I was very excited to come to Yokohama for I was going to meet up with a friend who lives here. I met Michiko 22 years ago on a tour and we have been corresponding for a long time. She has retired from working as a stewardess for Japan airlines. Michiko and her sister came on board the ship and we had a wonderful time chatting, laughing and asking questions about Japan. She is moving to a resort area near Mt. Fuji and is opening a store in her new home where she will sell her wood carvings and other items. It was wonderful seeing and visiting with her after such a long time.
The next day, I took a tour of Kamakura a resort city outside of Yokohama near the sea. It was lovely to experience Japan's countryside. First of all we visited Kotoku-in Temple to see Japan's second largest Buddha. It was a colossal bronze statue - 43 ft high and weighing 93 tons. There were many school children milling around on a field trip. We then went to see a Shinto Shrine called Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. It is one of the most popular shrines in Japan and was built in 1828. We saw a Shinto nun and a priest dressed in white going to a huge gong and banging on it to ask the gods for favours for a couple who were inside the shrine and had paid money to have the priest perform this ritual. It was all very interesting including the masses of huge Saki containers given to the priests in return for having favours answered. Wonder who drank all the Saki?
Great two days.
On our way to Russia after experiencing many good days of Japanese culture.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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.
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.
OSAKA
Doug is templed and shrined out so I took this tour to see Osaka-jo, or Osaka Castle which was built in the 16th century by Hideyoshi Toyomoni (a great warrior and statesmen). It was very impressive because it was built high on a hill on top of huge rocks placed to make an impenetrable wall. There were cherry blossoms everywhere and the park outside the castle was beautifully manicured. After this I took a tour of the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan called Shitenno-ji with Japanese Buddhist monks praying in white socks and Japanese slippers (so weird). The Japanese usually practise Buddhism and Shintoism together. Christianity is practised mostly in southern Japan.
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NAGASAKI
This was a very interesting tour but a depressing day in some respects. We first went to visit Peace Park with all the monuments from countries around the world memorializing the site and the tragedy of the explosion of the atomic bomb on August 9th, 1945. The impressive statue was one 30 ft bronze statue dedicated to everlasting peace. It was so touching to see all these monuments and folded cranes everywhere. After the park we toured the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. It was very modern, and had photos of the bodies burnt and the devastation after the explosion. It was so so depressing to go through. After we walked a short distance to see the exact site where the bomb was dropped. Everyone walked around quietly pondering the day's events so long ago. So sad to see.
We then went to a happier area which was to see Thomas Glover's western style home at the top of a beautiful hill overlooking the Nagasaki harbour. It is his friend who fell in love with a Japanese girl and thus resulted the story and opera Madame Butterfly.
We then went to a happier area which was to see Thomas Glover's western style home at the top of a beautiful hill overlooking the Nagasaki harbour. It is his friend who fell in love with a Japanese girl and thus resulted the story and opera Madame Butterfly.
AROUND THE SHIP
We have had a few developments onboard the ship in the last few weeks. First of all, we were not allowed to use the internet or cell phones or have the Casino open while in Japanese waters which turns out to be 12 and a half miles from shore. All passengers were ticked off for it is our life-line to the outside world. For the entire time of 11 days, we were cut off. Many people had visited Japan on a cruise ship last year, and there were no such rules so the tongues were wagging around the ship as to why the rules now. We still don't know why. All we know was it was a major inconvenience.
Another development was the cancellation of our port Otaru, Japan (so we managed to get on to the internet two days earlier than expected) because the pod is still not functioning at 100% and we are not making the speed we need to have to make it to Russia in time. The gossip around the ship is that it will have to go into dry dock after LA. I met a lady and her husband who have gone on 21 world cruises and have been on this ship since November and are not leaving the ship till June in Lisbon. They are worried.
So that is the news around the ship. And oh yes, we are heading to cooler weather and all of us are bundling up with warm clothes. Forecast in Russia is 30 F, burrrrrr cold. I bet you are feeling good about that.
Another development was the cancellation of our port Otaru, Japan (so we managed to get on to the internet two days earlier than expected) because the pod is still not functioning at 100% and we are not making the speed we need to have to make it to Russia in time. The gossip around the ship is that it will have to go into dry dock after LA. I met a lady and her husband who have gone on 21 world cruises and have been on this ship since November and are not leaving the ship till June in Lisbon. They are worried.
So that is the news around the ship. And oh yes, we are heading to cooler weather and all of us are bundling up with warm clothes. Forecast in Russia is 30 F, burrrrrr cold. I bet you are feeling good about that.
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