Arita Uchiyama District
In early 17th century, Sanpei Ri and other potters found porcelain stones, and Arita succeeded in porcelain production for the first time in Japan. As the pottery industry grew, a town sprang up which is Uchiyama District.
If you love Japanese porcelain, this is the perfect place to explore and find some real treasures!
Mifuneyama Rakuen
Mifuneyama is the symbol of Takeo Town. With its cliff in the background, Nabeshima Domain’s 28th Takeo lord, Nabeshima Shigeyoshi spent three years building a garden. This garden with a path encircling a big pond was completed in 1845. It can contain 10 Tokyo domes, boasting a vast 123-acre ground.
If you're into flowers and plants, this place feels like a dreamland!
Takeo Hot Spring
The hot spring with a history of 1300 years, this name was found in “the Hizen-Koku Fudoki (an ancient report on the Hizen area’s culture)” compiled in the Nara period.
Takeo Hot Spring has a lot of historical significance. Learning about its past before soaking in the baths gives you a whole new perspective!
Kotohiragu Shrine
The head shrine of Kotohira Shrine stands on Mt. Zozu. It is visited by about 4 million worshippers a year. The main deity, Oomononushinokami, has been known since before the Middle Ages as a guardian deity of maritime traffic and a deity that brings a bountiful harvest and prosperity of industry and culture.
My knees hurt for days after visiting! 😂
Chikugo River Lift Bridge
This bridge goes over Chikugo River, connects Saga City in Saga Prefecture and Morodomi Town Ookawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture. This bridge is also a national culturally significant heritage and is a machine heritage.
I drove past the bridge but didn't get to see it open.
Niji no Matsubara
Along the Karatsu Bay, a pine grove stretches in the shape of a rainbow. This national special scenic spot started when Karatsu Domain’s first lord, Terazawa Hirotaka began planting as a protection against wind and tide in the early 17th century. Roughly 1 million pine trees form a 4.5km-long and 500m-wide grove. It is one of the three most scenic pine groves in Japan along with Miho and Kii’s pine groves.
The scenery is absolutely stunning, and there were hardly any tourists around.
Warayakiya Roppongi
Serving dishes using plenty of unique ingredients local to Tosa (Kochi Prefecture). In addition to table seats and regular seating, for smaller numbers, counter seats are available and highly recommended.
You can really taste the best flavor of bonito when it's seared like this.
Agano River line boat ride
The valley beauty of Okuaga is one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan. Spring brings fresh green foliage, summer is covered with deep green, autumn is colored with autumn leaves, and winter is like an ink painting with snow falling on the mountains." The Agano River line boat ride" is the best way to enjoy the spectacular scenery in each of the four seasons.
The whole boat ride takes 60 minutes. The natural scenery along the riverbanks in autumn is really beautiful.