Happy 2022☆

I wish you the happy and fruitful new year!

How are you doing, dear readers? I hope you have enjoyed new year holidays even though we are still in the pandemic.

In the late December, I visited Karatsu City, a castle town in Saga Prefecture. Since Omicron cases have already found in Japan, I thought a short trip within the prefecture would be the safest.

This time I went to Karatsu by bus which took more than two hours. Going by train or car is faster but I wanted to do something different for a change. It was not that bad because I enjoyed scenery as the bus went through local towns and mountains. The bus ride gave me a chance to see the familiar places from a different angle.

Here are some pictures I took in Karatsu. 

Karatsu Shrine

A wooden plaque, ema, to write down a wish offered to God

Wishes on the plate: good luck and safety of a family. 

Karatsu Castle over a wisteria trellis

View from the castle

Inside the castle: photo spot

Authentic Japanese cuisine at Matsunoi Ryokan, Japanese Inn

Appetizer: fried egg with sea urchin, boiled shrimp, roast duck, mashed potato sushi etc.

It was raining when I visited Karatsu Castle but the view from the top was really impressive. Actually, it was so high that I got very scared to go around the outdoor observatory. 

I stayed at a Japanese inn, Matsunoi,  where I enjoyed authentic Japanese cuisine including squid sashimi and tempura, a local specialty in Karatsu. I forgot to take picutures of it as I enjoyed the meal a lot. I hope you also will find beauty in your area:) 

Let's make 2022 a good year!