Japan 2024 Trip: From Fukuoka to Osaka

Here is the summary of our 2024 Japan trip in one post.  We spent 12 days 11 nights in total in Japan for this trip.  We mostly stayed in Kyushu Island as well as Osaka and some Hyogo prefecture.  I will conclude them in day-by-day itinerary below.  Then, if you require more information, you can click on each link that will take you to a blog where more information is given.  Hope it is something that you are after.  Enjoy reading, pals...

By the way, our trip was pretty laid back and no rush because we went with my parents who are in their 70's and one teenager also one toddler.  What a great combination of ages!!  Therefore, I needed to find something in the middle and tried to please everyone.  So, here is our 11 days trip that maybe only doing half of the other people would normally do.  Still, happy reading all...

Day 1: Just arrived in Yufuin then had a beef sukiyaki dinner in Yawaragi No Sato Yadoya Ryokan

Day 2: Whole day spent in Yufuin town

Day 3: Visited Hell Valley and stayed in Beppu for 2 nights

Day 4: Went to see Japanese macaques at Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden

Day 5: Ate at Ichiran ramen and snacks food at Yatai stalls as we stayed in Fukuoka for 4 nights

Day 6: Visited Dazaifu and Anpanman Children's Museum

Day 7: Spent time in Nagasaki and Yatai for second round

Day 8: Paid our respect at Nanzoin Temple

Day 9: From Fukuoka to Osaka and had an okonomiyaki dinner in Dotonburi 

Day 10: Strolled around Kyoto

Day 11: Brief stopped in Himeji and enjoyed teppanyaki Kobe beef at Steakland restaurant

Day 12: Universal Studio Japan and flew back home

From Hakata International Airport to Yufuin by bus

Part 1: Click here

Room in Yawaragi-No-Sato Yadoya

Part 2: Click here

Japanese hot pot "Sukiyaki" of the beef and raw egg "Ranou"

Part 3: Click here

Breakfast room in the ryokan

Part 4: Click here

Owl's Forest

Part 5: Click here

Onsen in Yawaragi-No-Sato Yadoya Ryokan

Part 6: Click here

Steam cooking at Jigokumushi Kobo

Part 7: click here

Nishitetsu Resort Inn, Beppu

Part 8: click here

Takasakiyama Monkey Park, Oita

Part 9: click here

Sushi from Kura sushi

Part 10: click here

Hotel Wing International Hakata

Part 11: click here

Ichiran ramen

Part 12: click here

Dazaifu Tenmangu

Part 13: click here

Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum

Part 14: click here

Nakasu Yatai Food Stalls

Part 15: click here

Meganebashi Bridge

Part 16: click here

Nanzoin Temple

Part 17: click here

JR Hakata Station

Part 18: click here

On the way to Osaka

Part 19: click here

Dotonbori

Part 20: click here

Shoyu ramen from Kadoya Shokudo

Part 21: click here

Old town Kyoto

Part 22: click here

Himeji Castle

Part 23: click here

Teppanyaki at Steakland Restaurant

Part 24: click here

Strawberry pancake sandwich from Mario cafe

Part 25: click here

Airport transfer booked through Klook

Part 26: click here

Thank you all for reading and Octie Appetie...

Japan 2024 Trip Part 16: A Day Trip to Nagasaki

Previously:

Japan 2024 Trip Part 15: Yatai Food Stalls, Nakasu

The train journey from Hakata to Nagasaki takes approximately one and half hours and this trip is covered by JR Pass.  If you have more time, I suggest staying overnight in Nagasaki as there are plenty things to explore and food to try here.  As we only had limited time, we did a short-day trip here.

When I looked at the timetable, it said that we needed to change train at Takeonsen station to go to Nagasaki from Fukuoka.  But we only had three minutes until the next train departs.  I was a little worried if in case that we need to change platform.  Luckily, the train was just right across on the same platform.   

Getting around Nagasaki city, the most convenient way is by catching a streetcar.  You can buy a one-way ticket for 140yen or if you spend like a day trip here and would visit many places like I did, get the day pass for 600yen.  You can buy this ticket from the information centre at Nagasaki Station.  The streetcar covers most attraction places, such as Atomic Bomb Museum, Chinatown, Meganeashi bridge, Sofukuji temple and so on.

If you carry this day pass, make sure that you get off from the front door of the streetcar, as you need to show your pass to the driver before hopping off.

Fatman

Nagasaki Chinatown

Pork belly bun 350yen

Their bun here was ordinary, if there is more sauce on the pork, it would taste a lot better. 

Xiao long bao 300yen/3pcs or 900 for 10pcs 

Of course, we're in Chinatown and of course, we wanted to have Chinese food here.  There are a few Chinese restaurants in the area.  We basically just randomly picked the one that looking good, not so pricey with customers already inside the restaurant.  Those are the basic reasons in safely choosing restaurant in an unknown place.  To be honest, I didn't do any homework before coming here, I only searched for Nagasaki's delicacies and what to eat but not with the recommended restaurant.

 

So, we landed here in Chun Xia Qiu Dong restaurant on the Shinchimachi, Chinatown main street.  The restaurant is pretty big compared to the others and the place looks clean too as a matter of course.  Also, there are variety menus to choose from.  

 

Mapo tofu (Spicy/Large) 1,880yen

Sweet and sour pork 2,380yen

Stir-fried shredded pork and green pepper 1,380yen.

Fried rice with shrimp 1,080yen

Champon (noodle soup with seafood) 980yen

I was so looking forward to trying that Champon noodle dish which is a regional delicacy here in Nagasaki.  Champon is a hearty noodle soup that comes with mixed vegetables and variety proteins in it as well.  It could be pork, chicken and seafood.  This dish is first created by one Chinese immigrant for Chinese students who live in this area.  Not only it is filling and nutritious but he charged the dish in a cheap price so students can afford it.  

The one we had from this place was I would not say we were disappointed, but it wasn't that extraordinary either.  It was simply a ramen dish served in a thick pork broth with some mixed vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, bacon and seafood.  It is no doubt a healthy and fragrant noodle dish, but I still prefer the normal tonkotsu ramen though.  

Overall, their food were pretty good, especially that deep fried pork coated with sweet and sour sauce, it was delightful and they also made a really great fried rice dish.  For the spicy dishes like mapo tofu and shredded pork with green pepper, they were quite light and not too spicy at all so easy to handle.  

Sesame balls 100yen each

Dejima

Meganebashi Bridge

On a clear bright day, you can see the reflection that makes the bridge looks like giant glasses.   

Chun Xia Qiu Dong

11-15 Shinchi-cho, Nagasaki

Ph: 095 895 8999

Atomic Bomb Museum

Open: 8:30 - 17:30

Entry fee: 200 yen 

Stay tuned for the next blog in Fukuoka:

Japan 2024 Trip Part 17: Nanzoin Temple, Fukuoka