Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Large group out to appreciate the blossoms in Reisen Park

Fukuoka Sakura Day - More fun while watching Sakura flowers

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Traditional Japanese float being stored in a restaurant in off season

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Stone sign noting the entry to the shrine with the entry hall behind

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Front side of the huge mikoshi stored at Kushida Jinja

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Stone laterns along the path to the worship hall

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Unusal ume tree with variety of blossom colors in Kushida shrine

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Near the end of the blossoming season, but still impressive trees along the Nakagawa

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Fukuoka Castle ruins mote on a Sunday with families and kids around

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Along the back alley next to the Hakata River

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Entry to the huge food vendors space to provide goodies for watching blooming Sakura

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Where I got my Hakkata ramen and gyoza dinner - run by young folks

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Enmonya process finishes with the ramen getting to the waiting bowl of broth

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Selection of variety of standard yatai fare (oden, yakitori, e.g.) and local specialties, esp. Hakkata ramen

Fukuoka Sakura Day - tiny shrine with jiso

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Focus on group of sakura blossoms in Reisen Park

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Soft pink sakura petals in Reisen Park

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Indoor long shopping street in Nagasu

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Pair of women walking through Kawabata Mall

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Traditional round lanturn used at the entry to shrines

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Detail from the mikoshi at Kushida Shrine

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Tall Sakura in bloom over a torii at Kushida Jinja

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Row of close torii create a tunnel leading to the small hall at Kushida Jinja

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Noon time prayers in Kushida Jinja main hall

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Taking advantage of mirrored legs to adjust your hair in Tenjin

Fukuoka Sakura Day - The park was hosting a very commercial/food oriented Sakura Matsuri with lots of people for the last day

Fukuoka Sakura Day - found a small good little family shop for lunch - ramen packed with vegies and local chicken

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Enmonya - start of the ramen process with the noodles into the pot

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Hakkata ramen and gyoza - great street dining

Fukuoka Sakura Day - aging stall with an aging lantern

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Nobue under the Sakura blossoms in Reisen Park

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Under the Sakura enjoying food and flowers

Fukuoka Sakura Day - A couple of girls in yukatas wating to get their strawberry dango (fresh strawberries and mochi balls on a stick)

Fukuoka Sakura Day - At the end of Kawabata Mall is the entry to Kushida Jinja, a key site in Hakkata (this section of Fukuoka)

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Traditional Japanese gate leading to the main buildings at Kushida shrine

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Top charachters on the mikoshi at Kushida Jinja with smilling man at the top

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Peeing spirit at Kushida Jinja

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Plum tree at Kushida shrine with multiple colored blossoms

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - A fork in the main Nakagawa though the Hakada district which is more for locals than tourists

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Former site of the Fukuoka castle is now a park with lots of Sakura on the last day of Sakura Matsuri

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Chicken stewed in miso and lots of vegies on top of ramen with a bowl of rice topped with minced chicken, shredded omlet, and chives

Fukuoka Sakura Day - cafe' set up in the covered plaza in the tejin ditrict

Fukuoka Sakura Day -

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Putting the long simmering pork broth into the bowl

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Nagasu yatai, source of dinner for the night

Fukuoka Sakura Day - Lit up making it easy to find on the way home