Twenty Twenty-Six

  April - Japan aboard Heritage Adventurer

  April 26 - At sea off Yakushima. My flights to Tokyo were painless and I boarded Heritage Adventurer in Tokyo. The first voyage was focused on Cherry Blossom, my earliest start in Japan, and the first time the ship has sailed from Tokyo. This meant that the first few ports headed south were new to me, and the company. According to websites that track the peak of the "Sakura" (blossom) season set off just as the peak passed through Tokyo heading north. Notwithstanding this, and a bit of a damp start, for the first few weeks we were treated to exceptionally abundant displays. Everywhere we went, the trees were in full flower, with the locals out to share this limited season. It was wonderful beyond words - I hope the pictures can tell a bit of the story.
  Our first port, near Mt. Fuji, started in low cloud with, it seemed, little chance for a view. But as the day went on the mountain gradually emerged. We were all thrilled. From there the Cherry Blossom voyage more than lived up to its billing - perhaps hitting a peak at Uwijima Castle.

  Some scenes from this period: Tokyo: National Museum: Blossoms in the park, embroidery on kimono; Mt Fuji: emerging from the clouds, nearby tea plantation; Nagoya: Nagoya Castle: the castle, art in the Shogun's palace, sakura x 2; Owase: fish in the market; Kochi: picnics in the castle garden;

         

         
    
         
    
         

         
    
         
    
         
    
   Voyage 1 ended in Osaka and I transitioned to a tiny campervan for the next 10 days. I drove from Osaka to Tokyo - just over 1400 kilometers. With ChatGPTs help I had done bit of route planning focused on castles, history and day walks. My first stop was Himeji Castle - one of the original 12 and by far the biggest and most impressive castle I have visited in Japan. Next stop was the Akame 48 waterfalls - home to the Japanese Giant Salamander which can be as big as a person, though the unfortunate ones in the aquarium tanks were small. On the Matsumoto for another of the 12 original castles, and Lake Suwa for a nice park and a few shrines. The passed through the Mt Fuji area during the phlox festival, and finished at an ancient Buddhist temple.

  Some scenes from this period: The little van and me; reflection in a mirrorball; Himeji Castle x 2; Akame 48 Waterfalls: young giant salamander, waterfalls (click the image for a short video of other waterfalls); Matsumoto: Castle; Lake Suwa: A last burst of blossoms, fallen petals in the lake, sake kegs as offerings at a shrine; Mt Fuji and phlox; Ancient Buddha

         
    
         
    
         
    
         

        

         

  From there it was back to Tokyo to meet the guests for Voyage 2 of my contract - "Discover the Islands...". We started with a Tokyo city tour then took the shinkansen to Kawazaka. At Kanazawa I help escort a group to Shirakawa Go. At Matsue I made it to 2 amazing gardens Adachi and Yuushien, plus another original castle. It seems that we always strike wet weather in Hagi. This trip was no exception, but it made the ancient moss covered stone lanterns at Toko-ji even more evocative. At Busan, South Korea we called into Haedong Yonggungsa temple, where preparations for Buddha's Birthday were well underway, and had the afternoon at Gamcheon Cultural Village. At Nagasaki my assignment was the historic quarter, not the Peace Park. Yakushima was, as always, wet. Then back to Uwajima for a flag waving welcome and Black Kites soaring around the castle. We visited Koraku-en garden in Okayama before finishing in Osaka.

  Some scenes from the period: Tokyo: fish market for lunch, samurai statue at Imperial Palace; Shirakawa Go: traditional houses x 4; Matsue: Adachi gardens, Matsue castle and detail, Yuushien garden scenes x 3 including 2 reflection and one fog filled; Hagi: Toko-ji temple x 3; Busan: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: including the extraordinary decorative exterior, and the golden offering cards attached to Buddha's Birthday lanterns blowing in the wind; Gamcheon: hillside village and a quirky art installation with mirrors; Nagasaki: Art work in Daimyo's guesthouse; Uwajima: Welcoming locals flying flags, a flying black kite; Koraku-en: plank bridge.
    
         
    
         
    
         
    
         
    
         
    
    
    
    
    
    

         

         
    
    
    
         
    
         
    
              
    
  The 3rd voyage of my contact was a charter - meaning that my role was as general assistant aboard ad Zodiac driver. We went on some excursions, mostly for first aid cover and the chartering company handled all guiding and logistics.

  May - Japan aboard Heritage Adventurer

  May 3 - berthed at the wharf in Ulsan, South Korea. With limited duties, a group of us was able to make our own way to Yuushien Gardens in Matsue for the Golden Week Peony Festival. Yuushien is already one of my very favorite Japanese gardens, and I had once before been able to visit the festival in which the lake is full of spectacular floats of peonies, and roses line the walkways. Delightful.
    
  Scenes from this period: Yuushien: Golden Week Peony Festival: Peonies!, the central garden with peonies on the lake, floating peonies x 2, roses x 2, peony, lily pads (for a change)

    
    
    
    
              
    
              
    
         

    
    
    
    

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