Kyushu Trip Part 2

I finally got around to writing about the rest of the trip! I started school a week ago, and I´ve been busy adjusting to my new schedule. I start school at eight and don´t come home until after six because of Kyudo club practice, so this last week I was perpetually exhausted. I´m getting used to it, and I think it´ll force me to be more efficient.

Day 2

After waking up in the Hakata district of Fukuoka city, we were soon on the bus on our way to a town called Kitakyushu if I remember correctly. We then took this train to the other side of town, and walked around for a bit. For lunch we had kaiten sushi. Then we rode the bus for a while stopping at various sites to take pictures.

We spent the night in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) in Hagi. There was onsen there, and there were so many different baths to try out. Of course you could´t take pictures in there, a) because electric equipment and water don´t mix well, b) everyone is naked, and c) because it´s against the rules. I wish I could show you, because the onsen itself and the scenery surrounding it was amazing. In much less than 24 hours, we went bathing three times. This is supposed to lengthen your lifespan by three years. After we put on the yukata provided by the ryokan and ate dinner, seize style. I was almost able to sit like that for the whole duration of dinner. Afterwards the girls changed into new yukatas that we had won playing this game. I don´t really have much more to add, so I´ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Day 3

After waking up, all the girls went immediately down to bathe in the onsen. It was an amazing way to start the day. After we were done packing, we rode the bus to one of Japan´s newer shrines. It was very pretty and I regretted not bringing my big camera. 

After the shrine we went to a glass work, where we got to make glass accessories.  Seeing glass, which usually is so fragile and brittle melt in front of my eyes was a pretty wild.

My necklaces are the ones farthest to the left and farthest to the right.

We had Yakiniku for lunch, which I can now say is my favourite dish. You get to cook the meat yourself which is fun.

We stopped at a souvenir shop, Logan and I tried on some hats. 

From the exit of the cave.

On our way back to Nagoya by shinkansen/bullet train. It was pretty comfortable. Also had a neighbour who doubled as a pillow, which was sweet as.

All in all the trip was a success. We got to experience so much, and really got to bond with the other exchange students. I feel like I can call everyone my friends now. It was a great way to end my summer vacation, and I´m so grateful to Rotary for organising this for us.

Now that I´ve settled back into reality, I´ll have a post about school and the like out soon. Stay tuned!