Visit to Fukuoka

 Hi, this is Zhao Han, a Ph.D. student in the Kawasaki Lab. Here I would like to share the wonderful experience I had visiting Fukuoka.

I was filled with excitement and anticipation as I boarded the departing plane, and with the low roar of the engine, I didn't get a wink of sleep the whole time, looking forward to arriving in time. Fukuoka Prefecture is located in the northern part of Kyushu Island and is the most populous and developed prefecture on the island, known as the "Gateway to Kyushu". Fukuoka is a gourmet destination, with sushi, seafood, chicken skewers, and beef hot pot, some of which we can enjoy at roadside stalls.

Isogawa-san recommended the most famous local ramen —"Shin Shin Ramen“—to us, and we queued up for it without thinking twice. This ramen is really good, made from pork bone broth and thin noodles, rich in bone glue, and refreshing. 

We spent the rest of the day in various meetings and conferences and had no time to go around the city. It was only on our last day that we had time to explore the surrounding area, arranged by Prof. Kawasaki.  Our first stop was Yanagawa, where the first impression I got was that I might have come to a fake Japan. What's with the whitewashed buildings, the willow trees draped over the sides, and the wooden boats drifting down the river? But it really is a Japanese city. Yanagawa reminds me of Venice, it would be a waste not to go boating here.

The second place we visited was Araohigata Waterfowl and Wetland Center, a wetland park run by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to protect the environment for birds.  The locals enthusiastically introduced us to clams, seaweed, migratory birds, shellfish, sandworms, and a host of other creatures.

 Finally, we visited the Miike Mine Manda Pit, located in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture. The Manda Pit is listed as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Industrial Revolution Heritage of Meiji Japan", and it was a great experience to walk around the area with a retro feel.

It was a wonderful experience and I hope to return to this city again！