讀後心得

Mikuradake Observatory is located in Kitakyushu, Japan, and is one of the "New Three Major Night Views of Japan." It offers magnificent night scenery and is home to the longest cable car in Kyushu. There is a free shuttle bus from JR Yahata Station, and the summit can be easily reached by cable car or monorail. The observatory is famous for its night view value and also features a restaurant that provides a romantic dining experience. Visitors can enjoy beautiful views and even feel the romance of fireworks. The entire cable car ride takes about ten minutes, during which you can enjoy the scenery, and it is recommended to bring a jacket to keep warm.

The Sarakura Mountain Observation Deck in Kitakyushu City, Japan, is a must-visit attraction, renowned as one of the "New Three Great Night Views" of Japan. Here, visitors can enjoy a romantic dinner while taking the longest cable car in Kyushu to admire the dazzling night view. It is worth mentioning that the night view from Sarakura Mountain has not only been rated as the number one of the Three Great Night Views but is also praised as a view "worth 10 billion US dollars."

It is very convenient to get to the Sarakura Mountain Observation Deck from JR Yahata Station, with free shuttle buses available on weekdays and holidays, taking about ten minutes. If departing from Kokura, shuttle buses are also provided on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays; the schedule can be found on the official website. Besides the cable car, visitors can also choose hiking trails to reach the summit of Sarakura Mountain.

This visit was not my first, but the weather was excellent, and I was pleasantly surprised to see fireworks and the moon over Sarakura Mountain.

The cable car ticket prices and operating hours for Sarakura Mountain are as follows:

• Cable car operating hours: April to October 10:00-22:00 (last upward trip at 21:20)
• Winter (November to March) 10:00-20:00 (last upward trip at 19:20)
• Adult ticket price: 1,230 yen; Child ticket price: 620 yen
• Free entry to the observation deck at the summit

This cable car route has a length of 1.1 kilometers, taking passengers to the observation deck at an elevation of 622 meters, where they can overlook the entire Kitakyushu city area. Although the slope along the way is steep and the speed slow, the experience is very thrilling.

During the ride, the large transparent glass windows allow visitors to enjoy the breathtaking billion-dollar night view. Even while waiting to transfer to the monorail, one can admire the spectacular scenery. It is recommended to bring an extra jacket even in the summer, as it can be windy at the top of the mountain.

Through this adventure, we were very lucky to see distant fireworks, making this romantic experience undoubtedly enhance the value of the trip.

To reach the observation deck, it is necessary to transfer between two cable cars, and the total journey takes about ten minutes. But patience is required while waiting in line for the transfer.

The popular Amami Restaurant opened in April 2023, offering a variety of baked curry, light meals, and desserts, as well as options to pre-order other specialty dishes to ensure customer satisfaction.

The restaurant provides a dining experience surrounded by a 180-degree night view, and even though the quality of the dishes is average, enjoying them alongside the night view brings unparalleled happiness.

Finally, the view from the observation deck is spectacular, with a sightline that may reach up to 200 degrees from left to right. The weather that night was ideal; not only could we enjoy a clear night view, but we also witnessed the moon over Sarakura Mountain, which was voted as one of "Japan's Top 100 Selected Moons."

The whole experience felt like being in a dream, leaving a deep impression in people's memories. Especially on the return trip by cable car, the night view was truly unforgettable.

At the Sarakura Mountain Observation Deck in Kitakyushu City, one can even clearly see the distant Wakato Bridge, with all the scenery feeling vivid and impressive.

The observation deck is located at 1481-1 Oikura, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City, and the phone number is 093-671-4761. Whether during the day or at night, it is worth a visit.