Korea-Japan 5th part Fukuoka

Fukuoka

From here started my real Japan trip, I had to go back to Tokyo and I decided to do it stopping in the main Japanese cities.

The first one was Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyshyu island. I really enjoyed this city, I didn't expected such a nice city with a lot to give.

Nanzoin temple

A peaceful place 

This temple is a bit outside Fukuoka, half an hour by train. 

It is really a peaceful place, not really touristic, surrounded by a forest. It is possible to feel the holiness of the place, and have the time to enjoy yourself.

Buddha

The temple is famous for the big Buddha. It's 41 meters long, 11 meters high, and 300 tons. The statue depicts Buddha at the moment of death. It's the most famous part of the temple, but not the only one.  

Into the woods

In Nanzoin there's a path in the woods, where you can find a small temple and a lot of divinity statues to idolise.

A dive into the green

The view from this spot was one of the most beautiful I saw in Japan. Green hills, blooming forests, blue sky, amazing.

The monk

The connection between the two parts of the temple was by a tunnel. I tried in different ways to have a nice shot here, till I saw the monk coming. I ran to him to catch the moment and... I like it!

Kushida shrine

Torii

Torii are the gates to the temples, they represent symbolically the transition between mundane and sacred. In some temples you can find a series of torii like in this picture, they show you the way to the temple, where you can, in this case, ring the bell to wake up the divinity and pray.

The lantern

Downtown Fukuoka we found this shrine: with different parts, a main temple and smaller with different divinities.

This is one of the entrances, with a big lantern with some writes on it, and I think the girls are trying to read them.

The entrance

Same gate, same lantern, from the other side. Here the model was my friend Tami, we visited the city together.

Downtown

Sun-kissed

One of the things I like to do when I'm visiting a city is to walk randomly and check small streets.

Do this was really nice here, because small streets where interesting: buildings, cables, shops, like the ones you see in the american movies Chinatown. 

The sun shines on the righteous

I was lucky to find a nice day with a nice light, that gave me the opportunity to play with it. I like when the sun is hiding behind the buildings, and there is a contrast between light and dark. 

Ohori park

Right place, right time

This park is the biggest in Fukuoka, and in the middle there is a lake with an island. We arrived here in a perfect timing, the park give its best at the sunset. 

Sunset

We were lucky because the sunset was amazing, a lot of colours from yellow till blue. Around the lake there was some spots where it was possible enjoy it, and the lake gave the opportunity to play with the camera.

Reflections

Yes the lake gave me the opportunity to play with reflections, also after the sunset. The buildings lights were really suggestive.