The first Hokuriku history-and-culture note for our upcoming trip to Kanazawa, Toyama, and Komatsu, bringing together the key sites, Toyama's shakoki-dogu, and the archaeological context from the Paleolithic, Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods.

The final day of our Fukuoka family trip: we flew home from Fukuoka Airport, with some closing reflections on traveling with our daughter—how she did with eating and with walking on her own.

Day 4 of our Fukuoka family trip: a private charter day touring the Kyushu Natural Animal Park (African Safari), where we rode the Jungle Bus to feed lions, elephants and camels up close, then visited Lake Kinrin and the old streets of Yufuin in the afternoon.

Day 3 of our Fukuoka family trip: we visited Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, touched the sacred ox and drew a daikichi fortune, tried the famous umegae mochi, then headed back to Tenjin to browse LOFT and enjoy the evening illuminations and German Christmas markets.

Day 2 of our Fukuoka family trip: we took the JR and Shinkansen to Mojiko, strolled the retro station, climbed an observation deck overlooking the Kanmon Strait, visited the Former Moji Customs House and a banana auction, then rode the mini trains at the Kyushu Railway History Museum and had Hakata motsunabe for dinner.

Day 1 of our Fukuoka family trip: we flew Tigerair from Taoyuan to Fukuoka, checked into Mitsui Garden Hotel Fukuoka Nakasu, took our daughter to the Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall, and in the evening visited LaLaport Fukuoka to see the life-sized ν Gundam and shop for warm clothes.

On our fifth day in Okinawa, we played the coin-operated rides at Naha Airport, shopped for souvenirs, and headed home to tackle the mountain of luggage.

On our fourth day in Okinawa, we took a chartered car to Nakagusuku Castle Ruins and Okinawa World's Gyokusendo Cave, then changed plans and headed to Senaga Island and Kokusai-dori Street.