FromSea2ShiningSea

Day 14- 4/8/2024 Nikko (UNESCO) Tour Toshogu Shrine Complex- a magnificent memorial to Tokugawa leyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. Of the many colorful and elaborate wood carvings that decorate the storehouses… …the most famous ones are those of the “see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil” monkeys Lots of gold leaf were used to decorate the buildings. There are 207 steps leading up to the Inner Shrine The Inner Shrine- Lord Tokugawa was interred here in 1617. Lake Chuzenji is located in the Nikko National Park. The lake was created by Mount Nantai volcano eruption about 20,000 years ago. Kegon Falls- the most famous waterfall in Japan, is located at Lake Chuzenji. Shinkyo Bridge- One of the 3 finest bridges in Japan; constructed in 1636.

Day 13- 4/7/2024 Tokyo City Tour & River Cruise Meiji Jingu Shrine There is a wedding procession going on here Ginza District crosswalk Tokyo Imperial Palace- is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. Except for January 2 (New Year’s Greeting) and December 23 (Emperor’s Birthday), the palace buildings and inner gardens are not open to the public. The Nijubashi, a bridge that serves as an entrance to the inner palace grounds. River Cruise Sensoji Temple Nakamise Dori is a shopping street that stretches from Kaminari Gates to the main grounds of Sensoji Temple In the evening after today’s tours

Day 12- 4/6/2024 Today’s itinerary- Mt. Fuji 5th Station & Five-Lake Region Some facts on the 5th Station & Five-Lake Region- -There are four climbing trails on different sides of the mountain; each trail is divided into 10 stations with the 1st station at the foot of the mountain and the 10th station being the summit. -5th Station is located at the elevation of 2,305 meters above sea-level or approx. halfway up the mountain. -Fuji Five-Lake region is the are at the northern foot of Fujiyama; elevation is 1,000 meters above sea level Because of today’s cloudy weather, we can only go to the 4th Station. It seems like we are so high up in the sky but we don’t see Mt. Fuji yet. Kawaguchi Lake Lunch time is a dish made of flat “udon’ noodles cooked in a miso soup with vegetables and is served in an iron pot. We continue on to the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum where the museum displays a magnificient collection of over life-size landscape kimono creations by the acclaimed textile artist Kubota Itchiku. Other structures, artwork and landscape at the museum Oisin Park on the north shore of Kawaguchiko Lake- we get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji On the ride back to town, we can still see Mt. Fuji

I am back on CC! Let’s continue and finish my Japan journey. We have pre-cruise tours set up for the next 4 days before we embark Millennium. Day 11- 4/5/2024 Tokyo City Tour- This will be our meeting spot for all pre-cruise tours, at the center lounge of the Hyatt Regency Tokyo where we meet our tour guides. Today’s itinerary- Nezu Shrine, Azalea Festival - “The Nezu Shrine (1705) is one of the oldest and most beautiful Shinto shrines in Tokyo. Every year, from around April 2 until the beginning of May, the shrine holds Tsutsuji Matsuri (Azalea Festival)” Unfortunately, the azaleas are late blooming this year just as cherry blossoms are blooming late because of weather that’s been unusually cold. Tokyo National Museum (1872)- “is the oldest and largest of Japan’s top-level national museums. The Museum features the largest and best collections of art and archeological artifacts of Japan.” We are having a whale of a day Rikugien (1702), “the ‘Six-Poem-Garden”, is considered Tokyo’s most beautiful landscaped garden. The garden reflects 88 scenes from Classical Japanese and Chinese literature.” The view from the Fukiage Chaya( Traditional Tea House) We get to try the Matcha Tea with a little snack Back in town, lots of admirers of the beautiful trees at a shrine in the middle of the city.

