Preface#
This article is a record and reflection on life from 2025-05-31 to 2025-06-09.
After the wedding in February, due to work arrangements and various trivial matters, I had not found the time to plan what one might call a honeymoon trip, until after May Day when I decided to go to Japan for a "honey week," how delightful!
Japan Honeymoon Trip#
In fact, due to watching anime and playing Nintendo since childhood, I have always held many filters regarding Japan. The younger me, who longed for those anime sacred places, never imagined that one day I would step onto this land with the mindset of a "honeymoon trip," a wonderfully intertwined life experience.
This trip was divided into two parts. The first part was a "special forces" trip with a senior and two friends around Kyushu, with the main route being: landing in Fukuoka -> Kurokawa Onsen -> Kumano Shrine (Firefly Forest) -> Aso Volcano -> Kumamoto -> Takachiho -> Yufuin -> Beppu Hell Hot Springs -> Dazaifu -> Fukuoka.
The second part was just the senior and I flying from Fukuoka to Tokyo, staying near Nishiki-cho, and casually wandering around Akihabara, Ueno, Shibuya, etc., which was a relatively relaxed itinerary.
This article contains many images. If reading on RSS platforms like Folo, you can visit the blog's source website or Yu's Photography to see more pictures.
Fukuoka#
The first stop in Fukuoka was mainly because the senior's friends had already covered many areas of Japan, unlocking a new map, and for us, it was also a new experience. So before arriving, I hadn't really checked any travel guides for Fukuoka.
After landing and sitting in the taxi to the hotel, my first impression was that it was clean and orderly, not the kind of deliberately managed urban landscape, but rather the daily life of a small town. The taxi driver was probably in his sixties or seventies, full of spirit, and helped us with our luggage, giving a sense of "vitality."
Kurokawa Onsen#
The senior is a hot spring enthusiast. We occasionally relax in private hot spring accommodations in Nanjing or Beijing, and Kurokawa Onsen as the first stop relieved the fatigue from the journey. After soaking for about half an hour, I felt completely refreshed.
Kumano Shrine#
Perhaps due to its frequent appearance in anime, shrines are a scene I really like. Kumano Shrine is the prototype from the anime "Firefly Forest." It's not large, and it only takes about ten minutes to climb to the top, but you can indeed feel a sense of "calm."
Aso Volcano#
Initially, I wasn't too interested in the name Aso Volcano, and it often doesn't open due to weather conditions. With a try-it-out attitude, we arrived at the foot of the mountain and were lucky enough to catch it open. Seeing the volcano in person was even more shocking than I had imagined, like a divine hot spring.
Kumamoto#
The entire city of Kumamoto can be described as a "Kumamon" themed city, with Kumamon everywhere. There is a performance every day aimed at children, but you can truly feel pure joy.
Takachiho + Yufuin#
This day leaned towards natural scenery, but the weather was a bit poor, and it was easy to get lost, so we ultimately didn't go to Takachiho Shrine. We only looked at the canyon and waterfall, spending a lot of time in the car.
Yufuin is also a somewhat commercialized walking street town, but it still has its charm, with many interesting little shops, such as themed houses featuring cats or dogs, where even the background music is composed of their sounds.
Beppu Onsen#
That night, we stayed at a hot spring hotel in Beppu, with a room featuring traditional tatami mats and provided with yukata. The room also had a private hot spring, and the view outside was of the sea, a very traditional yet pleasant experience.
Dazaifu#
Dazaifu Tenmangu is a shrine for academic success, with many plaques inside wishing for admission to the University of Tokyo, reflecting the common worries of East Asians. Coincidentally, my sister is taking her high school entrance exam this year (by the time this is published, she will have already taken it), so I wrote a plaque for her and prayed for an academic amulet, hoping everything goes smoothly.
Tokyo#
Arrived in Tokyo!
Akihabara#
Akihabara can be said to be a paradise for anime/digital enthusiasts, and since I am both, I visited some second-hand stores. I initially wanted to buy an old New Nintendo 3DS LL, but found it too expensive and gave up.
I also wandered around the quirky Little Green Building and Little Orange Building, and even encountered many people queuing for several layers to attend a meeting with an AV actress, a very fascinating experience.
Yoyogi Park#
On the afternoon of the day I went to Shibuya, I wanted to check in at Yoyogi Park, a scene from "Tokyo Love Story," but there happened to be a market occupying the area, so I wandered around instead.
I discovered it was related to LGBTQ+ Tokyo Pride 2025, with various companies and organizations showing their support in their own ways. I happened to capture this touching moment in the Yamaha tent.
Nishiki Park#
On the day I was leaving Tokyo, after checking out and storing my luggage, I sat in Nishiki Park near the hotel while the senior sketched, and I daydreamed.
I felt that whether at home or abroad, people in the city always have a faint sense of "death," while this park seemed to slow down the pace, with people coming and going, living vibrantly, vividly, and authentically.
When I came back to my senses, it felt as if I were one of them, and after resting, I would return to some building to cook, and I even had a fleeting thought that living here might not be so bad.
Others#
I had my first experience of getting a "Japanese-style" haircut in Japan.
Conclusion#
This trip to Japan lasted ten days, and it was rare that I hardly touched a computer, allowing me to enjoy this journey with peace of mind.
What I gained was not only relaxation of my mood but also memories and warmth from these places. Even now, two or three weeks after returning to Hangzhou, I can still feel the ongoing discovery and appreciation of beauty in life.