2019 Summer Journal #13 2019 Summer Journal #13

The Scenery in Fukuoka The Scenery in Fukuoka

The Scenery in Fukuoka

福岡県の最も東に位置する上毛町。人口は8000人弱と小さな町だ。海の上の人工島に建つ北九州空港へ降り立ち、長さ2kmの連絡橋を渡り本土へ。上毛町までは空港から車で1時間弱。目的地まで経路検索のために地図を開くと、現在地は「北九州カニ・カキロード」と表示される。北九州が誇る水産物、豊前本ガニや豊前海一粒カキの産地であることから命名されたそうだが、なんともユニークな道路名の出迎えだった。

Kouge Town is located in the easternmost part of Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a small town with a population of just under 8,000 people. Kitakyushu Airport is built on an artificial island, and the main is-land of Japan can be reached via a bridge that spans two-kilometers long. It takes just under an hour by car to Kouge Town from the airport. When we opened a map to search for the route to our destination, our current location read: “Kitakyushu Crab and Oyster Road.” Apparently it is named so because it is a production area for “Buzen Hongani” Crabs and “Buzen Sea Hitotsubu” Oysters. These are the seafood specialties that Kitakyushu boast of, and thus the unique name.

上毛町は福岡と大分の県境に位置する町であり、一級河川に分類される山国川が県境のシンボルとなっている。この川を境に美しい田園風景や自然が広がっていた。川を越えてすぐに大分県中津市へアクセスできる。唐揚げの聖地と言われるだけあり、なんと唐揚げ専門店が50店舗以上あるという。上毛町の穏やかな風景とのギャップに驚かされるが、「耶馬渓」や「八面山」といったスポットまで足を延ばせば、やはり自然の豊かさを大いに感じることができた。

Kouge is a town located on the prefectural border of Fukuoka and Oita, and the Yamakuni River, which is classified as a class-A river, it is the symbol of the prefectural border. With this river as a border, a beautiful rural landscape and nature extends before us. Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture can be accessed immediately upon crossing the river. Nakatsu is said to be the “holy land” for karaage fried chicken, with over 50 establishments specializing in it. We were surprised by its contrast to Kouge Town, but found that by going to spots like “Yaba Gorge” and “Mount Hachimen,” we could experience the great abundance of nature.