While I was back in Japan for a short visit, the warm sunshine gently drew me out of the city. I took two day trips from Fukuoka—one to Tara on the quiet shore of the Ariake Sea, and another to the vast landscapes of Mount Aso.

I boarded a stylish limited express bound for Saga. A gentle sense of anticipation for the journey ahead began to grow.

From the Takezaki Castle Ruins Observatory, the Ariake Sea stretches quietly toward the distant mountains of Unzen. Across the water, their gentle silhouette seemed to linger between the sea and the sky.
Standing before the quiet waters of the Ariake Sea, I found it hard to leave the observatory. Some landscapes ask nothing of us but a little more time.
As I made my way down from the viewpoint, a cat seemed to quietly see me off. It was a small, gentle moment that stayed with me long after the view had faded.
From Daikanbō, the distant peaks of Nakadake and Nekodake rose across the vast caldera. Standing before such an immense landscape,
The clearing skies at Kusasenri-ga-hama brought a stroke of luck—the plume of Mount Nakadake and the graceful peaks of Mount Eboshi both showed themselves in all their beauty.

A truly fulfilling stay. I return with a heart full of warm memories and the gentle light of home. PHOTO; Hakata station