Visiting Shino in Fukuoka

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We went down to Fukuoka (on Kyushu, the bottom island) to catch up with Shino for the public holiday. She took us to the Tochoji Temple (with pictures of 12 different hells and a scary tunnel where you are supposed to rely on Buddha to guide you out), Hakata Michiya Folk Museum and Kushida Shrine. At a place by the museum you could see how the obi part of kimonos were made on these hard-out wooden machines and the people working them let us have a go. The Shrine still had the remnants of the Setsuban festival, and also a big float that gets carried around once a year when men representing different districts race in loincloths!

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Photos

Float outside Kushida Shrine
It was really heavy ;)

Kushida Shrine
The mask left from Setsuban - if you go through the mouth it is good luck I think.

Tochoji Temple
Mum, Shino, Yume outside.

Old style Fukuoka house
Shino and her friend Yume checking it out

Fi making obi
Look at how much I spun out! ;)

Shino making obi
Shino finishing it off for me ;)

Eating ramen
Mum, me, Shino, Yume. Ramen is the speciality dish of Fukuoka. Very tasty.

Notice on bullet train seat back
We were feeling good so didn't need to go to car 7!