Today we are making our way to Fukuoka to finally see Haruna, Robert and to meet Kensuke. He's just over 10 months old now. Wow!

It's easy getting around most everywhere we go, but hauling our luggage always makes it interesting!

Our hotel was close to the train station, always a good thing. We are each hauling a large suitcase, a carry on and a "personal" item- like purse or back pack. This is where you discover how important good luggage is to travel!

We purchased our JR train tickets to Narita City. About $13 each and about 1.5 hours to get there. We wanted to go to Narita & where we be staying on Saturday, to drop off a piece of luggage we won't need until we go home. The hotel used to be called the Mercure Hotel - we have stayed here before and I used to put up our flight crews there years ago. The hotel is now called Welco Inn. Greg spoke to them and they agreed to keep one of our suitcases for 2 nights (no charge) until we check in. The other option would have been to stick the suitcase in a locker at the train station for $7. a day.

Two more JR train stops and we were at Narita Airport Terminal 1. We are flying on Peach Aviation, ANA's discount feeder line. These days we are used to checking in a couple hours early, even for a domestic flight, but The Peach staff would not let anyone check in until 75 minutes before departure. We had an hour to kill. Since this is a discount airline, there is no complimentary food service, So off we went to grab a sandwich. We ended up at Subway to get a quick bite. The non - Japanese items were BLT or Roast Beef - we split a roast beef sub & drink. About $16. All taxes in.

The 1 hour 45 minute flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka was uneventful - we both dozed!  We also purchased a couple of drinks and snacks and munched a little on the flight.  And there are a variety of snack available, even bagged chicken skin.

We collected our luggage and took the JR train (2 stops) to the large JR Hakata station. We were last here in 2019 and stayed at the Comfort Inn, so we booked it again. We checked out a few things before stopping for supper - everything is mostly still here as it was. Very comforting somehow!

We had supper at one of the restaurants in the Hakata Station Greg was hoping for the restaurant we went to the last time but it was gone. Closed up & out of business. 

We ended up at a Japanese restaurant, Grill Omiya, for Hamburger Steaks. They have different types. Greg had the one with mushroom sauce, with onion rings to start and I had today's special which came with a lemon sauce. I have to say I was a little surprised the meat was cooked through because it was one huge patty. Both options were really good! $62.

Though we didn't seem to do much, it was a long day today. Time for some rest. We are so excited to finally meet Kensuke tomorrow!!