The Shinkansen Kodama and I were now speeding along at 200 mph toward Hakata, along the inland San-Yo coast. The mountain scenery rushing past the window became a wet landscape canvas, smeared along the lower half.
 
 

We blasted in and out of dark tunnels into the dazzling sunshine to gaze upon narrow valleys full of verdant rice fields dancing in exquisite order down from the lush mountain valleys high above.

Merging with the fields that gently stair-stepped into the misty valley floors below, a luminous patchwork of green faded away toward the sea.