Arrived 6am in Maizuru, early breakfast upstairs as we need to be on the wharf by 8:50.
We will be up here on tour
Friday 25th March 2016
Day 27 Maizuru Japan
Today’s tour started with our get out of jail card (wheelchair) with direct access to the bus and Anne’s reserved seat
Now a tour of the “World Brick Museum”, yes a Brick Museum.
First down the steep gangplank and then a chance of a picture with a Samurai without the ship’s photographer.
Bricks, bricks everywhere
Next a 30 freezing minutes harbour tour.
The highlight was the toilet visit.
Loved the poor English comments from our local guides, for example the “bridge is moving closer to us”, some fellow passengers said it was better than comedy act on the ship.
Next, up to the observation tower at Gorogadake Park, the tower pointed to at the start of today.
Back home for a light lunch and the off again for free but poor quality Internet
Back on board, Princess do not understand the Good Friday is not Easter egg day
Saturday 26th March 2016
Day 28 Kanazawa Japan
Kenroku-en, one of the three celebrated "Great Gardens of Japan."
This 25-acre landscape garden was originally developed by the great daimyo of Kanazawa Castle. Kenroku-en boasts Japan's first fountain, a teahouse dating to 1774, and a pagoda donated to the Maeda clan by the great warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
“By virtue of its name being Maizuru (Japanese for a crane spreading its wings), this city welcomes you in with open arms, inviting beaches and phenomenal views. Established as a naval port in 1901, Maizuru became increasingly important during the Russo-Japanese War that followed and still serves as a center for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force today. From the historical to the unusual, Maizuru is also home to the World Brick Museum, where you'll gain insight into bricks from across the globe and can see all of the locations in Maizuru built with red bricks, which were introduced to the area in the early 20th century.” From Princess intro.
An easy start to the day with a 1:10pm afternoon tour, so no rush. Weak but usable free Internet available on board from the shore
Easter eggs in the atrium above.
Walking to breakfast this morning
Kevin reading Australian Newspapers using the free Internet from shore.
“Continue to the Nagamachi District, once home to many of Kanazawa's samurai. Kaga was unlike other Japanese fiefs in that its samurai lived in Kanazawa town. The remains of their houses can be seen today with a few surviving residences, earthen boundary walls, narrow lanes and canals.”
We think Cherry Blossoms, other blossoms were darker, different flowers on Plum trees
Anne did not like negotiating this in the wheelchair
“Cross the Asano River to the Higashi Chayamachi, one of the city's four pleasure districts established in 1820 during the late Edo period. The district is home to traditional "tea houses" where rich merchants and artisans held drinking parties and geisha performed. Explore the narrow streets and the two-story pleasure palaces”.
Low doors in Samurai house
We leave Kanazawa behind and after Easter Sunday at sea, we will arrive in Aomori on Monday
Sunday 27th March 2016
Day 29 At Sea Easter Sunday
Breakfast in the restaurant then Church, Captain sick so service taken by a passenger.
Later after coffee with Jenny and Roger, I delivered Anne to Pop Choir. I went back to our room, to find an old picture of Anne, (as requested by Brian on our dinner table).
Later found Anne downstairs on level 7, walking with wheelchair back to our room because Johnny the choir conductor was also sick.
Empty cold Promenade deck
Paper plane competition through hoop
40 years ago today, little has changed
Cards, won 4 to 2 today, Anne shopping for a top, dinner and a movie in our cabin.
Monday 28th March 2016
Day 30 Aomori Japan
Up at 5am to see the sunrise, had to be quick outside as it was freezing.
Checked the Internet, looks like we did have Cherry Blossoms.
Today, we have a 5 hour tour from the ship.
“Your adventure begins as soon as you board your motorcoach for the 90-minute drive to Hirosaki. This half-day excursion captures all the excitement of this ancient city so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and don't forget your camera. As you travel through the scenic countryside you may be interested to know that the area around Hirosaki has been inhabited since the 8th century but wasn't declared a city until 1889. Your first stop is the renowned Hirosaki Castle Park. The castle was constructed in 1611, the original structure was struck by lightning in 1627 and burned to the ground. Although rebuilt in 1810, the castle still retains an aura of its ancient past when samurais ruled the country.”
