Hi

Typically , for me on a leaving day , the weather improves and today was a partly cloudy day
I thought that I would not have enough time to tour the castle but could do a quick tour of the grounds

Went to the ropeway station and my heart sank when I saw the large queue ( various tour groups) but the chairlift queue was empty so with your daypack against your chest , up i went (you are not thet far above a net)( chairlift photo too large to upload)


View of the castle unlike yesterday



Matsuyama castle


View from matsuyama castle grounds on a clear day

Went back to the hotel and took the Tram train and connecting bus to the matsuyana ferry port for the superjet ferry to hiroshima (free with the setouchi area pass).
paid y 800 extra for a suoerior seat on the upper deck ( only 7 or 8 pax on the upper deck)
1hr 30 to hiroshima ( our boat stopped at kure for a couple of minutes but others do not)
overcast but a very scenic crossing across the seto inland sea. No outdoor deck so some glare from windows show in photos

Shortly after leaving matsuyana port

25mins from hiroshima port to hiroshima station on no 5 tram
had some time to waste before the shinkansen to hakata so had lunch in the station complex
1hr 5min on the nozomi to hakata

A lot colder here in fukuoka than elsewhere (18 degrees) and with the breeze needed a jumper on

Explored the hotel and area tonight



Hilton fukuoka (beside the mizuho pay pay baseball dome) with the fukuoka tower behind the hilton

Regards

Tbs