Kyushu's largest city still evokes memories of Japan's early exchanges with neighboring nations Map of the Kyushu region Facing the Genkainada Sea and sitting in the middle of the semicircular Fukuoka Plain, Fukuoka is Kyushu's foremost city - the core of its political, economic and cultural activities. In the old days it was divided into two sections by the Nakagawa River: the east area called "Hakata" was a town inhabited by Hakata merchants while the west, "Fukuoka," served as a castle town for the feudal Kuroda family. In 1889, the areas were merged and Fukuoka City was born. The name Hakata still remains however, as the name of Fukuoka's main train station. The city fans out from Hakata station in a westward direction and Nakasu, between the Nakagawa and Hakatagawa Rivers, becomes a neon illuminated entertainment district at night. The business district on the opposite side of the Nakagawa River, the area also called Fukuoka, is lined with office buildings and restaurants and slightly further west lie the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. The moat of the castle has long since been redeveloped into a park named Ohori Park. In the past, the port city of Hakata served as one of the nation's few gateways for foreign culture because of its proximity to China and the Korean Peninsula. Further into the past, Yayoi period inhabitants flourished in and around the area - a fact evidenced by numerous historical remains and cultural relics being discovered. Today though Fukuoka is the home of skyscrapers, a "Seaside Area" facing Hakata Bay represents the city's most modern of districts with its artificial beach stretching along the coastline as contemporary office complexes that have appeared along the Hakatagawa River will transform the city's landscape in their own right for at least the next decade.

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Shoro-nagashi - Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture - August 15th (Fri), 2008 The entertaining and bustling Shoro-nagashi is an annual event held in Nagasaki on August 15th. Families with deceased loved ones handcraft a boat to use in memorial services for the spirit of the dead and they parade their boats through the town before launching them into the sea. The purpose of this launching is the same as in Toro-nagashi events held in other areas of Japan and like other locales too, the size of the boats ranges from petite to somewhat rather larger.The sound of bells announces boats departing and firecrackers are set off at many places around the town early in the evening as Nagasaki City is filled with a strange atmosphere with the sound of numerous crackers. Boats are carried through the streets to Ohato, accompanied by ring bells and the shout of "Do-i, do-i." http://www.at-nagasaki.jp/foreign/english/

Summer Night Cruise Sakurajima - Kinko Bay, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture - July 19th (Sat)-August 31st (Sun), 2008 This sightseeing cruise has become a signature summer event at Kinko Bay, departing at 7pm for two-hour bay cruises every night. Viewing the tremendous fireworks display on the bayside, visitors can refresh their body and soul in the cool sea breeze. Various events and an on-the-sea beer garden are also enjoyable factors. http://www.sakurajima-ferry.jp/ (Japanese version only)

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