Mid December we decided to take a trip up to Fukuoka for the weekend, using the train and testing our chops at navigating one of Japan's most heavily utilized modes of transit. Knowing Aria would be especially happy to ride the train, we picked a weekend, woke up early, and headed out.
While it may be the biggest station in our fair city, Sasebo train station is still relatively small. So getting through there wasn't difficult. We made our requisite stop at Trandor, a bakery inside the station, and purchased many tasty goodies to be consumed as breakfast on the train. With that, we found the unreserved train cars, found some seats, and settled in.
It took about 2 hours to reach Hakata Eki (Hakata Station), and once we did, we were surrounded by the sights, smells, and sounds more readily associated with a major Japanese train station. Countless people bustling about, the dull roar of a crowd all politely trying to navigate past one another. And the smell of bakeries and noodle shops and tonkatsu stands and fish houses all co-mingled inside this massive building. Myriad shops and stands lined up beside the few major department stores that served as large guiding posts in the lab mouses' labyrinth that is a train station when you can't read the signs. We few lost Americans uttering in a thin echo across the stores:
"We passed this cake shop twice already!"
"No we didn't! That was the other cake shop. This one is next to the place that sells cookies shaped like little chicks."
"Well that doesn't help us any."
"Wait, look for the place selling the fish roe."
"The big one or the small one?"
"The one with the yellow roe, not the pink and red roe."
"Stop eyeing the sushi we need to focus."
"Wait I want to just take a look at this mochi kiosk here."
"No, I found the yellow fish roe! Let's go before we get lost again!"
As stressful as it can be, it's also a heck of a lot of fun. :) The discoveries one can make and the tasty things one can try make the utter confusion well worth it.
Finally meandering our way out of the train station, we headed to Canal City Mall. We had heard great things about this allegedly huge shopping complex, and sure enough it didn't disappoint. We found a huge and elaborate H&M there, along with innumerable boutiques and restaurants, including this little Engrish-labeled gem.
We ended up indulging in a tasty pizza-based buffet at Shakey's, a chain that started in the states.
Our kiddo was exhausted, as were we, so we caught a cab and headed to our hotel. In the lobby we ran into our neighbors two doors down!! Quite the pleasant surprise.
Once we got settled in for a little while on the single bed we discovered in our tiny room, we all took a nap. Hubby and I more than Aria, I think. After waking up we headed out to find dinner, which turned out to be no easy task. We trekked about outside for a while finding countless restaurants which were all full or reservation only. So we finally ended up at.... um... hang on...oh yeah! A noodle shop in the basement of the train station. I now remember the argument that ensued over picking a place, and the nearly intolerable tantrum Aria threw while we were there. Humiliating and completely draining. The noodles were yummy though.
Our stomachs sated, we headed outside the station to see the beautiful lights they had up for the holidays. Take a look.
Once again Aria was a big hit with the people who were SUPPOSED to be taking pictures of the light displays. She walked into one lady's shot, and though we tried to scold her, the lady begged us to let her pose with Aria instead. This girl is being made far too aware of just how cute she is.
The lateness of the hour and the frigidness of the air finally convinced us that bedtime was calling. So after a short stop at Family Mart (a "combini" or convenience store chain here) we got to our hotel and back in proper bed sharing position.
The rest of the night was spent by Hubby and I being kicked ferociously and repeatedly by the tiny (but ever so strong), sprawling creature in the center of the bed.
Morning brought a Japanese breakfast buffet that was light and healthy and delicious; rich with grilled fish, miso soup, rice, vegetables, and lowfat yogurt with fruit.
We decided thereafter to go back to Canal City, before we caught the late afternoon train. While walking to Hakata Eki where the taxis were, we found ourselves in a sudden, but relatively short, moment of snowy fun. Five minutes of snow was just enough to bring out our happy inner children, without dragging out the grumpy, cold, pragmatic adults that would have followed 20 minutes later if the snowfall continued.
After another full day of exploring and people watching, we got back on the train home to Sasebo. We managed to maneuver properly when told by the conductor we'd have to switch train cars before a certain stop, so as to avoid being left behind when the train was split into two segments heading two different directions. Traveling WIN!