Hello! We are back! Got home last night after about an 9 hour flight. We were exhausted. It is nice to be home. I see that I am about 50 pages behind on Dani’s thread. I am not going to attempt to read those pages yet- (I did take a peek at only the last few pages though). Lots to take care of at home first plus to shake this jet lag off of me. Then I will continue from where I left off to share our adventures with you. Please be patient. I will have to edit all the photos before I can share. Dani @dani negreanu So happy you got to be reunited with your family for Passover. Marietta @DaniDanielle Happy 53rd Anniversary! Sorry if I missed any other big or small news.

Tomorrow, 4/9/2024, we board the Celebrity Millennium for our cruise. We have been busy the last 4 days with private group tours that were planned, organized and set up by a fellow passenger. Everything has been amazing so far. I will try to get caught up from where I left off with Day 11- 4/5.

It took about 5 hours with bullet train and local trains. Google map was very helpful. Also, I have to take back what I said about DH planning and organizing everything with the trip. Somethings were spur of the moment such as the visit to the NAKED Suraka Festival where we found out about it from the Tourist Information office.

Day 9- 4/3- Today we leave Kyoto to travel 526 km (320 miles) by train to Kyonon for a one night stay in a beach resort with DH’s brother, who happens to be in Japan this week with his family. An open air Onsen- a hot spring - with a view of the beach Day 10- 4/4- Weather clears up nicely today. We check out of this hotel and leave for Tokyo. We arrive in Tokyo! Sushi for dinner We have a 7:20pm time reservation to go up to the Shibuya Sky. This is the famous Shibuya crossing view from the 11th floor. Now we go up to the rooftop. A laser light beam up to the sky. Views from the rooftop

Day 8- 4/2 - Part 3. After the tea ceremony, we walked around meandering through the streets with the many shops and restaurants. A peek at a private property Walking along with the crowd Lunch is at a popular, tiny hole-in-the-wall ramen place. We keep walking and now exploring the Gion district Matcha green tea soft serve ice cream in a cup… …or have it fancy with fruits and other toppings. A soft, fluffy and very flurry cat laying outside a restaurant. Straw Belts Bonfire Camellia

Day 2 4/2- Kyoto Part 2- Great photo opportunities for those in kimonos. It is getting very crowded so it’s good time to leave. We have a Japanese Tea Ceremony at 12 Noon to attend.

Day 8- 4/2. Kyoto- In the morning we visit the Kiyomizu-Dera temple before it gets packed with people. A girl washes her hands before entering the temple as a symbolic cleansing.

Thank you, Aussie. Yes, DH planned and organized everything out so not to overlap with our tours while we’re on the Celebrity Best of Japan cruise. He read Japan travel books, researched all the different places and the kinds of things to do in each place. He read all the reviews on different hotels and planned out transportation for every activity. He did not plan any private tours. Everything is on our own. He had a lot of references from his planning back in 2019 for our 2020 trip that never panned out. Bob, you are absolutely correct about how organized and precise the train system works in Japan. It does seem so overwhelming in the beginning and it does take a while to understand how it works. Everything runs like clockwork so you have to really plan ahead and not be late. I also notice how clean the trains are. There is no trash in the cars and the seats and floors are not dirty. I wish we had good public transportation system like this or other foreign countries. Maryann, thank you for thinking of us. There is no concerns here in Japan. I think there was tsunami warning for Okinawa but that’s about all although it’s been raining here all day and seems like everywhere.

Day 7- 4/1 We leave Okayama today and head for Kyoto on the bullet train. But first we make a stop in Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle. School children on a field trip to the castle There is street food across the road from the castle where you can get a bite to eat. We now take the train to Kyoto. Saka No Hotel is where we stay for 2 days. The table and chairs on the floor is called Horigotatsu. There is a square opening in the floor where you put your legs in. Not too bad to get in and out of for DH and me. In Kyoto is where you see people wearing kimonos out. Now through April 7 there is the NAKED Sakura Festival night time show at the Nijo-Jo Castle where you can enjoy a stunning seasonal illumination of the castle and trees. No restaurants are open by the time we finish so we get this from a grocery store and this is our dinner after a long day.

