Moopon

Fukuoka Airport is Japan's most easily accessible airport. The subway line is connected to the airport and provides 11 minutes access to the airport from Tenjin and 5 minutes from Hakata station.

The domestic terminal is spread out over three long buildings while international terminal is located in a separate building across the runway and is connected to the domestic terminal by a free shuttle bus.

Hakata Station (博多駅) is a major railway station in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. It is the largest and busiest station in Kyushu. It is also a gateway to other cities in Kyushu for tourists from Honshu.

How to get to Hakata Station by subway
As following the instructions above to the subway, visitor will find Fukuoka Kuko station. Hakata Station is just two subway stops from there (5 minutes, 260 yen one way).

International Passengers
Firstly, board the Free Shuttle Bus to the Domestic Terminal.

 

Kazura Bridge is the type of "bridges" that consists of a wooden cart suspend on a rope over the river, and were used to transport goods and people.
13 suspension bridges made of mountain vines, called kazurabashi, used to be found throughout the Iya Valley and provided a essential means of getting people and goods across the river in olden days.
Two of the surviving bridges still stand side by side deep in the ravine.
They are known as the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi or myoto-bashi(couples bridges).

The larger of the two bridges, Otto no Hashi (meaning:Husband Bridge), stretches 44 meters across the river next to a small waterfall, while the slightly lower Tsuma no Hashi (meaning: Wife Bridge) is a 22 meter span just a little ways upstream.
The bridges are constructed with steel cables covered within the vines for safety.
They are rebuilt every three years. The bridges are connected to each other by a network of paved hiking trails that also lead to camping facilities on the opposite side of the river.

Another popular attraction is a Yaen Bridge (meaning: Wild Monkey) placed next to the Wife Bridge.
It a human-power ropeway. Visitors can try out the wild monkey bridge and pull themselves across the river.

Access infomation
A rental car is recommended to visit the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi Bridges.

1. Nijukazurabashi bus stop.( The nearest bus stop to around the area)
*From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for 
Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi. Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen. There are only 4 buses a day. Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.

Schedule & Cost
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Closed: December to March
Admission: 550 yen
The level of English: Good

The Iya Valley (Iyakei) is a sheltered and private mountainous valley along the Iya River in western Tokushima Prefecture.
Its steep forested slopes are connected to the outside world by a zigzag,sometimes incredibly narrow mountain road that leads the valley.
Since the Iya valley located secluded regions, it is difficult to access, however, that is what attracts visitor to the area who want to experience a traditional, nature. 

Historically the Iya Valley has been difficult a place to enter, and used as a refuge for members of the defeated Taira or Heike Clan who escaped to the region toward the end of the 12th century after losing the Gempei War (1180 to1185).
Their descendants can still be found around the tiny mountain villages that dispersedly existing.

The Iya Valley is usually divided into two areas.
Nishi Iya (West Iya) located around the entrance to the valley and is slightly more developed and more accessible as there are relatively frequent buses to some of the major attractions.
Oku Iya (Inner Iya, also called Higashi Iya or East Iya) lies further back into the valley so is difficult to reach without a rental car or other means of private transportation. 

This region is famous for Iya soba

Access infomation
A rental car is recommended to visit the area.

1. To Nishi Iya (West Iya)
 *From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi.
Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen.
There are only 4 buses a day.
Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.
2. To Oku Iya (Inner Iya)
Rental car stores are available around Oboke and Awa Ikeda Stations.
A rental car is recommended, particularly for visiting the less traveled Oku Iya area.
Note: The roads are very narrow and have frequent blind curves, which make driving both hazardous and slow.

The Art House Project takes empty houses scattered about residential areas, and turns the spaces themselves into works of art, weaving in the history and memories of the period when the houses were homes. Meetings between visitors to the island and the island's people in places where they go about their daily lives also provide occasions for a variety of interesting encounters.

The art houses are scattered throughout town, and most of them are unassuming from the street, blending into the surrounding traditional Japanese neighborhood. The interior of each, however, has been given over to artists to convert into whatever suits their artistic vision.

Closed: Mondays
Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day.
Open Day Calendar
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Art House project has English information page.

Minamidera 
Architecture by Ando Tadao, Artwork by James Turrell
Minamidera, built on the former site of a temple, is a new structure designed by Ando Tadao, the star architect who also designed the art museums on Naoshima. Inside is James Turrell's "Backside of the Moon", an intriguing art piece that plays with your perception of light.

Kinza 【きんざ】
Designed by Naito Rei
Kinza is a small, 200 year old house that has been converted into an artwork of traditional building design and craftsmanship. Located next door to the Gokaisho, Kinza can only be viewed from Friday to Sunday with advance reservations. Visitors enter Kinza one at a time.

Open:Thursday to Sunday and holidays
Hours:11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Admission:510 yen
Viewing Kinza
Visitors are requested to enter one at a time and finish viewing Kinza within 15 minutes.
A reservation: Required.

The Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館, Chichū Bijutsukan) is a unusual modern art museum built into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima. The museum building, designed by Ando Tadao and itself a work of art, is mostly located underground and solely utilizes natural light to illuminate the artwork. This creates a viewing experience that is deeply influenced by the surrounding natural environment.

The museum has been built around quite a small collection of art. The first gallery shows large murals from Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series. This is followed by a few works by James Turrell, who uses light as a medium. They include the "Open Sky" room from his "Skyspaces" series which has sister exhibits around the world including the 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa. Finally, the deepest part of the Chichu Museum houses the "Time/Timeless/No Time" installation by Walter De Maria.

Tickets are purchased at the museum's ticket center which is located a short walk downhill from the museum entrance. The ticket center has a small cafe and waiting area as only a limited number of visitors are allowed to the museum at one time. There are also coin lockers available since bags and cameras are not allowed in the museum and must be stowed before entering.    
Access info                                                                        
There are one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at the east gate of the Benesse House (15 minutes, 100 yen), from where it is possible to walk (30 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus to the Chichu Art Museum (10 minutes). Or the museum is about a two kilometer bicycle ride (10 minutes) or walk (30-40 minutes) from the Miyanoura ferry terminal.

From the Chichu Art Museum it is just a few minutes on the free shuttle bus to either the Lee Ufan Museum or the Benesse House. It is also possible to walk between the museums (5 and 15 minutes respectively).                                                      

Chichu Art Museum
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October to February) 
Admission ends one hour prior to closing time
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Infrequent irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 2060 yen

Korean contemporary artist Lee Ufan, who minimalist painter and sculptor artist. On display are large installations made of stone, concrete and huge slabs of iron, besides a number of paintings from earlier in his career.

The museum building was designed by the Japanese architect Ando Tadao, who also designed the other museums on the island, namely the nearby Benesse House and Chichu Art Museum. Like his other works on the island, the Lee Ufan Museum building mixes geometrically shaped strengthened concrete with nature and open spaces that accentuate the artwork displayed within.   

Access info
There are one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at the east gate of the Benesse House (20 minutes, 100 yen), where it is possible to walk (20 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus (7 minutes) to the Lee Ufan Museum. Alternatively, the museum is about a 2.5 kilometer bicycle ride (15 minutes) or walk (40-50 minutes) from the ferry terminal.
The Lee Ufan Museum is located in between the Benesse House and the Chichu Art Museum and can be reached from each museum in a five minute walk or two minute free shuttle bus ride.   

Schedule & cost                                  
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through February) 
Admission ends 30 minutes prior to closing time
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Infrequent irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 1030 yen

The 007 Museum is devoted to the James Bond novel "The Man with the Red Tattoo" by Raymond Benson. The story is set partially on Naoshima; however, it was never made into a movie. The purpose of the museum is to bring attention to the novel with the hope that it will eventually be adapted to film.

Exhibits include fan art and scenes from "The Man with the Red Tattoo" and a short movie titled "From Naoshima with Love", which was filmed on Naoshima and close by Takamatsu. In addition, there are posters and paraphernalia from actual Bond movies, especially from the movie "You Only Live Twice", so far the only James Bond movie set in Japan.  
Access info                           
The 007 Museum is a short walk from the Miyanoura Ferry Terminal.      

Schedule &cost       
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: New Year holidays
Admission: Free
English information is available on its Website.

The Ando Museum opened in March 2013 in time for the second Setouchi Triennale in the Honmura town of Naoshima where it joins the buildings of the Art House Project as an additional magnet to contemporary art lovers. The museum is designed by star architect, Ando Tadao, who also designed most other museums on Naoshima.

The Ando Museum seems like a regular, traditional residence from the outside, blending in perfectly into the town's neighborhood. However, the inside of the building combines traditional interior design with Ando's signature use of concrete, creating a rather fascinating atmosphere. Explanatory signs and photographs along the walls document Ando's activities on Naoshima and elsewhere.    

Schedule & cost                                      
Hours: 10:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Admission: 510 yen
                    
Access info
There’re one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal bound for Tsutsujiso that stop at the Nokyo-mae bus stop in Honmura (5 minutes, 100 yen) along the way. Alternatively, it is a 2.5 kilometer bicycle ride (10 minutes) or walk (35-45 minutes) from the Miyanoura Ferry Terminal. Honmura has also its own port with infrequent ferry connections to Uno Port on Honshu.     

Located along the Seto Inland Sea, Sunport Takamatsu is a beautiful, relaxing waterfront promenade that its visitors can enjoy while taking a seaside bicycle ride, tea, or even a business meeting.  

With the opening of the Seto Ohashi Bridge in 1988, Takamatsu Port’s role as the main port of entry into Shikoku changed. Though it still provides ferries to nearby islands such as Shodoshima, Naoshima, Megijima and Ogijima, the utilization of car ferries has drastically declined, requiring a change.  

