A break

On the little train

So on Wednesday we headed South to Kyushu for a little break (it's hard work this being on holiday for so long!). We got the white train to Hiroshima and then the Sakura to Hakata on Kyushu (the southernmost of the 4 main islands of Japan). This took 2 hours, not bad for a journey of 510 Kms. Tom was feeling the effects of his late night on Tuesday as he fell asleep on me on the way down for an hour. Great timing, meant it was a very easy journey and he was in good spirits when we arrived in Hakata.

Good pedaling

First thing on the agenda was to find some shops - still on the hunt for clothes for Tom. Hakata being a big station (a mini city) it had a department store above it. Once we had found our bearings we set off for it - managed to get free use of a buggy for Tom, meaning he could be lazy and we didn't have to worry about him pulling things of shelves, running amok etc. we had a quick look round a couple of floors and then felt our tummies growling so went up to the restaurant floor on the search for Tonkotsu Ramen (the local speciality for Fukuoka - the city we were in), one of Matt's favourite foodstuffs. Bingo, we found a place serving it, so we sat down to a steaming bowl of it each - not the best thing to eat on a very hot day - as if we weren't sweating enough already! Despite that, all 3 of us enjoyed our lunch.

Minnie Mouse Ears on The Sonic

After lunch we carried on up the building to the roof garden which once again was very child friendly. Up here was a little train taking children for rides round a circuit, and 2 decking areas with trikes and cars for little ones to play on. Fab, Tom had his fill of everything. Once he was done we carried on looking in the department store - found a shop selling Studio Ghibli stuff much cheaper than the store in Kobe. We couldn't resist and a couple items were bought. Still no Shinkansen goodies or clothes for Tom though.

The beach

Next we set off to Mitoma for the main purpose of our trip, to visit a translator friend of Matt's. It took us 3 trains to get there, including a ride on a rather plush train called The Sonic, which had headrests that looked like Minnie Mouse, wooden floors and airline style overhead baggage lockers - very nice, a shame that we were only on it for 7 minutes. Joel, Matt's friend, came to meet us off the train and took us to his house - yes house - he lives in a detached house. Believe me, this is quite rare in Japan. He showed us to our room - a 10 mat tatami room - it was huge and even once we laid our futons down, there was plenty of space. Tom made himself at home immediately. Joel has two children: Hannah 5 and Leo 3 and the house had many toys scattered around, perfect for a toy-starved 3 year old.

Playing in the sand

Running from the sea

At 4pm, Hannah and Leo returned home from nursery (children don't start school until 6 here) - Joel suggested we all go down to the beach (Mayu - his wife was in the middle of a translation project and needed peace and quiet). We walked down to the beach - WOW, it was beautiful - fine yellow sandy beach and warm sea. The sea had quite a strong undercurrent in it - it is popular with surfers - Joel being one of them. Immediately behind the beach is a pine forest. It was heaven on earth. We had Tom's swimmers with us, but true to form he didn't like the sea and wouldn't go near it. Leo, however loved it and spent ages in there playing with Joel in the waves. Hannah also played in the sea, but Tom was having none of it. He was however content to play with the sand, so that was a blessing. We went for a walk along the beach which was fab, and then a quick play in a park. What a place to live.

Joel and Leo playing in the sea

Tom almost in the sea...

We went back to the house, had showers etc and then headed out to an Izakya (Japanese pub) just round the corner from their house which is child-friendly and had a great meal: salad, chips, roasted peppers, onigiri (rice balls), pork and leek on sticks, ebi and a mini BBQ where we cooked chicken, tongue and beef. All very nice of course. Then back home, the children went to bed (it was about 8.30!)

Banking

We then sat and chatted with some beers (when I say we, I mean Matt and Joel. Both of them let the alcohol chat non-stop, I know it is impossible to get a word in when Matt's had a couple so don't even try!) Joel and his family relocated here last year. They were living in east Tokyo but were worried about radiation coming from Fukushima. They went to the UK for 5 months during which time Joel studied Google maps and decided on Mitoma to live. He wanted to live as far from Fukushima as possible, and as near to the sea as he could. I would say he hit the jackpot. He said it was a risk, they didn't know anything about the place, but it really is lovely, it has a great vibe, both of us felt very comfortable there. Bed came at 11.30.

Dinner

Tom woke up at 5.30 - not good! However, he was a gem in that he didn't actively disturb us. He put his music box on a couple of times, talked to Totoro, sat up, lay down, sat up, lay down etc, but didn't leave his futon and didn't shout. We eventually got up at 7.15 when Hannah and Leo came down. Tom played with them and tried to eat breakfast with them (onigiri, corn on the cob, red beans and savoury egg custard) he did try everything but we didn't push him - neither Matt nor I would happily eat that for breakfast. Hannah and Leo left for nursery at 8.30. Mayu had to make them a bento box each for lunch - what a palava, I wouldn't like to do that - it took her ages - so many little things had to be prepared and cooked. Sandwiches are way easier. I was hoping to get a nice photo of Tom with Hannah and Leo, but it didn't happen - the morning was very rushed. They were lovely kids and are growing up bilingual - both could switch from one to the other language within a blink of an eye and they both spoke English with a faultless English accent.

Sleeping on a futon is harder than you think...

Joel took us out for the morning to show us the area. Tom got Leo's trike to help him along (one which you can push along - I refused to push him thinking it would be good exercise for him, but Joel took pity on him and pushed him. Just as well as we did as we walked quite a distance.)  First stop was a breakwater where people were fishing. We left the bike by a bush and walked through the forest to get there. We then clambered up ladders to get to it. Tom took it all in his stride which was good and a little surprising considering it was quite windy too. 

In the forest

We watched some boats at work and then continued through the forest to a Shinto Shrine where we had a little rest before walking back to where we left the trike (this being Japan, it was still there waiting for us). We then went for a play in a park before going to a restaurant 'Joyfull' for lunch: curry for Tom and ebi fry set lunches for us. All was good except that Tom hurt his thumb on the way in and thumped his head on the table at the end so we had two howling sessions.

Being purified by Daddy

We returned to Joel's had a drink then said our goodbyes and headed back to Hakata Station. We had another look round the department store - Tom had a play in the little soft play area in the toy department and then we got ourselves some bentos ready for the train. Tom was mega tired by now and fell into a deep sleep within minutes of boarding the train. He stayed asleep until we woke him up in Hiroshima, then a quick injection of juice to get him awake and dinner - he ate well. We got back to Aioi around 6.30. Tom pooed in his pants as soon as we got home! We were so disappointed, we had had such a good day with him and he hasn't pooed in his pants since we went to Tokyo last week. He couldn't tell us why he did it but I think he got the message that we were both disappointed with him, a bad ending to a really lovely day.

At the Shrine with Joel

Thanks to Joel and Mayu for a lovely time, they were so hospitable - it really did feel like a break from our holiday routine.

Oh and Matt says I have now officially gone native, I had trouble sleeping last night because I had a soft pillow.  I had to fold it in 3 and still it was too soft, very happy to have my hard beany one again tonight.

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Location: Mitoma