Day 6- 3/31 On the second day of Okayama, we take the local train to Kurashiki and visited the Bikan Historic Area which is a reconstruction of old villages. You can stroll through the streets with the many shops or taste different kinds of snacks and food or just enjoy the whole scenery. A bride and groom strolling through A bride and groom photoshoot A Snoopy Chicolat shop for those who love Snoopy (🙋‍♀️me). A Father Christmas Christmas shop for @Sea Dog Greg A man riding his bike with his cat on his shoulder reminds me of the first cat that Greg had that loved being on his shoulder. And finally, a sushi dinner

Day 5- 3/30 Today we say goodbye to Miyajima and board the bullet train for Okayama for 2 days. The sun is arising…most definitely In Okayama Visit to the Okayama Castle Visit to the Koraku-en Gardens Sunset- A view from our hotel room balcony Right outside our hotel

Maryann, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Would it be possible to go see her one last time if she’s still in hospice? Hugs. @dani negreanu Feel better soon. Lots of chicken soup. 🫕

After a long day, we return to Miyajima for the sunset.

Day 4- 3/29 Today’s adventure takes us to Hiroshima. We take the ferry over from Miyajima, take the train and then catch a bus for our first stop…Costco. Whenever we travel to new places, we always try to visit their local Costco’s. It is always interesting to check out all the different merchandise that they carry. Here is just a few samples of what I have not seen at our local Costco. Next is a visit to Peace Memorial Park The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall with its iconic green dome that sustained major damage when the atomic bomb exploded but instantly killed everyone inside. The Peace Bell Time for one more stop…the Hiroshima Castle

Day 3- 3/28 Today’s activities is to walk to the Miyajima Public Aquarium. Along the way are a few photos… I don’t want to make this post super long so I will just post a few aquarium photos. Cuttle Fish We found Nemo Coral that looks like bouquets of flowers Lion Fish Red Crown Crane This shows how oysters are made. Walking back along the beachfront…a small shrine. Finally…a treat! This soft-serve ice cream is thick and rich. A 100% better than what RC serves as soft-serve.

We found hardly any cherry blossoms 🌸 Perhaps a little early and a bit cold still. But we did find this one that blossomed amongst the others in a little cherry tree orchard.

Jennifer, that’s what I was afraid of - trip and fall on my face or slip and fall on my butt. That would kill my back for sure and Merv would be very upset and be inflamed with anger.

Some of the dishes are new to us and we are unfamiliar with them as well. I will try to identify the dishes as best I can when I get a chance. I thought about you and @aussielozzie18 who are avid hikers, the distances and hundred of thousands of steps that you all can do in a day. That’s incredible.

Day 3- 3/27 con’t This day’s adventure is to hike the Mt. Misen Trail. This trail is a 535 meter elevation climb to the top. The equivalent of 105 floors. Yikes. Not sure what I’m in for. It starts off easy enough. It increasingly gets harder. The path is dry in some spots but wet in most because of rain and water rain offs. The stepping stones below looks pretty even and low but they get taller and steeper. Wish I have a picture of the steepness of the stepping stones and of the climb but at this point about half way up, I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t want my back killing me afterwards so the next bench we find, I’ll just sit there and wait for DH to finish the hike. Good thing because DH said the last half of the climb is so much more challenging. I would be so frustrated. He made it to the top. That is a view of Hiroshima . Some waterfalls along the trail on the way up.

Day 3- 3/27 East is to the right of us and west is to the left of us so we don’t really get sunrise or sunset. This was the best I could get from our balcony. There is an oyster farming boat with the blue light going out. After a hardy Japanese breakfast, we are ready for this day’s adventure. On the way, I couldn’t resist getting another shot of the O-torii Gate in water.

I told you all we were going on an adventure. 😆 But to be honest with you, I had the very same concerns. How am I going to get down on the floor and how am I going to get up? I actually managed okay. Flight was long but thankful we didn’t have any plane problems. It made it to our destination in one piece.