Neko-chan in Japan: Fantastic Fukuoka (album)

May 1, 2008: Philippines -> Fukuoka -> Nagasaki

Our flight through Philippine Airlines Manila to Fukuoka was delayed, We finally left Philippine airspace approximately 4:30 pm and I got through Fukuoka airport Immigration and Customs past 8 pm.

I was seated next to a friendly and kind Japanese man. I first noticed him chuckling when I complained in the dialect to the stewardess that I was really hungry and my stomach was throwing embarrasing sounds. The stewardess was kind enough to offer me peanuts after takeoff. He had also called my attention to help give a warning when a woman in the lavatory didn't lock the door and people kept trying to get in. Three of us passengers seated near each other kept telling people not to get in the lavatory for the next 10 minutes. Tee-hee-hee! 

After our dinner on the plane, when the Japanese noticed I was perusing through my Lonely Planet Japanese phrasebook, we struck a conversation and he was giving me tips left and right which proved to be very useful to me later..especially the one about it being Golden Week and for me to make a reservation and exchange for my coupon as soon as I got to a JR Station.

Working past midnight every night for the last 2 weeks had taken its toll and I snored the rest of the flight away, waking up just in time to pull the rented cellphone and queuing up for Immigration and Customs. 

In attempting to make a call, I found a problem. I was tired and mad and hungry, however I was in Japan at last. 

Link on getting your own phone and using it in Japan plus my phone problems at first in: http://cuh888.multiply.com/journal/item/44/Kitty_Trail_Japan_2008_-_Calls

Carrying only some ensaymadas and cheese rolls from "Mary Grace" didn't put me in any trouble with Customs so I passed through easily enough, After pulling my bag (which was already kindly set on the floor instead of going around the carousel), I proceeded to the Information Center, got some Nagasaki brochures, asked for the bus schedule (got pointed to the other stall) and then went to check their toilets :-) I also set my watch by 1 hour ahead since I was now officially on Japan time.

Going to the JR Station was already a bit late and would require a taxi, plus I planned for only 7 days use of the JR Pass so bus was definitely the way to go.

The bus departures schedule and stall was near the cellphone rentals stall. The bus journey from Fukuoka to Nagasaki would take more than 2.5 hours and would be departing from Fukuoka airport by 9:42 pm. The ticket cost 2500 Yen. That was the first breakup of my first 10K yen bill. 

The in-charge showed me how to push the bill through the machine, push the button for the amount and get the ticket and change. There! Easy as pie and my first introduction to how things work in Japan for tickets. This is how it usually is for bus and train ticket dispensers as well as vending machines.
The bus stop stand would be #2, which was left of the usual exits from the airport terminal. I moved out of the arrival area through one of the numerous exit doors and stared at the vending machines. I was a bit hungry already but I could only see rows and rows of drinks. I called Joy and told him I was on the way to Nagasaki on the next bus and told him to please have some leftovers for me as I would probably be arriving past 12 midnight. 

Luckily the last stop of the bus would be in Nagasaki and I would be thrown out by that time even if I could not recognize the place or the characters announcing Nagasaki bus stop. 

I went out and waited with a group of young men at the bus stop. I knew that Fukuoka also had nice places to visit but sadly I could only see it that night, since the next time I would be passing by would be on my way to Osaka, and I would probably have a few minutes only to make the train transfer.

Your luggage will be hoisted over with some help by either the driver or one of the bus company's employees so don't worry about hauling it into the luggage area under the bus (although maybe they just do it for foreigners because I certainly didn't see them help put the luggage in for the other Japanese on the bus).

The bus started off on time and after plugging my Ipod earphones, I alternated between snoozing fitfully and staring at the passing countryside on the way to Nagasaki.

Places to check out if ever one has time to visit Fukuoka again:

- Fukuoka Castle and Ohori Park - its location allows you to see views of Fukuoka

- Shofukuji Temple - believed to be the oldest Zen temple in Japan

- Tochoji Temple - on the second flooor is Japan's largest seated wooden Buddha

- Kushida Shrine - Fukuoka's oldest shrine

- May 17, '08 9:01 PM