Japan 05/26 – Nagasaki, Dazaifu Yuenchi + Akiyoshidai Safari Land

Day 12 began in Nagasaki, where the first port of call was another vantage point.

There’s a cablecar station with free parking here, always a bonus.

The ride itself is a little on the pricey side, by local standards at least, but prompt and efficient of course.

Their main justification for this being that the vehicles were designed by someone who designs Ferraris, apparently.

You can drive up here as well though, which I have made a mental note to do next time.

At night, most likely. The city wins awards for night views, so they say.

It’s a pretty spectacular battle of infrastructure and nature at the very least.

Another bridge, as promised.

Deep within the city, the bridges continue.

This is known as the glasses bridge. A quaint little riverside walkway, complete with wildlife.

And adventure.

A few hours out of the city is Shimabara, supposedly famed for holes in the wall which may or may not contain dogs.

Like so.

They also have a castle.

And yet another for the volcano collection. Mt. Unzen here is a little more sinister with that spiky summit.

In it’s shadow is an open air museum of houses that were engulfed by an eruption in the ’90s.

From there it was another long drive back towards the north of Kyushu, near completing our circuit of the region.

Day 13 first found us at a frog shrine.

As one would expect.

This guy blows bubbles.

Relatable levels of commitment to a cause.

Down the road from there is a place called Dazaifu, which it turns out is well regarded for it’s shrines and temples.

I only knew it for the coaster it contained though, and having set the sat nav to take me directly to it, was surprised to find that you can’t really get near it by car.

So the search on foot began.

These colours aren’t nearly tacky enough.

Sure enough though, amongst the serenity, a sight for the soul.

Dazaifu Yuenchi

At the back of the park, and summit of the hill it sits on, is the lone jet coaster, known as #1 Train Coaster.

There’s the train.

Perhaps more notable are the goats that live under the station.

It’s a simple but elegant design, a slow build of a helix into one moment of questionable airtime before going out with a fizzle, just how I like it.

Park complete.

With that we bade farewell to Kyushu, headed back over the bridge to the mainland, and several more hours up the road to