Musing around Japan (Sept 25 - Oct 9) live

[Port Power]

Today is quite windy.  This morning’s tour started with the Goryokaku Tower.  The view from the observation deck was wonderful. The Goryokaku citadel’s base defence walls and moat were clearly visible.  The park would be stunning in spring with all those cherry trees!

 

 

 

 

Look closely and you will see the ship.

 

 

Time was not included to walk around the citadel grounds, but I managed a quick walk over the bridges for closer peek before returning to the bus.

 

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Port Power
Add photos and then remove!

[Port Power]

Once again I am writing from my iPad, but have to post to save before going to my iPhone to add the photos. Photos do not upload to the cloud very quickly to transfer across easily.  Bear with me! 

[Port Power]

The second visit was to the fish market right next to the ship!  If this stop had been last, everyone would have walked back to the ship.  However, our escort (from the boutique) clocked the 7-Eleven and shops next to the railway station and went and bought his pot noodles/pot rice instead. I went over after the tour returned. 😊

 

The visit really was a waste of time.  No one want to buy food at that time.  However, there were some items to wonder at and compare prices.

 

NB.  ¥100 is just below AU$1.00.  The R3RTMB of you will have to work out prices for yourselves.

 

These crab legs are not out of the shell. Shelled (meat only, ready to eat) they were AU$105 for the “hand”.

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Port Power

[Port Power]

Today’s final destination was the Hakodate Ropeway.  The views from the top were incredible.

 

Before we dispersed to take in the

view from the upper decks, we received a warning.  Due to the strong winds, the Ropeway would be closing after the 12:45pm departure.  That gave us 15 minutes to take in the views.

 

 

 

That is Silver Muse down there. A rusty old workhorse ship is next to it.

 

 

Ropeway staff scoured outside to make sure everyone who wanted to descend had come inside.  As the car was very near to docking, we could definitely feel and see the effect of the wind.

 

So back to the ship.  I went over to the aforementioned shops because I was still looking for Japanese whiskey as a gift for my son.  None at the 7-Eleven or the other two shops, but I did find a single malt at the main store across the road.  No age mentioned, but there was no 8-year old or port barrel aged choice.

 

**For the record, I cannot buy liquor duty free at Narita airport because I am flying through Singapore.  Changi has second security at the gate.  If you buy duty free at Changi, the store delivers it to the gate for scanning and the goods are handed to passengers after security.  Even in a sealed duty free bag from Tokyo, my whiskey would not have been allowed through secondary security.  Bye-bye whiskey!

Edited October 7, 2023 by Port Power

[Port Power]

At the base of the Hadokate Ropeway is a radio station.  The crew are in full view behind soundproof glass.

 

[Port Power]

Tomorrow is a sea day and my final day on Silver Muse.

😭  A few of us are dining at Kaiseki tonight, which is also formal night.  At 9:45pm Mark Farris is performing his show in the Venetian Lounge.  He is a staple of Dolce Vita and definitely not to be missed!

 

 @drron29 take note. Mark disembarks in Hong Kong, and I do recommend seeing his formal show if he does another one.  Or just play the tambourine along with him in Dolce Vita!  🎶  Either of you!  Or both!  Tell him “Carol from Perth” passed the tambourine to you! 😂

[Stickman1990]

4 minutes ago, Port Power said:

At 9:45pm Mark Farris is performing his show in the Venetian Lounge.  He is a staple of Dolce Vita and definitely not to be missed!

Before Silversea he was a “living treasure” on Crystal - please say hi from Terry & Kerry from the Avenue Saloon - I’m sure he’ll laugh - we’re in his little black book

 

Oh that he will be on Muse when we’re back in May 

[Port Power]

6 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

Before Silversea he was a “living treasure” on Crystal - please say hi from Terry & Kerry from the Avenue Saloon - I’m sure he’ll laugh - we’re in his little black book

 

Oh that he will be on Muse when we’re back in May 

Mark did tell me his work history.  I have given several “performances” over the last month.  I’m sure you did the same.  How he remembers people days after seeing them once is amazing!  I will pass on your regards.

[drron29]

If you are staying in Yokohama for a day they have the Autumn festival along the harbour front at the moment and will still be going on Monday.

A wonderful selection of food plus a few Japanese craft distillerys. Mainly gin but occasional vodka, rum and Whiskey, lots of craft  breweries and wines. talk about a small world i met a winemaker from the Clare Valley selling his wares. I think he was chuffed as he was speaking to a Japanese distributor when I was there and I did say Clare valley Rieslings are the best in the world.

I probably will buy a couple of bottles of the gin tomorrow. Don't have to worry about airport security as we get off in Cairns.

 

Anyone else who has a cruise beginning or ending in Yokohama take a few days here. not a bad place at all.

 

The only thing that went wrong was they were forecasting strong winds for today which didn't happen. obviously because we went up the Landmark Tower from where on a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji. Today smog and cloud. Could have used those winds.

All we saw in the direction of Fuji

 

If you look hard enough you can see the lower slopes of Fuji taking off from the second peak on the left. One Day.

[Salbags58]

On 9/26/2023 at 9:30 PM, Gourmet Gal said:

I can recommend a private guide for Tokyo if needed.  Also highly recommend a Tokyo food tour with Culinary Back Streets.  

