Now Reports

Leaving Japan - A Checklist

Jan 12, 2023Now Reports

Leaving Japan – A Checklist

Happy New Year! It is a new year, and some of you may be preparing for a new beginning. Some of you may be leaving Japan to live in another country for various reasons. I will outl...

Fukuoka Hatsuuri Guide, 福岡初売り・福袋ガイド

Dec 23, 2022Now Reports

Fukuoka Hatsu-uri and Fukubukuro Guide 2023

Hatsu-uri literally means “first sale”, and is one of many Japanese ‘first-of-the-year’ traditions, which range from hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, to hatsuhinode, ...

Hatsumode Guide, 福岡初詣ガイド

Dec 23, 2022Now Reports

Hatsumode in Fukuoka 2023

For many of our readers, this might be their first time to spend New Year’s Eve in Japan; and that’s an excellent opportunity to experience Japanese traditional culture...

Dec 23, 2022Now Reports

Fukuoka Hatsuhinode (First Sunrise) Guide 2022-2023

"Gantan" means New Year's Day in Japanese. The term has particular significance given that the Chinese characters relate to the importance placed on the first sunrise of the year. ...

Kego Shrine and Kego Park are well-known as places where you can relax in Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka City. Due in part to their location next to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, there is always a constant flow of people through the shrine and the park. Kego Shrine was relocated to its present location in 1608. The shrine was built by Nagamasa Kuroda, the first lord of the Fukuoka Domain, and has served as a place of worship for local people over the generations. The torii gate that remains today was erected in 1639 by Tadayuki Kuroda, the second lord of the domain. The Kego Shrine grounds are not very large, but they are home to several magnificent camphor trees that are said to be over 300 years old. There are many things to see here, including the stately main shrine, which retains its Edo era feel, several old lanterns dedicated anywhere between two and 400 years ago, and the Imamasu Inari Shrine with a rare smiling fox statue standing guard out front. There is even a footbath on site, perfect for soothing your tired feet after a long day of walking. In the fall of 2022, a new nine-story shrine office opened. While the building serves as a new-and-improved shrine office, it also has storage space for the portable shrine and ritual implements that used to be kept in rental warehouses as well as space for exhibiting votive ema (wooden tablets) dating as far back as the mid-Edo period. Kego Shrine was originally home to the local guardian deity. It is also equipped with a large power generator and other facilities in the event that it needs to be used as an evacuation site for the local residents during a disaster. In Kego Park, you can see many people taking a break from work or shopping. The park used to be overgrown with trees and had many blind spots, which posed a risk to public safety, but it was completely renovated in 2012 to create a better lit and more open space. The park is also home to a Safety Center that community groups can use for their activities. In addition to hosting various events throughout the year, the park is famous for its gorgeous Christmas lights in winter, 都心のオアシス、警固神社と警固公園

Dec 22, 2022Now Reports

Kego Shrine and Kego Park: An Oasis in the Heart of the City

Kego Shrine and Kego Park are well-known as places where you can relax in Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka City. Due in part to their location next to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, there i...

Fukuoka Strawberry Picking Guide, 福岡いちご狩りガイド

Dec 22, 2022Now Reports

Fukuoka Strawberry Picking Guide 2023

Strawberry picking is a popular activity in Japan between December and May and Fukuoka is famous for its big, sweet strawberries. Now’s the time to go a-picking! Some farms offer m...

Dec 20, 2022Now Reports

Momochi Now – Year-end and New Year’s Special in Momochi

Seaside Momochi, with its spectacular illuminations, will be open throughout the year-end and New Year's holidays. For this last installment of 2022, we asked each facility about t...

Dec 20, 2022Now Reports

A sandy beach, cafes, broad-walk, tower and dome – all in Momochi!

The area of Momochihama boasts views of three of Fukuoka’s best-known landmarks: Fukuoka Tower, PayPay Dome, and the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel. Built on reclaimed land created ...

Dec 16, 2022Now Reports

Hoku-hoku Yaki-imo

You know we are in the middle of autumn when you hear calls of ishi yaki-imo (sweet potatoes baked on hot stones​) ringing through the streets. That’s the sound of vendors driving ...

Christmas Religious Services in Fukuoka 2022 / キリスト教会クリスマス情報2022

Dec 15, 2022Now Reports

Christmas Religious Services in Fukuoka 2022

While the commercial side of Christmas is well and truly appreciated in Japan, with banners adorning every shop window and promotions left, right, and center, the spiritual side ca...

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