We left Kagoshima, home of jambu mochi, bound for Fukuoka, well known for its ramen and seafood. We are still on Kyushu but at the northern end.
No more gorgeous view of the volcano from a fancy, schmancy hotel. Our pampered splurge is over and we are back in our budget lane at an unstaffed, eight unit apartment hotel in a residential neighborhood about a 20 minute walk from the train station.
Speaking of train stations, Hakata Station (the major Fukuoka station) is a megaplex with 16 platforms on the second level of 10 levels of department stores and offices. On the first floor, shops geared for travelers (oh the array of fantastic bento boxes), banks of ticket machines, ticket offices, bathrooms, luggage transport services, coin lockers, etc.
Check in time at our accommodation wasn’t for another three hours and no possibility of early check in so we figured we’d stash our luggage and go wander, maybe get some of this famous Fukuoka ramen for lunch.
We made our way to a coin locker niche but hadn’t planned ahead so didn’t have enough coinage and couldn’t find a change machine. Well, nothing we could recognize as one anyway. Conveniently, there was a Yamamoto Transport Service next door with a storage capability. At 1000 Yen per bag (per day) we handed over our two suitcases and two day packs. Oh what the heck, worth it to wander without baggage. If only we could so easily stow our mental baggage hey?
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Wait a minute. It might be possible to stow away all thoughts of bothersome orange people for a whole day for only 1000 yen? Sign me up!
😃