I am tired. It was a lot further to the westernmost point of Japan than I thought, and I got back at 6pm. Imagine driving in Japanese rush-hour traffic with pedestrians going everywhere. And imagine that the GPS in your rental car is old and a little faulty.

The day started off easy. The breakfast downstairs changes a bit from day-to-day and Route Inn, while expensive, does a good job.

And then it was on to the Shinkansen for a whole half-hour trip to Hakata.

I had no idea how big Fukuoka was. Turns out it’s the fifth largest city in Japan, population-wise. I got to the hotel and left my bags, and then it was time to go looking for Toyota Rentacar. I didn’t take a picture of my car this time because it was a POS. An old POS that needed a key to open and start (!) unlike either of the other cars I rented and it also didn’t have Bluetooth in the radio! I had to listen to the speakers on my iPhone XS which is fortunately quite loud. And it was a long drive out to Kozakihana too. I passed through three prefectures and the GPS didn’t even know about the extension of the highway I was on.

Anyway, I made it!

It’s beautiful out there but it really is in the middle of nowhere. No one else was out there, and the last bit was on a windy one-lane two-way street lined with houses. It’s a fishing area and I don’t think they get many tourists.

There was a sign that told you how to get the postcard that says you were at the westernmost point (at least that’s what I think it says) and I had to call the company where they had the cards because I got lost. Also seriously in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone kept talking about going to “city hall” to find out more, so I figured I’d at least see where the second phone number on the list took me. Even the woman at Cape Sata said something about the Sasebo City Hall. Sure enough, it was city hall for the tiny fishing village I was in. At least the GPS had the function where you type in a phone number and it takes you to the associated address.

I got to the city hall and they were quite nice. It took them some time to find the forms, but they gave me the form to fill out to get the certificate that says you made it to all four. I told them I might try the last point (easternmost point in Hokkaido) during another trip but they said the certificate is only going to be issued until March! I’d better actually get on it and get to the fourth corner!

I was going to make a side-trip on the way back, but it’s 3 hours back with no side-trip. I was afraid I might miss the 8pm cutoff for returning the POS car. I got back into Fukuoka at 6pm, right in time for rush hour. Lots of cars, lots of pedestrians. And the GD GPS took me to the opposite side of the building from the rental agency office! Since I don’t know the area at all, I stopped, got into a verbal altercation with a motorcyclist (I was just asking directions and he told me that I was in his way) and drove in circles. Fortunately, I found the office on the other side of the building.

That was enough for me. I decided to retreat to what I know best and went off to find some craft beers. Here’s one from Isekadoya and Culmination in Portland!

Oh, and my new glasses came!

That’s it for the day.