Twenty Twenty-Five

April - Japan

  April 8 - Having completed moving in, I then immediately left the villa for a guiding contract in Japan. After the long flight, he longer term plans were for 5 voyages, a week of land-based touring in Kyoto, followed by a voyage south to Darwin, then a quick stop in Brisbane before returning to Christchurch. This contract was the earliest start of my 3 seasons - early enough that the start was in cherry-blossom season. Thus, immediately after arrival in Osaka I headed for Osaka Castle to check the "sakura". It was a Saturday afternoon in full blossom season and the castle grounds were packed. Every available spot under the trees was covered with a tarp or blanket and hosting a gathering. The day was fine, the mood was festive and it was such fun to wander amongst it. Even the full-on crowds on every pathway somehow added to the enjoyment instead of the frustration.

  Some scenes from this period: Osaka Castle - blossoms and happy locals

         

    April 17 - in Kanazawa on the first turnaround day having completed a voyage from Osaka. This, and the next 3 voyages, all start or end in Kanazawa and Osaka, so there will be multiple visits to many of the destination cities. On this charter, opportunities to get off the ship were somewhat limited, but I did manage a visit to the Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu - a favorite. At Kanazawa, the blossom season was said to be about 1 week behind the cities further south, nonetheless, it was clear that the brief "sakura" season was already winding down. For the Japanese the beautiful but brief (perhaps only 1 week) time of the blossoms symbolizes the transience of life and impermanence of all things. Even while waning the Castle park and Kenrokuen Garden (another favorite) still had plenty to appreciate. As a change, I visited the local fish market - always fun in Japan.

  Some scenes from this period: Takamatsu: blossoms and posing locals and scenes from Ritsurin x 2; Kanazawa: cherry trees x 2, Castle wall, scenes from Kenrokuen x 4 (including fallen petals in the lake), Fish market x 3;

         

         

         
    
         
    
         
    
         
    
         
 

May - Japan

  May 4 - Kanazawa at the end of voyage 3. This has been a busy time as we are now running Heritage voyages and not charters. This is a good thing as now I am getting off the ship to do my job helping PAX enjoy Japan. It has, however, been very busy, leaving little time for photo taking or sorting. There were several new destinations for me including Nagasaki including my first geisha performance. We visited the usual array of castles, museums, historic districts, etc., but it was the gardens that seemed to get the camera out. Normally Japanese gardens are characterized by shape and structure and not so much color, but in this late spring with the cheery blossoms finished it was the other flowers that came to the fore - especially a first visit to the absolutely magical wisteria garden in Kokura where the perfume exceeded the blossoms, and the serene Yuushien Garden in Matsue with rafts and gardens of peonies..

  Some scenes from this period: Uno Ko: A map of the harbour with an unusual destination circled, Dragon/fish ornament from Okayama Castle, 4 x scenes from Koraku-en Garden; Uwajma: Azaleas and maple leaves; Nagasaki: The main statue at the Peace Park, paper cranes, a geisha, carp streamers and lanterns at a local cafe; Korura: Wisteria garden with tunnels, domes, and trellises dripping with color x 7; Matsue: Peonies and more that the Yuushien Garden; South Korea: Bamboo forest and Buddha's Birthday lanterns at Bulguksa Temple; Kanazawa: Umbrellas on a sunny day

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

          
    
    
    
  May 15 - Osaka at the end of voyage 4. This voyage retraced voyage 3 in reverse with the same ports-of-call but with mostly different excursions for me. It started with a walk up the pilgrimage path through the forest to the shrines and temples on Mount Daisen, then a repeat visit to Yuushien Gardens - which I think is my new favorite in Japan. I have visited the Adachi museum and Gardens many times, and included images of the gardens in previous seasons. On this visit the museum was dedicated to Yokoyama Taikan, whose work I like. Photos are not permitted but I snapped a couple from a book. In Fukuoka we visited the Nanzo-in Temple with a huge reclining Buddha and many smaller Buddhas in various poses, then a local park for a stroll with the locals around a lake full of swan boats. At Sasebo the highlight was Mikawachi, a local village that has been making fine porcelain for 500 years - beautiful but super pricey. At Uwajima we joke about doing pearls or potatoes. Potatoes being a tour to the terraced potato fields. I hadn't done potatoes for a couple of years, and had forgotten what amazing place it is. A super day with views from the top over the bay full of fish farms made it better.

  Some scenes from this period: Matsue: Mount Daisen x 4 - The path to the shrines, undergrowth, 2 x old Buddha statues, Yuushien Gardens bridge and more peonies; Hagi: Yokoyama Taikan x 2; Fukuoka: Nanzo-in teple x 4, swan boats; Sasebo: Mikawachi x 4; Uwajima: Potato terraces x 4 (including a harvest in progress) and view.