First Shinkensen trip and I have broken my land speed record (except, I suppose, in a plane just before taking off). It was a great experience, the ride was quiet and smooth, the punctuality to the second, and the comfort, armchair. You may be able to see the barrier between the platform and the train. This only allows access to the doors when the conductor is ready for passengers to board. We stocked up on food and drinks as we had read that food wasn't available on the train. This turned out to be "Trump news" however, as a trolley service was a frequent visitor.
We rode from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe where we transferred to another shinkensen on to Hakata. Confusingly this city has two names. Hakata when referring to the railways and Fukuoka if you are talking about the airport. In fact they were two districts either side of the river, a bit like Budapest.
Originally the plan was to travel to the fan zone in Oita on Wednesday but the return trains were fully booked so I thought that we could watch this match in the fan zone at Hakata station. Wrong again, because the fan zone isn't opening that night so we we will be in the English pub pictured above which I have test driven.
This is the Hakata Canal City and comprises of up market shopping malls and hotels around the artificial canal that you can see. The building on the right is the Grand Hyatt hotel. This is where the Irish team are staying just now.
The canal also features fountains that dance and squirt in time to different tunes on the hour and half hour. These are illuminated in the dark which almost gives the effect of fireworks.
The area is also a good backdrop for other activities.
The standard of hygiene is extremely high in Japan so it comes as no surprise that their public toilets are par excellence. Here's a nice example both aesthetically and toiletically.
We decided to go on a river and harbour cruise and whilst we were waiting to board the boat, we got chatting with the Japanese couple you can see on the right. When I say chat, that was rather overstating communication but we managed a modicum of understanding to everyone's great pleasure. We ended up being the only customers. We were serenaded by the guy with the guitar who also gave a commentary. He also managed some English especially for us. He was looking for a tip at the end which our new found friends insisted on paying on our behalf. We were very touched.
The conning tower that controls the shipping in and out of the docks.
Redundant docks are put to a whole variety of uses but this is the first one I have ever seen that is a power boat race track. This is the end enclosure and gallery. Apparently the attraction of the boat racing is for the gambling.
Know your shrines from your temples. What you can see below is a Shinto Shrine, not to be confused with the Buddhist Temple which you will see later. The Kushida-jinja traces its history back to CE 757 and sponsors the festival in May, where tall floats are raced 5kms through the streets.
A permanent example of one of the festival floats.
Now a Buddhist Temple, this is the Tochoji Temple again not far from our hotel.
It has been relocated to this position. All that was left in the day was to go back to that pub and give Wales another shove towards the knockout stage. Well Fiji, you were fighting for your lives and you certainly gave us a great scare, so well done we will definitely remember you.
We rode from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe where we transferred to another shinkensen on to Hakata. Confusingly this city has two names. Hakata when referring to the railways and Fukuoka if you are talking about the airport. In fact they were two districts either side of the river, a bit like Budapest.
Originally the plan was to travel to the fan zone in Oita on Wednesday but the return trains were fully booked so I thought that we could watch this match in the fan zone at Hakata station. Wrong again, because the fan zone isn't opening that night so we we will be in the English pub pictured above which I have test driven.
This is the Hakata Canal City and comprises of up market shopping malls and hotels around the artificial canal that you can see. The building on the right is the Grand Hyatt hotel. This is where the Irish team are staying just now.
The canal also features fountains that dance and squirt in time to different tunes on the hour and half hour. These are illuminated in the dark which almost gives the effect of fireworks.
The area is also a good backdrop for other activities.
The standard of hygiene is extremely high in Japan so it comes as no surprise that their public toilets are par excellence. Here's a nice example both aesthetically and toiletically.
We decided to go on a river and harbour cruise and whilst we were waiting to board the boat, we got chatting with the Japanese couple you can see on the right. When I say chat, that was rather overstating communication but we managed a modicum of understanding to everyone's great pleasure. We ended up being the only customers. We were serenaded by the guy with the guitar who also gave a commentary. He also managed some English especially for us. He was looking for a tip at the end which our new found friends insisted on paying on our behalf. We were very touched.
The conning tower that controls the shipping in and out of the docks.
Redundant docks are put to a whole variety of uses but this is the first one I have ever seen that is a power boat race track. This is the end enclosure and gallery. Apparently the attraction of the boat racing is for the gambling.
Know your shrines from your temples. What you can see below is a Shinto Shrine, not to be confused with the Buddhist Temple which you will see later. The Kushida-jinja traces its history back to CE 757 and sponsors the festival in May, where tall floats are raced 5kms through the streets.
A permanent example of one of the festival floats.
Now a Buddhist Temple, this is the Tochoji Temple again not far from our hotel.
It has been relocated to this position. All that was left in the day was to go back to that pub and give Wales another shove towards the knockout stage. Well Fiji, you were fighting for your lives and you certainly gave us a great scare, so well done we will definitely remember you.
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