Our guide said it was the first time in 30 years that there was no snow covering the ground a metre deep at this time of the year.
Mount Iwaki is half the height of Mt Fuji.
“Next, is your opportunity to see the fantastic floats that are used during Hirosaki's famous festival, the Neputa Matsuri, which is held the first week of August. Japan is famous for its matsuri, or festivals. These local festivals are celebrated in almost every region in the country. And each city takes pride in its large and elaborately decorated dashi, or floats, that are pulled through the town. Made of washi paper that's elaborately painted with depictions of gods, mythical creatures or historical figures atop bamboo and wooden frames, these jaw-dropping floats are just a part of the annual festivals that commemorate a city's shrine, or a seasonal or historical event.”
Now back to the ship for dinner, we passed more snow and the biggest solar farm we have seen.
Through Fuji Apple country
In Japan they have two classes of cars, yellow number plate for small economical cars with cheaper rego etc and normal cars with yellow plates
Tuesday 29th March 2016
Day 31 At Sea
Heading south this morning, the first sunrise on our balcony so up early at 6am a good morning.
Morning coffee and some fish and bird life.
Lift Roulette, Kevin ended up in the last five players from a group of 30.
You had to stand in front of the next lift to arrive to stay in the game.
Impossible to play pool, balls moved by themselves.
Pizza for lunch with the condition Anne had to walk down and up the stairs.
Anne SCAN, Kevin 500 cards. Lost 4 games to 1 today.
Your tour begins as you board your motorcoach for a scenic, 60-minute drive from Yokohama to Tokyo, the world's largest city. En route, you'll pass the modern skyscrapers and the Kabukiza Theater where the traditional kabuki drama is performed throughout the year. Also on your itinerary is the Ginza district, Tokyo's most famous upscale shopping, dining and entertainment district.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, visit the Tokyo Tower, Japan's 2nd tallest self-supporting steel tower, which closely resembles and is taller the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tokyo Tower was completed in 1958 as a symbol for Japan's rebirth as a major economic power, and serves as a television and radio broadcast antenna and tourist attraction. From the Grand Observation platform, 492 feet high, you'll get a breathtaking view of Tokyo. Under good weather conditions, you will also catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance.
Above, Kevin Greg (Head waiter) Joel( table waiter) and Anne.
Top right, Kevin, Ronaldo,(Junior waiter) and Anne.
Right, Kevin, Joel and Anne.
Tuesday 30th March 2016
Day 32 Tokyo
An hour late arriving today and much closer to the city centre than Yokohama we berthed at last time.
It was 9am before we left on our 7:40 tour, city drive and Tokyo Tower.
Kevin has commented before about the poor English of our Japanese guides, today was no exception with our guide reading the script.
Tokyo is a traffic nightmare, with slow traffic lights, cars and pedestrians everywhere.
First and only stop on this tour was the Tokyo Tower where we spent 80 minutes exploring. Mt Fuji was hidden by clouds.
Accessible Toilet with everything
We arrived back at the ship, about 12pm, then went straight to the free shuttle back into Tokyo.
Spent over 3 hours exploring the Ginza district.
Shuttle Bus.
Back to the terminal, tried the free Internet, very slow, so we when back onto our ship for dinner.
Click for Japan Sydney
Side note
Telstra Internet deal included 3 million hotspots for Internet in Japan. Never succeeded to contact or find any of them even though there where all these around us at the terminal, but none in reachable distance.
Terminal
Day
|
Port / Date
|
Arrive
|
Depart
|
27
|
Maizuru, Japan Friday, March 25
|
6:00 AM
|
8:00 PM
|
28
|
Kanazawa, Japan Saturday, March 26
|
7:00 AM
|
6:00 PM
|
29
|
At Sea Sunday, March 27
|
|
|
30
|
Aomori, Japan Monday, March 28
|
7:00 AM
|
6:00 PM
|
31
|
At Sea Tuesday, March 29
|
|
|
32
|
Tokyo, Japan Wednesday, March 30
|
7:00 AM
|
7:00 PM
|