Hakata (博多区)
Given the temperature, we have elected to try a different approach. Go somewhere that requires us to spend as much time as possible on the air-conditioned train, in the hope that upon arrival, we will have enough cold stored that we can survive the outdoors. So we go to the south island of Kyushu, Hakata station (in the city of Fukuoka). This part worked according to plan. The thing that did not was discovering that Fukuoka had the highest temperature of any city between Osaka and Fukuoka at 11 degrees above average (according to Apple Weather). Oh well.
When I was in Japan the second last time, I saw the N700A train for the first time. Last time I spotted my first N700S train (each being a retrofit of the N700 series bodies). This time, almost every train appears to have already been retrofitted to the latest S (for Supreme apparently) variation, to the point of me struggling to spot any N700A models anymore. Today I finally managed to find my first 700 train (which I always thought looked much cuter). Looks like other companies managed to snag them from JR and put them to good use.
The name Hakata is often used for "Hakata Style Ramen", as this is where it originates from. So even though I haven't made it to a Ramen shop (partly because I've just been too exhausted to try and digest a heavy Ramen), I had to make sure that this would not be an opportunity to miss. So I walked a block in a random direction in the hope of finding a hole in the wall style shop, found one, entered, discovered that it wasn't a Ramen shop, very embarrassingly ran away, found something more clearly labeled but bigger, and tried that.
In, click the basic Ramen at the vending machine, pay, immediately get the paper slip stolen and ushered to a seat, and asked what firmness of noodle I want before running away. I then barely managed to put my bag on the ground before he was back with my order. I knew these shops can work fast but I wasn't quite prepared for this speed. Even so, I barely managed to take a picture before diving in (I had been specifically keeping space in my tummy for this). And ... it was easily one of the worst Ramen I've ever had. I usually like a strong flavor but this tasted like someone dropped the Soy Sauce bottle in the broth and then left it there. Plastic and all. I was devastated.
As hot as it was, I was actually quite happy sitting by the river, watching one light get darker as a lot of other lights got brighter. What shocked me a little though was how low the waterline in the river was. Japan has always been a country of near limitless water for me (especially when compared to Australia), but this certainly did not give that impression. Even the lights seemed a little less shiny than in my memory. But that could easily be because that was quite a while ago, and back then I was traveling with an idiot who carried a tripod, making the night shots of the river a little easier.
What at least will never fail me is the little Fukuoka sponge cake ducks. :-) Swooping us home at top speed. Except ... the train reservations still seem to keep on giving us grief. After my previous hiccup I had to go to a counter to cancel the reservations I made in error. And thought I could book todays tickets at the same time with the human operator who would stop me messing anything up. The tickets to Hakata were fine, but on the return journey we suddenly found ourselves standing in front of a Green Car (First class). And while that was definitely what was written on our reservation, our ticket still wouldn't cover that. So we got to do yet another mad dash for the non-reserved section. Wonder what trick they have for us tomorrow ...
