We spent a few days in Fukuoka, Japan because it is situated close to South Korea and our next move is to head there via a 6-hour ferry ride! We noticed due to its close proximity to the the rest of East Asia, Fukuoka is a convenient pitstop for Koreans and Chinese to indulge in Japanese retail therapy without having to fly all the way to Tokyo. We dined on a few Fukuoka specialty dishes and found the city to be very walkable with a variety of sites in the old town, shrines, temples, parks, and art.

This time, we had more discretionary days in Japan so we headed somewhere new-to-us. Kyushu is the southwestern island / region of Japan, comprised of seven prefectures. Our destination was Fukuoka so we could take the ferry across the sea to Busan, South Korea. We added Nagasaki as a side trip. Nagasaki was delightful! Find out more about our 2-day 3-Night highlights!

In the middle of one of the biggest and densest cities in the world, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden rests in quietude, beckoning those of us weary from the overstimulation of neon lights, skyscrapers, endless shopping, and crowds. The national garden was even more peaceful first thing in the mid-winter morning. All the vegetation seemed to be resting dormant except for a few resilient roses blooming and a cherry tree blossoming its regal canopy of pink flowers. The NTT Docomo Tower looms on the horizon in almost every shot.