Rugby World UK – August 2019

RW Promotion

NAGASAKI

DAY TRIPS

Hirado used to be an important trade

hub and the town’s castle has now been

turned into an exhibition centre featuring

historical documents and artefacts,

including armour and weapons.

The observation deck at the top of the

50m-high castle keep offers fantastic views

over Hirado while there are also walking

trails and two shrines on the grounds.

Tea is an essential part of Japanese

life and Higashisonogi, near Oura Bay,

is renowned for producing green tea. Take

a walking tour of a plantation, with the

picturesque tea terraces as well as the

bay, and learn about the making of green

tea at the Green Tea Homestay.

FESTIVAL SPIRIT

Ten stages will be erected around Sasebo

from 18-20 October for the Yosakoi Sasebo

Festival, which attracts 250,000 people

every year. It’s the largest festival of

yosakoi dance, with teams from all over

Japan performing, and on 19 October

you can join in one of the events.

Nagasaki Kunchi (7-9 October) is a

festival with nearly 400 years of history

that celebrates the local deity worshipped

at Suwa Shrine. There is an eclectic mix

of performances with Japanese folk

dances, Chinese-influenced dragon

dances and even Dutch comedies.

Learn more about the local ceramics at
the Autumn Festival of Koishiwara Pottery.
It’s held twice a year in the village of Toho,
a 90-minute drive from Fukuoka, with the
autumn event running from 12-14 October.
There are 50 kilns in operation and you
can save money on Koishiwara ceramics.
Munakata Taisha hosts the Autumn
Grand Festival from 1-3 October. As well
as hundreds of boats taking to the water
as part of a shrine ritual to pray for a
good catch, there are performances of
mai dance and yabusame (archery on
horseback) as well as myriad food stalls.

POST-MATCH

As downtown Fukuoka is in close proximity

to local beaches like Momochihama,

Shika Island, Itoshima and Fukutsu, you

get incredible views of the sunset.

You’ll make friends quickly in the close

confines of the food stalls in the Nakasu,

Tenjin and Nagahama districts. It may be

a tight squeeze but they’re the ideal place

to enjoy Fukuoka’s local delicacies, like

yakitori, dumplings and ramen.

For more travel information...

welcomekyushu.com/rugby2019

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