https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU7YfiUp2FQ2HWV69?g_st=ic

?

Yep.

First stop in Kyushu - my wife’s parents / wife wanted to relive the past - the food here - even at the resort - blows Tokyo away…. No pics of the sushi; sashimi or tempura - they were gone too fast!

It’s the wine festival here - I’ve found heaven….
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Welcome to the Netherlands in Kyushu - the gentlemen sleeping was there for two hours while his wife shopped and rode the rides - 3,500 yen and all you can drink European wines all night - we will be back!

My wife says it’s been a while since she’s seen the stars / it’s good to be here!

Hi

Great photos of Huis ten bosch bmwe92fan!:tu:

I am starting to think of my mid april 2024 holiday from the UK
Thinking of Nagasaki with a trip to Huis Ten Bosch ( looks like a couple of nights at HTB might be worthwhile as it looks like there is a lot to do and lots of walking if you want to) , then Hiroshima and a few days in Kyoto

Regards

TBS

it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be - they had various little concerts with talented musicians around the property and the food was better than expected with fair prices - can highly recommend the Okura hotel that overlooks the park - very nice rooms and amenities…. Bus and train stations are right next to it as well - we took the bus from the airport directly here - it was a scenic drive along the coast.


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The park at night is also very beautiful


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Today we went through the pottery towns of Arita and Imari - got some amazing deals on some bowls and plates made with incredible craftsmanship - and now in Hirado for the evening - Kyushu is so beautiful but admittedly a bit car sick now….


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So love vending machines in Japan - check out the lobster vending machine - a first for me!

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Thank you!

Learned a lot about the history of the Portuguese and Dutch - and Christianity in the region - fascinating!


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The only thing better here than the sunsets - is the food that will shortly follow!


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Glad you had a good time there. My wife's parents took my father and me to the park when he visited Japan in 1986 (Wikipedia shows that the Huis Ten Bosch opened in 1992, but Wikipedia Japan page shows that it first opened in 1982 under a different corporate name; it actually went bankrupt once in 2003). I have not returned but I'm sure it has expanded a lot with more attractions than before, so it may be more interesting now. That said, I remember it as a total yawn-fest. Aside from riding the wooden ship that sailed on the artificial pond, it was nothing but shop after shop selling uninteresting trinkets, which made me wonder if the place could survive. I think I subconsciously vowed never to return again, so whenever my wife suggests going there, without even thinking about it, I just say NO. Admittedly, I'm not a theme park person (never been to Disney theme park anywhere in the world), but your photos and report make me think it's time to give it a second chance, especially since it's so close by. Do you remember what the entrance fee was?

This is not a vending machine, it's an arcade game. Just like all those other arcade games where you control the claw and try to catch a stuffed teddy bear or something similar. Here, you pay 200 yen for one try, and 500 yen for three tries. If you are successful and catch the "lobster" (it's actually Ise Ebi), you (or more likely someone else will) prepare the lobster for eating (such as cutting it up for sashimi as in the photo) free of charge onsite. The photos of the people are all those who successfully caught lobsters with this game. It's a game of chance, so there's no guarantee that you'll catch one.
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Some great photos of Hirado there. Did you see William Adam's grave there?

After 3pm IIRC the entrance fee went to 5,000 yen per person -- and for that you can do all the rides like he big wheel, boats, zip lines, etc and of course the amazing light show with drones and fireworks at 8:30pm -- which was pretty cool. We spent 3,500 yen each and spent the afternoon drinking wine (it was all you can drink by the glass -- over 100 wines) and enjoying the weather until the show began -- and the staggered back to the hotel lol... We are definitely not theme park people so one afternoon was enough for us...

Yes we did -- fortunately the climb was not nearly as strenuous as Hirado Castle for my wife's mother -- that was almost too much and we needed a break after that -- so we had some of the famous "Champon" at a apparently well known place in town (there was a long line and it was so hot) -- I have never tasted noodles so good and so unique -- I was amazed!

Tokyo Mega Illumi ( tokyo city keiba at Oi Racecourse)
 

Hi

I thought I had lost this memory card but have just found it
In early Nov 2022 ( just after Japan reopened ) I was in Tokyo for 10 days. I am a bit of a sucker for illuminations but i was a week too early for a lot of them starting ( some were starting the day i left)
During my search online before going I found
Tokyo Mega illumi ( held between nov and jan when there are no races)
Tokyo Mega Illumination 2023 - Events in Tokyo - Japan Travel
東京メガイルミ〈TOKYO MEGA ILLUMI〉
( 3 stops on the local monoral line towards Haneda airport) at oikeibajo-may station then a 5min walk . Price was Y1000 ( higher at weekends). There is also access from Tachiaigawa JR station)
Original plan was getting there just before sunset, look around then back to the Conrad for Evening canapes but I enjoyed it so much I stayed for a while longer and got back later to the Conrad for a coffee before the lounge closed.
Saw the full moon rise and then later the full total lunar eclipse when the moon turned red ( saw it even outside the Conrad)
They had therapy horses for children, a number of bars and restaurants and lots of horse related toys ( got a couple for my sister for christmas)
Not sure it was that well covered in the main tourist guidebooks/websites as it seemed like i was the only non japanese there but direction signs were bilingual
Had a light snack ( including Churros)
Here are some photos ( some were a bit diificult with so many light sources affecting the photos ( esp the water fountain show and music)

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From the grandstand across the racecourse just after sunset


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The waterfountain show ( every 20mins) with music


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Tree with a carriage ( you can sit in it). it had a regular light show with mist
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The tree facing towards the centre track

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Cupshape illuminations
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Tunnel under the racetrack with coloured steps at the end. The tunnel lights changed so it seemed like a wave. The tunnel at the other end ( taking you back to the grandstand) was a replica japanese bar street with several windows with shilouettes of people eating and drinking ( with chatter being broadcast)


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Replica of a field

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Different colours. They had a replica stream and waterfall also
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Bridge with a water wheel


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The colours moved towards you like a river- excellent. Grandstand in the distance

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A long tunnel with lights shaped like sakura
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The outside of the tunnel ( a few people in the tunnel so a bit difficult to take an empty photo ) . spectacular

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The horse theme
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The carriage under the tree ( shown earlier)
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More fields ( but with lanterns this time )-flash used


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The sakura tunnel from the outside with changed colours to pink/orange


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The path round a bar with the waterfall in the distance
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The entrance to the event. Ticket machines to the left with the entrance gates straight ahead

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A poor photograph taken on the outside walkway beside the Conrad Tokyo. The red dot in the middle is the full lunar eclipse. Magnificent. Quite a few people in the area were looking up also

Overall an excellent experience. Will be back in Tokyo in early December and might go back for another visit

Regards

Tbs

[MENTION=124548]tbs[/MENTION],

Glad that you located the missing flash card! Great images!

I was in Tokyo around that time as well. I was not aware of this venue at all! I would have enjoyed it very much!

Very nice. I stayed near there at The B Nagoya 2 weeks ago for the F1 race. Seeing your photo makes me wish a) I had spent some more time in Nagoya and b) that I wasn’t so beat at the end of each day of the race weekend that I was able to explore more.

Here's what you missed in not-boring Nagoya:
https://www.nagoyaisnotboring.com/