Fukuoka - Hirado - Sunday 7 May 2017

  Travelling day through the Japanese 'campagne';  

Karatzu castle 

This morning we fetched our rental car, a Nissan something ;-) and set off to explore the countryside, with along the way many nice stops and great pictures. Phew difficult to show them all, but will attempt to show to most interesting ones.

Fukuoka seen from the highway (elevated view)

Visiting the Karatzu castle

Stopover for some drink and sunshine along the road:

make your own fresh coffee

fun for kids and me

Next stop is the curve with a great view on the rice terraces north of Imari. We are definitely not the only ones making a photo.

Lots of eldery photographers are lined up with a tripod waiting for sunset, and it's only half past 3! Patience does it....

rice terraces north of Imari

patient photographers

posing in front of the 'heart bell' for all couples in love 

Next stop a great fishing spot that P. spotted, along the way to Imari

 

fishermen and -women

squids

our rental car

many bridges to cross

Around 6 pm we arrived at our hotel, (Kishotei) in Hirado, which is a rather outdated and a bit sad place. This probably was a very trendy and posh place in the 60s, however, since then not much changed. There is a spa (sauna) for women and men separately and a huge dining room (not used) as well as other large not used rooms. 

We reserved the room inclusive dinner, so were curious about the quality.

However, after searching the huge hotel for our private Japanese dining spot, we were pleasantly surprised with a wonderful tasty and very Japanese dinner.

Loved it; best we had until now.

A lot of pictures of our dinner :-)

steamy rice

our kind traditional waitress, who only spoke Japanese

reserved for Mr. Peter

sashimi 

 

google translate helps a lot ...

Japanese 'gourmetten' 

yelly desert

dikke kus 

Carina