Thus, Sunport Takamatsu was born. With ANA Hotel Clement, the Symbol Tower and even JR Takamatsu Station in its vicinity, Sunport Takamatsu is a convenient business and shopping center. Symbol Tower is the tallest building in Sunport Takamatsu.  Offices occupy the upper floors with the Maritime Plaza Shopping Center on the lower levels. Visitors can enjoy fine dining here as well.  There are three restaurants in the tower managed by the chefs from the popular television cooking show, Iron Chef.

Access Information:
Sunport Takamatsu is a short walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
It is located across the street from Takamatsu Castle.

The Kankakei Gorge located at the center of Shodoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, is one Japan's three most beautiful gorges. It is said the gorge was formed over a time period of over 2 million years. The rocks in the gorge have been shaped by the wind and rain. A must-visit site for hikers and naturists, the gorge attracts many visitors, especially in autumn with its array of fall colors.  

Visitors visiting Kankakei Gorge can approach the peak via ropeway, car or on foot.  The ropeway provides beautiful views of the gorge as the cable car ascends to the top. From the observation located near the upper ropeway station, visitors are greeted with views of the gorge, Seto Inland Sea, and Shodoshima Island, itself.
Kankakei Ropeway
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (during the fall foliage season, the first ropeway ride begins at 8:00; in the winter, the last ride is at 16:30) 
Departures every 12 minutes
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 750 yen (one way), 1350 yen (round trip) 
A 10 percent discount coupon is available online

There is a road connecting the ropeway stations. With both stations having parking lots, approaching the peak via car is an easy option.  And for more energetic visitors, there are two easy but steep trails leading to the top.

The western trail is about 2 kilometers in length.  The uphill climb takes about an hour and it is 30 to 45 minutes descending. The eastern trail is about 3 kilometers long.  Both trails are through the forest.

Access Information:
Via bus
From Kusakabe Port, there are 4 buses daily to the lower ropeway station. 
The buses operate daily during the spring holidays, Golden Week, summer holidays and foliage season.
The buses operate on the weekends, national holidays from mid March to early December.  
There are no buses during the winter.
The cost is 360 yen (one way) and the journey takes about 15 minutes. 

Via car 
From Kusakabe Port to the lower ropeway station, it is a 15 minute drive.
From Tonsho Port to the upper ropeway station, it is a40 minute drive.
From Obe Port to the upper ropeway station, it is a 20 minute drive.
From Fukuda Port to the upper ropeway station, it is a 30 minute drive.

Nestled on top of Mount Kameyama is Marugame Castle (丸亀城),

located in Marugame city, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku.

 

Completed in 1602 by the feudal lord Ikoma Chikamasa,

Marugame Castle is one of the 12 remaining “original” Japanese Castles.



An original castle is a castle that has survived the post feudal time period (post 1868)

without being damaged or destroyed.


 

Being located in the strategic hilltop location,

Marugame Castle overlooked both the city it governed as well as the Seto Inland Sea.


With trade and enemies utilizing the waterways,

the position of the castle strengthened the city’s control.


 

Just thirteen years after Ikoma Chikamasa built Marugame Castle,

it was dismantled due to a new policy limiting the number of castles per province.



 However, after the province was divided into two in 1660,

the castle was reconstructed.  


In 1869, fire destroyed many of the buildings of the castle.



And through time, other acts of destructions were committed.


As a result, all which remain today are the stone walls, a few buildings, the Ote Ichino Gate (first gate),

the Ote Nino Gate (second gate) and the tenshu (keep).



 The Japanese Government recognizes the original castle buildings as Important Cultural Properties. 


 

Marugame Castle also known as Kameyama Castle is located in Kameyama Park.


Visitors will need to climb upwards on a steep path, circling the hill to arrive at the castle grounds.


In addition to roaming through the grounds and buildings,

visitors may wish to visit the small museum located in the castle’s main keep.



Also, with the castle located atop Mount Kameyama,

visitors making the steep climb are rewarded to spectacular views of both Marugame city and Seto Inland Sea.


 

Being a popular tourist spot, visitors to Marugame City often visit these grounds.



However, particularly in the spring, the castle is crowded due to the 1000 cherry blossom

trees planted around castle’s stone walls and near the main keep.  



Cherry blossoms bloom from late March to early April in this area.  

During the first two weeks, there is an annual cherry blossom festival held here.

 

Marugame Castle Keep

Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00) 

Closed: December 25 to 31

Admission: 200 yen

 

Access Information:

From Marugame Station, 15 minutes on footOrFrom Marugame Station,

board the bus.


Disembark at Marugamejo-mae (丸亀城前) bus stop.


 The bus stop is located right in front of the castle.


The journey takes about 5 minutes and the fare is 200 yen.


There are many buses every hour.