Getting Yukata and Nanzoin trip

Yukata Adventures: From Shopping to Temples (and a Soggy Surprise)

After all our exciting escapades, we craved a traditional Japanese experience – getting yukatas for summer festivals! We hunted down a small shop near Tenjin Station with decent prices, although the men's selection was predictably limited compared to the dazzling array of women's colors and designs. Me, Andy, Jana, and Charlotte scored everything we needed: yukatas, wooden shoes, obi belts, and some fun accessories.

The Yukata Challenge

Putting them on was a whole different story! The guys had it easy, but the women's yukatas were a beautiful puzzle, especially that intricate obi bow! And don't even get me started on the elaborate hair and makeup... Me and Andy mostly figured it out, but there may have been some frantic YouTube tutorials for the girls.

Temple Time and Unexpected Fans

We chose Nanzoin Temple for photos (and soft-serve by the giant Buddha), and later planned to hit the lantern festival in Ohori Park. Honorine joined our crew, and Ellie was our designated photographer. We agreed to leave at 10 am, but you know how it goes – me and Andy were ready while the girls... weren't. After waiting over an hour in the lobby, they finally emerged, looking absolutely stunning. We slowly made our way to the train station in our wooden shoes, turning heads all the way.

At Nanzoin, the locals were thrilled to see us in traditional clothes. They thought we'd rented them and were amazed we'd bought and dressed ourselves! A kind lady even helped me adjust my yukata for the perfect fit. We explored the temple, took a zillion photos, and headed back to Hakata Station, already feeling a bit worn out.

Lanterns and Laughter

A sweet older Japanese lady chatted with Charlotte on the way to the festival. The lanterns looked promising – around 400 in total! But they were tethered to prevent littering, which made for a less-than-magical effect when it started raining. The paper lanterns got heavy and started sinking instead of rising. As the weather worsened, we retreated by bus, soaked but with another unforgettable story to tell.