Day 3 of the cruise: Arrival in Fukuoka.

Today is the only day to go ashore. The ship stopped at Fukuoka, the gateway to Kyushu. Since the cruise ticket required a group tour, I couldn't explore Fukuoka freely. After disembarking, I followed the group to go through customs. As I didn't have a visa, I only used a copy of my passport and a landing permit. After the group was assembled, I followed the tour guide to the parking lot and got on a bus. The first stop was Oho Park, which is said to be built in imitation of Chinese gardens. The center of the park is a large lake, surrounded by walking paths. We only had half an hour, so I couldn't walk around much. I just took a quick look at the surrounding area and took some photos before leaving. The second stop was a shopping area. We drove for about 40 minutes and arrived at a small shopping mall. I wasn't very interested, but fortunately, there was no compulsory shopping. So I just walked around the area. After that, we visited a shrine that was added to the itinerary. The shrine is called Shikaumi Shrine, and it is dedicated to the guardian deity of the sea. I had only heard of the shrines in the city and the nearby Dazaifu before, but this time I learned about this relatively niche attraction through the tour guide. The shrine is located on a mountain, and you need to climb a short flight of stairs to get there. Once you reach the top, you'll feel a sense of openness. From the bottom of the shrine, you can see the blue ocean and the soft white sand beach. The shrine is not large, but it has an ancient and simple feel. I felt that this newly added shrine was a rare experience on this group tour. After that, we returned to the cruise ship and disembarked. There was also a small duty-free shop next to it where you could buy some duty-free goods. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I walked out and checked in at the Hakata Tower, which I hadn't been to before. However, it started to rain heavily again as I approached, so I had to leave with regret after a quick check-in. I felt that if I could travel freely, I would be able to experience Fukuoka much better. Based on my previous experience in Fukuoka, one option is to take a train to Hakata Station, and then you can go shopping and eat in Tenjin and experience Fukuoka's commercial district. Another option is to visit Tenjin and Dazaifu in the surrounding cities. Both options can be done in eight hours. The service on the ship was very satisfactory, and I had another delicious meal. In the evening, there was a new themed performance, where you could experience the cultures of various countries along the Maritime Silk Road. Thus, the day's itinerary came to an end, and the ship began its return voyage. The entire trip was coming to an end.