SHIMIZU, JAPAN

We were awakened in bed with the captain coming on the intercom telling us to look out our windows to see Mt. Fuji which is usually covered by clouds We were so lucky to see sunshine and a clear Mt. Fuji. The entire ship was so pleased because it is not very often you see Mt. Fuji so clearly. We were also surprised to see that outside the ship, on the dock were all these Japanese people with their children and dogs. School children were waving to us as we came into dockside. What a pleasant surprise. We gathered that not too many ships come into this port.

First of all we went through the city to see an ancient pine grove that overlooked the sea. The park is called Miho no Matsubara and we saw a pine tree that is 1000 yrs old and black sandy beaches with the strong ocean waves breaking up on the lovely beaches. It was very pretty here because we could also see Mt. Fuji in the distance. We then drove up into the hills to Nihondaira Hill to a local restaurant perched 1000 ft high with panoramic views of Suruga Bay, Izu Peninsula (with views of our ship) and Mt. Fuji. Below the restaurant was a beautifully manicured Japanese Garden with some cherry trees. It was a clear day and a magnificent sight. We had a traditional Japanese lunch with different dishes including tiny shrimp, eel, etc.

After the lunch we drove down to the city and visited Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum. This museum explained how the artist used wooden blocks to make prints. I made a lovely picture using the same method. We then visited a tea house with a Japanese garden and had a tour of what the Japanese homes used to look like. They certainly aren't the same anymore.

That evening we were entertained with Geisha girls brought in from Kyoto and some Ninja warriors performing for us on stage. Took a lot of photos.

Had a great day experiencing Japanese traditions.