Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

 With just the day to explore our port stop in 2015,  spent most of the day visiting the Haedong Yonggung Temple. 

📷: INSTAX MINI 25

A visit to Chiang Mai wouldn't be complete without visiting the numerous temples in the city. Among the must see are Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, and the Wat Phratat Doi Suthep. I took instax photos with monochrome film in the temples as contrast to it's bright colors. For more on these temples at Exploring the temples in Chiang Mai & Wat Phra Doi Suthep.

📷: Instax Mini 90  

Our visit to Tokyo was too early for Sakura season, but we were lucky to find a cherry blossom tree in full bloom just a few blocks from our hotel in 2016. Just an hour before closing, we visited Shinjuku Gyoen and was able to enjoy the view with very few people. 

📷: INSTAX MINI 25

More on places to visit to see spring flowers HERE

More on my visit in 2018 to the admire the sakura blooms in Kawazu here. 

 A beautiful 15 hectare nature park, Nokonoshima Island is a good place to visit to enjoy flowers. There are different flowers in bloom year round. Depending on the season you visit you can enjoy a variety of flora. On my visit in fall, I saw beautiful fields of cosmos, marigolds, etc. 

 

Nokonoshima Island park is approximately 15 hectares. It would take about 2-3 hours to explore. The areas are not flat and would require some inclined climbs. I would suggest going left once you enter as that area is smaller flower field compared to the left side. You can see different fields of flowers in bloom depending on the season of your visit. I visited in the fall and the fields were full of cosmos flowers. Take a leisurely stroll as you admire the flora. Make sure not only enter the pathways and not damage the plants. 

  

oxalis

If visiting in spring during the cherry blossom season. Straight from the entrance towards the water to reach the cherry blossom hill. 

There are also many activities you can go while enjoying the park such as visiting the various animals, riding the many swings throughout the park, or try rope skiing (grass sledding) 

  

 

SPRING FLOWERS: Cherry Blossom, rapeseed, Livingstone daisy, poppy, rhondodendron, marigold. 

SUMMER FLOWERS: Hydrangeas, plumed cockscomb; dahlia, sunflower, cockspur coral tree, bougainvillea, scarlet sage; 

AUTUMN: cosmos; dahlia, cockspur coral tree, scarlet sage , oxalis  

WINTER: Japanese narcissus; camelia sasanqua; japanese camelia; plum; oxalis

You can also rent these if you don’t want to walk.

Before heading back you can stop at the gift shop before exiting the park premises or while waiting for the bus back to the ferry port. You can also grab a bite or shop at the shops beside the port. Usually the bus schedule fits the ferry schedule and you’ll have just a few minutes before the ferry departs. You can of course opt to take a later one if you’d like to explore more the island. 

  

  

The easiest way to reach the ferry terminal from the city center is to take the bus to Meinohama Ferry Passenger Terminal. From JR Hakata Station, you can take Bus 301, 300 or 302 to NOKO DOSENBA. The bus stop is across the terminal and you can use your IC card (SUICA etc) or pay the exact amount. Make sure to tap your card to the reader once you get on or get a number.  It takes about 42 mins from Hakata Station. 

 

Bus stop at Meinohama Port

The best to take the bus. Note schedule. Bus stop is just across the ferry terminal.you can pay with your IC card or pay exact amount. Make sure to tap your card or get a number when u alight. You can check the timetable http://jik.nishitetsu.jp/menu?lang=en to see which one fits your schedule and matches the ferry schedule you want to take. 

   

Ferry ticket

It takes about 10 mins for the ferry and it starts boarding 10 mins before the departure time. One way ferry tickets are ¥230 (adult) & ¥120 (child). I’d suggest getting a round trip ticket  ¥460 adult /  ¥240 child to save you time on your return. The ferry also carries vehicles. The passenger area is on the sides of the ferry. 

Ferry starts boarding 10 mins before the departure time For ferry schedule.  

The bus to the Island park is across the street once you get off the ferry. Bus timetable is available HERE. Bus fare for one way is ¥240 (adult) and ¥120 (child). You may use your IC card on the bus. 

View of Nokonoshima Island from the ferry

Bus stop across the street. It’s the stop where the people are standing in the photo.

Nokonoshima Island Park

Website:  http://nokonoshima.com/

Nearest Train Station: Meinohama Station (then take 15 min bus to Noko Tosenba Bus Stop) 

Hours of Operation: 9am – 5:30pm (6:30pm on Sundays and National Holidays)

Entrance Fee: ¥1200 highschool and older; ¥600 children elementary & junior high school; ¥400 3 years old and above