Hakata in the Rain

And so begins the most wonderful, awful, interesting, horrible cold wet day we have had so far.  We met Moka, our guide for the day at the Hakata train station.  So nice to have someone take us directly from spot to spot instead of our usual wandering through all sorts of streets before we find the one we want.  Our first stop is the Jotenji Temple.  The chrysanthemums are a sign of royalty.  Only royalty can go through this door.

These stones celebrate the origins of the Udon noodle, Soba noodle and Yokan - sweet bean jelly.  The monk for whom this temple is in honor traveled to China to learn how to make these things to teach the Japanese people the skill.  Note the wall behind the stones.  It has 5 tiers which signifies that this is one of the highest ranking temples in Japan.  Below is the attached garden.

Next stop is at a workshop for Hakata Ori Textiles.  We met the weaver and watched her working.

On to the Kushida Shrine.  H took a video of me going through the purifying ritual.  We also purchased our fortunes.  If you don't like what you get you tie the paper to a line and the deity in the temple/shrine is suppose to protect you from the bad fortune.  It was amazing how our fortunes
were right on point about our nature and what to watch out for so we kept them.

There was a young, beautiful, very happy looking bride having her photo's taken.  I got a shot in before the official photographer shooed us away.  The Tsunokakushi is a traditional cloth worn to cover the brides topknot to cover her jealousy, ego and selfishness.  It shows she will be a gentle and obedient wife.

Then on to lunch.  If you look carefully way at the back of the vegetable store you will see an opening into the local restaurant.  Food is cooked by a family as if they were cooking in their own home.

After lunch we took the subway to another area of Hakata.  Here we wandered through the Korokan Ruins and the ruins of the Fukuoka Castle.  It was raining heavily by now - so not any good pictures.  Our next stop was to be Ohori Park - we stopped first at the restaurant at the park to get out of the wet.  Our jeans are soaked by now.  The wind keeps blowing our umbrellas inside out - but they haven't broken yet!  We warm up with coffee and hot chocolate and talk about our lives.  Moka has children in their late 20's and wants grandchildren.  She is jealous of our 8.  We discuss what to do next as the sun keeps trying to pop out.  We decide to continue through the park - which is a series of small islands and bridges across a small lake.

The last stop is suppose to be at a shopping street - we opt out of that to go to a Japanese garden.

And receive our reward for sticking to the tour through the cold and rain.  We head for our apartment to warmth and dry clothes.