Kyushu / 九州, Japan (09/29/2017 - 10/02/2017)

This was my first time visiting Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island. It was just a quick trip to get a taste (literally) of the land where the Mongols failed to invade and the Europeans had forced Japan to trade. It was also the land of Japanese fusion cuisine - with hakata buns, tempura. champon, and saraudon.

Our first stop was Fukuoka (and admittedly I had Juan Luis Guerra's tribute playing on loop in my head), to see a friend, eat some fantastic and ramen. Next, a night in Ureshino at a relaxing ryokan. Lastly, 2 days in Nagasaki, to enjoy the 'culinary capital', as well to solemnly observe and reflect on the site of the second nuclear bomb dropped on Japan.

The visit was too short.

Fukuoka / 福岡

Ureshino / 嬉野

Nagasaki / 長崎