Well this was difficult for me to decide where to start this article.
I have been so many times in Japan and so many times in Kyushu.
I love it all but you have to choose right?
So I will try to show you my Japan, not necessary the one you see in the guide books and I will start with one of my favorite place in Japan: Kagoshima and the famous volcano Sakurajima.
Why my favorite place:
- first the volcano itself with it's cloud of ashes
- then the foot bath not far from it, just a dream to put your feet in the hot water of the volcano, relax relax relax!!!
- and then the path between the old lava, a little bit mysterious, never crowded, like just for yourself!

After that let's move to Nagasaki with it's old tram.
I feel a little bit like in Portugal (My father is from there) but the comparison stop here although, this is hot like there and you have some cakes like there!

The tram will take you everywhere you want to visit the city.
So many things to see there, but I was more interested in special things, like all these pickles in this Chinese shop.
In Nagasaki you really have to visit to Chinese quarter, even if you are in Japan, this is worth it!

Since after all these travels in Japan I consider myself a bit of Japanese, I will talk again about food!
One of the favorite hobby/discussion in Japan!

What is that, you're asking me?
Well this is an egg :-) but cooked in the hot/boiling water of Beppu
And the other one???
A sweet potato, cooked the same way
And if I tell you oishii!!!!!! you got it?
This is one of the most favorite Japanese expression, means good/delicious/excellent, you can hear that everywhere!

Beppu is also famous for it's hot springs and boiling water.
There is a beautiful parc where you can enjoy so different kind of sceneries, like this one, with the red water and the smoke.

But as always when I see water my only wish is to get inside...
But in this case this is maybe not the best idea although...
Yes there are many foot bath in this parc!
And hop directly my feet inside!
This is one of my great pleasure in Japan!
To start easy you can try the foot bath, just soak your feet inside as long as you can, it can be very hot sometimes!
If you are advanced level and/or courageous then you have to try the onsen, where this is your full body naked in the water.
Don't be scared, this is just pure pleasure!

But if you want to try something even more special try the sand bath!
There are a few in Beppu and a very old one near the train station that I highly recommend!
Ok maybe I don't look the cutest but I assure you this is just fantastic, just 10 minutes buried under hot sand and after you feel so relax, so well so light!

After being so relax of course, because you are in Japan, you have to eat!
And what best in Japan than fish or seafood.
Look at that is it not oishii ??? :-)
Well I found it delicious and I tried as much as possible

Even this one the famous Fugu.
The poisonous fish if not well prepared.
Well once in Japan you have to try it right?
And since I am writing this article everything is fine!
The taste is soft and quite good actually, I was happy to try it!

You may wonder why I put this one?
Well very simple, one of the reason I love Japan, beside the food, the onsen, the people, the train, the weather, the security, ........, is SUMO!
You know the 2 giants fighting to have one out of the ring (Dojo) or touching the ground with something else than his feet.
And this was a parody of sumo, so I had to take it!

And this one???
He was just too cute!!!
This is some decorations you can see when you go in the million shopping arcades that Japan have.
Because after talking about food, Japanese people love to do shopping!
I would say Japan is the number one country for shopping!

And in these shopping arcades/centers you can find some interesting things like this one.
Cute right? Will fit right for your daughter!
No no no this is for your dog!
Yes Japanese people love to dress their dogs and in this kind of shop you can find everything you need!

This is in Kokura and this is an example of what I like in Japan.
This contrast between modernity and past.
They look so perfectly well together, an old castle and a new colorful building.
If you have time I recommend a day trip in this city, full of charm.

for the last part of my trip through Kyushu I will tell you more about Fukuoka (Train station Hakata) where I stayed at most.
If you are lucky you can come during Christmas time or in December to see the illuminations in the city.
One of my favorite is at the main train station where you have a giant christmas tree, some light everywhere and a lot of aminations

If you walked from the train station to canal city, the big mall ( a must see) you can also enjoy some of my favorite illuminations.
These balls changing colors all the time, with these trees everywhere just magic!

And to resist the cold of Kyushu, actually pretty hot, you can try some basashi, some raw horse.
Horse meat will make you feel hot, this is what they eat in very cold countries like Mongolia (where I stayed a few years).
This is not something usual and I think this is a great experience

After gaining some strength and if you come in November you can visit the temple illuminations or the lantern festival.
During the lantern festival the quarter of Gion, where you have most of the temples, you can see some paper lantern everywhere.
Some forming some shapes, like flowers or some just guiding your path.

And during the temple illumination you can see some different kind of illumination in the temple, like some lighted umbrella or some color's variation in a garden.
Some red pagoda or visit with some lantern on your hand.
I have to say that I have enjoyed very much this end of the year in Fukuoka, with so many different kind of illuminations this make it magic!

Well there should be an end to my trip and my stories.
And I was wondering what can be my last story my last picture.
Well in Japan it is pretty obvious, let's talk about food and the famous tonkotsu ramen.
This is a soup with noodle, some pork, some seaweed and vegetables.
And for the last time this is oishii!

So come to Japan, come to Kyushu and enjoy it all!