Makeshift Thanksgiving

First Thanksgiving in Japan.

This year's Thanksgiving dinner was held in my jutaku, and featured Asian and American dishes. Kim is from Taiwan and cooked up some delicious Taiwanese sausage. Turkey was no where to be found in Fukuoka so we bought chicken from Mitsukoshi, how fancy schmancy! We also made an excellent salad. Dinner was a success, but it's hard to beat a huge feast cooked with family.

Fukuoka Tower

I really lucked out by getting placed in Nishijin. Not only is it on the subway line, but it also houses a Fukuoka landmark, the Fukuoka Tower. The tower is located a fifteen minute bike ride away from my apartment, right next to Momochi Beach. It's also right next to a famous soft-cream/crepe shop. At the top of tower, you can get a 360 degree panoramic view of the city. The tower itself is pretty old and doesn't have much inside but if you're in the area, it's definitely a stop to make. The views will make up for it's lack of interesting details inside. From the top, you get a great view of Hakata Bay, all the way out to Uminonakamichi, and you can also spot the Ferris Wheel at the Evergreen Marinoa (Kyushu's largest outlet mall). Plus it only costs a mere ￥800 yen to go to the top!

View from the top.

Saga International Balloon Fiesta

Thanks to all of the advertisements on the subways and trains, I learned about the International Balloon Fiesta. It's located in Saga, where, from Nishijin, you must take a subway, a train, then a very very local train to get to the site. The fiesta doesn't stay in one place for too long, so if you're planning to go, make sure to plan in advance. This year it only lasted from Oct. 30-Nov. 3. The day I chose to go on was extremely sunny, which is perfect weather for picture taking. Unfortunately, everyone else thought it was perfect weather too, so the site was packed!

The balloons vary in sizes and colors. Some are just for decoration and entertainment, while others are used as advertisements. Locals are not allowed to ride in the balloons, but if you're lucky, the balloon operaters will let you climb up on one for a quick pic (I'm sure it helps if you have a small child with you). There are several dozen food and omiyage booths set up. Choose wisely, because more than likely, your train ride back will be cramped.