back to the station. [Music]
AloJapan.com