We had a nice day with a bus tour around all the volcanic region east of Fukuoka (Mt. Aso) - and topped it off with a long soak in the onsen (hot tub). Next was a wonderful meal at our Yufuin B&B.
The countryside around Fukuoka is very wooded and rugged. It was a nice change to be back in nature after the cities of bangkok and Fukuoka.
People in Japan were very helpful, and we found English-speakers when we needed to figure out what to do (like suburban train stations!).
Overall the food was great, although it must be said that the food is the same wherever you go: order tempura in one place and you get identical tempura in the next place!
(Uploaded from my iPhone to SquareSpace.)