Fukuoka Japan January 2007 - 48 photos - 1863 views

Went to Japan Fukuoka for a week vacation first week of 2007. Visited couple of hot springs in Fukuoka at Beppu, which is located on the east coast of Kyushu Island, between the Seto Inland Sea and its steep mountains and hills. It is one of Japan's most famous and most touristy hot spring resorts. Beppu is Japan's onsen capital as it has the largest volume of hot water in the world aside from Yellowstone and the largest number of hot spring sources in Japan. In addition, there are a few spectacular hot springs, called the Chinoike Jigoku (Hells of Beppu or Blood Pond Hell), which has a pond of boiling water in red color for viewing rather than bathing.  
 
Right after the hot springs visits, we went to the Harmonyland (or commonly called Hello Kitty Land), which is an outdoor theme park nestled in the Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. Harmonyland have some theme park attractions like Disneyland but they are all full of Hello Kitty images and figures. The theme park have a big ferris wheel, several roller coasters and a teapot ride for the younger guests. Everything in Harmonyland is about Hello Kitty. Even the sausage have a cute Hello Kitty image on it.  
 
The next day, we visited the beautiful Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park opened in 1992 in Nagasaki that recreates Holland by displaying real size copies of old Dutch buildings. The name Huis Ten Bosch literally translates into English as "House in the Forest". The park features many Dutch-style buildings such as hotels, villas, theatres, museums, shops and restaurants, along with canals, windmills, amusement rides and a park planted in seasonal flowers. Also visited Dazaifu Tenmangus shrine, which eliminate bad luck and bringing fortune to the household. Also the Sea Hawks Town, Fukuoka Dome...etc. A very relaxing and fun vacation!