We have had a relaxing couple of days staying by the sea near Munakata. What a luxury it is to have an Onsen available to us onsite with pools inside and out, plus a sauna and cold pool. Guests would gather in the lounge for snacks and beverages, attired in their yukatas after going to the onsen. This made the hotel feel so relaxed and welcoming. We saw this hotel listed on Booking and couldn’t resist the affordable price. We did self cater in our room as the dining room was out of our budget, but is apparently quite excellent.
Really like having a yukata provided for going to the Onsen, wearing in the hotel and while relaxing in your room. It gives the hotel a mellow vibe.
I remember feeling a bit intimidated when we first started going to Onsens on our first trip to Japan. Instructions like this really help with understanding what is expected of you and best of all, avoiding offending locals..
We arrived with a booking for one night and we stayed for two. We so loved it here that we couldn’t resist. It was pretty cool that they encouraged us to store our trikes in their hotel lobby. We’re ready to ride!
Earlier this year, this older property was purchased by Mercure and they are making upgrades like the new onsen and wellness area. The guest rooms have not been upgraded, but they are comfortable and spacious. We noticed that most of the guests are Japanese families and couples who come for a night or two as a wellness break. We hope that the rebranding doesn’t change the focus to be a luxury property as the price at this time welcomes all types of guests, like us for example.
The Munakata Taisha Shrine is one of Japan’s oldest and most sacred shrines. The Munakata Shrine is actually three separate Shinto shrines, which altogether, are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The shrines are in three separate locations. Three goddesses are enshrined at each of the three shrines. They are said to be protectors of travellers.
We visited the shrine on a Saturday. There many were parents and grandparents who were bringing their children to the shrine. While Mary Ellen was watching the fish, this boy gave her a handful of food to throw to the fish.
We saw many families today at the Shrine with their young children dressed in beautiful traditional dress. How these wee ones managed in 8n the heat with layers of clothing and wooden sandals.
This work, which consists of a ring touching the ground and a ring floating in the air, expresses the way life is passed on from one generation to the next
This is the Takamiya Ceremony Grounds. It is the most sacred place at the shrine.This is a place where rituals were performed before the shrine was established. Monthly festivals are now held here.
As we sat eating our red bean treats, we watched a family disrobing a little boy of his endless layers of traditional clothing that he wore for this special day at the Shrine. The proud grandparents and parents helped him. And like any child, once free of these encumbrances, he ran joyously through the parking area. Can’t imagine Canadian children behaving so well in the heat of the day wearing so much clothing and showing respect for this special day.
We had been following the Ridewithgps route to Fukuoka when we realized that we were out on an island. Ride with GPS showed a long red line from the island to the city. We thought that it was a bridge. In reality you had to take a ferry to Fukuoka. When we got to .the ferry terminal the next ferry didn’t sail for another two hours. It was already getting dark. We decided to turn around and take the long way to the city. This added an additional 22 km to our ride.
I guess we were pretty naive thinking that the long red line was a bridge. You can see where the ferry leaves from. It is only a 15 minute crossing, but the next ferry would have left in two hours. We decided to turn around and ride 22 km in the dark. Life is an adventure.
