Fukuoka - The Pod

A series of farewells 👋

Even this night is filled with dreams. My mind gives me a lot and takes even more. All dreams deal intensively with separation and the pain for at least one of the parties involved.

Today is the last stop of my Grand Japan Tour, Fukuoka. So, another 650 km will be added to my ~ 2,700 km train journey, within less than 3 hours on the Shinkansen. Over 225 km/h on average, without being stopped by others. Yup, I'm looking at you, Deutsche Bahn. 😠

But before that, I'll make one final stop in Kyoto. Among all the cities in Japan, it has (so far) conquered my heart the most. After getting all the souvenirs for everyone else, I also find a little something for myself.

The Japanese port city ⚓

Finally arrived at Hakata Station, the sun is shining, I left Kyoto in the rain. It's not as westernized here as in other major Japanese cities. But a piece of home meets me right in front of the station. You can immediately recognize this franchise. One or two people in suits or conservative clothes stand at the edge of a pedestrian area, preferably in train stations or surroundings. And they have a brochure stand next to them. I wonder if Jehovah's Witnesses are as popular here as they are at home? Do they also ring doorbells? I can't imagine that with their reserved manner.

More sea 🌊

Under the bright sunshine, I carry my clothes along the canal, it smells pleasantly of salt. I haven't had this sea smell in my nose for a long time, it still feels soooo good.

Quickly it becomes apparent to me: there are very few foreigners here. I'm almost the only one. Then I correct my Europe-centered perspective. Very few Westerners here. Besides the locals, I see quite a few Chinese and Koreans. Port city.

Sleeping in modern Japanese style ⚰

Everything is so nice here. Almost like a small Kyoto by the sea. The city welcomes me with sun, the hotel receptionist greets me by name, and the toilet greets me with an automatic lifting of the lid. This will be the last hotel in Japan. And for this, I specifically booked a capsule hotel. At least that's one thing crossed off the bucket list.

The reception is located in BF1, so on the first basement floor. Black, anthracite, and gray dominate. When I enter the pod room, I feel reminded of a mix between Space Odyssey 2001 and a film from the Alien series.

Sign language? We don't do that here! 🤙

After checking in, I go to eat. I also try something new here, but quickly realize that all the traveling and the language barrier are really exhausting in the long run. Plus, many restaurants play annoying pop music.
I randomly choose a restaurant that advertises "Menus in different languages". Later I will wonder if they have that in Germany too? Advertising a multilingual menu but no one knows even three words of that language.
One of the few words is "Smoking". But it also takes a while to figure that out. I understand, I am a guest in a country and I try to learn some of the language, which is mostly well received. I have my 10 vocabularies that somehow get me along. And yet, I wonder if a simple pointing at myself plus a cigarette gesture would not have answered the question faster. Japan does not have a culture of hand gestures, I haven't even seen that here.

It is time, I am now in workcation mode. I go to the nearest Starbucks and work there while people pass by in front of me. To my right, a young guy scrolls through the Instagram marathon, I'm sure he'll set a new record. To my left, a man in a suit is having a Teams meeting. It has its own comedy, how often he energetically bows next to me.

Eventually, I head back to the hotel. I'm definitely not going to join any meetings at Starbucks. When I leave the underground station and enter the nocturnal city, the music carries me. "Carry the Throne - Legend". I'm hearing it for the first time. Usually, the music always supports my current mood. But now the music sets my mood, carries me through the night. Carries me past the penguins, through the city, towards what awaits me out there. What awaits me in the next 40 days.

I end my last day in Japan with another new song. As if the past three weeks haven't brought enough new things. I will listen to "Zack Hemsey - Don't Get In My Way" on repeat for over two hours, while I make the final preparations for South Korea and continue writing on the blog. That wonderful feeling of being in a tunnel with a song that you've never heard before and getting lost in it. The next section can come.