HISTORY & RELIGION

The Kanda Shrine, located near Akihabara, is a shrine in Tokyo which is worth a visit. I liked the atmosphere of Japanese traditional shrines. I especially liked the fact that this shrine was not very touristy and that it has been updated to attract younger visitors. With manga character ema boards, and the temple's popularity among idols, with modern exhibitions combining traditional art and pop culture, the sanctuary is resolutely modern and youth-oriented. The traditions of a thousand-year-old religion blend perfectly with Japan's modernity and its visit completes a trip to Akihabara.

Kigawa: Just behind the temple is a traditional restaurant that I would recommend trying one of the most popular dishes in Japanese cuisine: kabayaki made from unagi, the Japanese freshwater eel. I really enjoyed my meal, which turned out to be delicious, especially the miso soup that came with it! A delight!

Just a stone's throw from the electronic district of Akihabara is the mAAch Ecute Kanda Manseibashi, a place I didn't expect to discover in this district! A former railway station and museum, today it is a design gallery comprising shops, cafés, restaurants and bookshop, with a view of the river and the electronic district. This spot is unexpected, pleasant to visit for its shops, but also for its history and to enjoy a short break in a quiet spot.

Akihabara is very well known and a district not to be missed during a visit to Tokyo. I never got tired of going to the Electronic district and manga area day or night to absorb the surrounding activity, watch passers-by, or to try out some entertaining activities, like video games or theme cafés, or simply to shop for electronics. There is always something new to discover when passing through Akihabara, and even sometimes places completely out of the ordinary, such as the mAAch Ecute Kanda Manseibashi, the 2k540 in the same vein with its original craft shops or CHABARA, a huge shop specializing in all regional foods in Japan.

I love taking in an elevated view of all the cities in the world, and more particularly in Tokyo, to be able to see the sunset, the skyline and see the city transform itself from day to night. Having tested several viewpoints in Tokyo, the Tokyo City View from the helicopter platform, in the open air, is the most beautiful view of Tokyo. It's 360° of pure happiness, with a view of all of Tokyo and even Fuji in good weather. The sunset was all the more shimmering. A magical moment and several hours of contemplation and pure happiness!

Mori Salvatore Cuomo restaurant in Roppongi Hills is an excellent Italian restaurant, where you can taste different Italian specialities. The fish carpaccio, four-cheese pizza and lemon pie... everything was delicious and had a nice little taste of Italy! There is a very cosy and festive atmosphere in the evening, which makes it a good option after climbing to the top of the Mori Tower to see the view.

I had the opportunity to test several hotels in Tokyo and Roppongi Remm is undoubtedly my favorite. The room is very spacious and comfortable, the bathroom has a spectacular view and there are many little extra touches designed for travellers: the ambient fragrance, the massage chair, USB sockets, etc. The view of all of Tokyo is incredible, the staff are very friendly, and the breakfast is really, very good and varied, with Japanese and Western options. Even though the hotel is located in the heart of Roppongi and 1 minute walk from the metro, it is very well soundproofed and you can rest from your long Tokyo-style days without any worries.

It is always a pleasure to fly with ANA. The ground and on-board staff are very friendly and the flights are on time and comfortable. In Haneda, we were able to test the very sophisticated automated customs clearance system!

Cucina Frutta is a small, unpretentious restaurant in Fukuoka, but the very friendly, family atmosphere make it the perfect place for a lunch break. I really enjoyed my simple pasta, but also tasted mentai, a typical ingredient of the region, in the form of baguette or pasta. Not to be missed!

The Munakata Shrine is undoubtedly one of my favourite places on this trip to Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a shrine with a very special history and symbolism, and is fascinating to visit with a guide to learn more about the symbolism and history of this site. Beyond that, it is a very peaceful and pleasant place, shaded, good to visit in all seasons for its beauty, its nature and its spirituality.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Tanga Market, which still preserves a very traditional and authentic atmosphere today. We tested the concept of kaku-uchi, a standing bar in a sake and alcoholic beverage store, where you can chat with the locals whilst taking a break and drinking sake. The concept is truly unique and allows you to really get in touch with authentic Japan. An activity not to be missed in Fukuoka Prefecture!

I had the opportunity to attend several matsuri throughout Japan on my various trips, but I was looking forward to discovering the Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival in the suburbs of Kita-Kyushu. This festival is very well known, and I was delighted to be able to immerse myself in the festive atmosphere of the matsuri, but also to see the different yamagasa, the floats worn by the inhabitants. The floats are beautifully decorated with lanterns with different inscriptions and it is a real tour de force to see these races with the floats!

The village of Ashiyagama no sato is a fascinating and exciting place, where I was able to learn more about the smithing of traditional kettles, their history, but also their resurrection today in Ashiya. I found it very interesting to discover more about this activity in video, but also in the museum, in the workshop and with our guides. The site also has a pretty Japanese garden and a tea house, where it is nice to take a walk, participate in a tea ceremony or feed the carp.

I really liked the Yahataya restaurant for lunch. It is a family-style and friendly buffet restaurant, with a wide variety of Japanese food for all tastes. The restaurant has a sea view and there is even an onsen.

We went to a museum called Hakatamachiya Furusatokan that offered to paint Hakata Ningyo, dolls from the Hakata district of Fukuoka. I had a lot of fun bringing my doll to life, under the guidance of an artist and in a cosy studio. Later, we briefly visited the Kushida shrine. This temple is really worth a visit, especially for the beauty of its wood carvings.

The Yatai were closed due to a typhoon, so we went to an izakaya. The atmosphere was very good, the waiters were very friendly and everything was delicious. I hope to also visit Tenjin's Yatai on my next trip to Fukuoka.

An excellent business hotel, spacious and comfortable, with very good service. I liked the space available, especially the large bathroom, the toiletries, the friendliness of the employees, and also the smartphone with Internet available to customers.

Craft shops in Okawa City: The visit to the store and the furniture workshop was interesting, to understand the importance of wood and furniture in the region, as well as how an artisan renews himself to stay in the spirit of the times. We also discovered a unique woodworking technique, kumiko, which I was able to try for myself.

Shoubun is a truly unique restaurant. The cuisine is refined, the atmosphere is sophisticated and the service is impeccable. I really enjoyed this meal, discovering new flavours and cooking techniques!

Kitaya brewery: A very interesting visit to discover the sake production process. Sake tasting is part of the visit, and I found myself discovering the subtlety of the different tastes of sakes, which I had never noticed before!

Matsunobu Kogei: An interesting visit to discover the manufacturing of traditional Japanese wooden buckets. These everyday objects in Japan were a work of art unveiled for us!

I like to discover and rediscover Tokyo, new facets of the city, unknown areas, temples and alleys. As for the prefecture of Fukuoka, I was charmed and would gladly come back to explore the prefecture for a longer period of time, especially its nature. I really enjoyed discovering the shrines, the specificities of the region, the traditions and history mixed with modernity.
For my highlights, I have an incredible memory of the sunset in Tokyo and the visit to the Munakata shrine. They were two completely different moments, with the power of nature stong at each.