Former PM Prayut Chan-o-cha posted photos of him and his wife, Naraporn, on his Facebook page on Wednesday. They were taken during their trip to Japan last week.

“Sawasdee Krub, this is my first sight-seeing trip abroad with my family in more than ten years,” he wrote. He said he wants to share these personal photos with everybody.

During the trip, he met many Thais who gave him friendly greetings. “I would like to thank them for all their moral support and good memories,” he wrote.

“I hope to have chances to visit many other places in the future. There are many beautiful photos both in Thailand and abroad,” he continued.

Prayut kept his family out of the public eye throughout his time in the army and in government.

He stepped down as prime minister in August this year, washing his hands of politics and quietly slipping into retirement, until United Thai Nation party-list MP Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana revealed, in a Facebook post about a week ago, said that Prayut was enjoying a family holiday in Japan.

Thanakorn was PM Office Minister in the Prayut government and was a close aide.