We are doing the Muse Japan cruise in April 2024 and starting in Tokyo so would appreciate details of your guide as would love to do the food tour as well.

 

Thanks

[Salbags58]

9 minutes ago, Salbags58 said:

We are doing the Muse Japan cruise in April 2024 and starting in Tokyo so would appreciate details of your guide as would love to do the food tour as well.

 

Thanks

sorry saw that you did reply to this earlier in this topic

[Port Power]

4 hours ago, drron29 said:

If you are staying in Yokohama for a day they have the Autumn festival along the harbour front at the moment and will still be going on Monday.

A wonderful selection of food plus a few Japanese craft distillerys. Mainly gin but occasional vodka, rum and Whiskey, lots of craft  breweries and wines. talk about a small world i met a winemaker from the Clare Valley selling his wares. I think he was chuffed as he was speaking to a Japanese distributor when I was there and I did say Clare valley Rieslings are the best in the world.

 

I’ve been away for 31 nights and will also be flying to Budapest two days after arriving home from this cruise. I spent several days in Tokyo during March/April and will be doing a second Yokohama tour en route to the airport on Sunday.

 

 

[TLCOhio]

29 minutes ago, Port Power said:

I’ve been away for 31 nights and will also be flying to Budapest two days after arriving home from this cruise. I spent several days in Tokyo during March/April and will be doing a second Yokohama tour en route to the airport on Sunday.

 

WOW!!  Busy schedule.  Lots of travel and destinations, especially when traveling from western Australia.  Good luck and safe travels.  

 

No rush, but you mentioned your time and experiences in Tokyo.  Be interested in your suggestions, tips and loves for Tokyo.  No rush.  On the Asia CC Board there is a thread where you might, when handy, post any and all ideas and insights for maximizing the experience in that large and sprawling city.  That thread is at:

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[drron29]

I hope your tour of Yokohama is on Monday @Port Power as the port schedule only has you arriving here at 0630 Monday morning. If I happen to be up I will give you a big wave as the Muse sails in. I may be as sunrise here has been spectacular at ~ 0530.

Edited October 7, 2023 by drron29

[Port Power]

53 minutes ago, drron29 said:

I hope your tour of Yokohama is on Monday @Port Power as the port schedule only has you arriving here at 0630 Monday morning. If I happen to be up I will give you a big wave as the Muse sails in. I may be as sunrise here has been spectacular at ~ 0530.

My tour departs 8:30/8:45am on Monday.  I’ll wave in your general direction. 👋

 

Unfortunately it is the same tour I went on during changeover day, but it was peaceful being at the Buddhist temple early, without crowds.  The Sankeien gardens are worth a walk through again, too.  I should be at NRT about five hours before my 7:00pm flight.  No opportunity to walk around the harbour this day.

[Port Power]

7 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 

WOW!!  Busy schedule.  Lots of travel and destinations, especially when traveling from western Australia.  Good luck and safe travels.  

 

No rush, but you mentioned your time and experiences in Tokyo.  Be interested in your suggestions, tips and loves for Tokyo.  No rush.  On the Asia CC Board there is a thread where you might, when handy, post any and all ideas and insights for maximizing the experience in that large and sprawling city.  That thread is at:
 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

I was on a small group (12) tour in March/April.  We visited the Imperial Palace gardens as, fortunately, it was one of the two days a year (or is it just one day?) they are open to the public.  We did a river cruise.  We walked down that busy, crowded shopping street. Some weird outfits!  We went up yo the top of two different high buildings.  From the tallest we could see right across to Mount Fuji.  The other overlooked that famous intersection of pedestrian crossings.  Which we crossed!  The red dog statue is there, as well.

 

So nothing out of the ordinary.  I would have liked just to walk for miles along the river under the cherry blossom trees. 🌸 Beautiful!  

[Gourmet Gal]

11 hours ago, Salbags58 said:

We are doing the Muse Japan cruise in April 2024 and starting in Tokyo so would appreciate details of your guide as would love to do the food tour as well.

 

Thanks

See post 26 and 27

[rojaan19]

Well a ship docked right next to our hotel this morning  -  but not the right ship 🤭😁🤭

[Redking]

2 hours ago, rojaan19 said:

Well a ship docked right next to our hotel this morning  -  but not the right ship 🤭😁🤭

🤣funny for those of us following reviews on both ships.

[Port Power]

22 hours ago, Port Power said:

 

 @drron29 take note. Mark disembarks in Hong Kong, and I do recommend seeing his formal show if he does another one.  Or just play the tambourine along with him in Dolce Vita!  🎶  Either of you!  Or both!  Tell him “Carol from Perth” passed the tambourine to you! 😂

I was disappointed with Mark’s show.  I love him in the Lounge, but did not think he worked as well on stage.  I thought he would sing more, not just a different version of his usual patter.  Some very good bits, but some segments should have been left out.  I will still be in Dolce Vita tonight though, joining in on the tambourine!

 

The various extra performances in the Venetian Lounge are because there are no longer six singers who can break up into many smaller combinations.  Changes are once again afoot.

[les37b]

Port Power, I certainly share your views on the fish markets. We had 2 tours featuring them. One thing of note apart from the eye watering prices - the smell - or moreover the lack of it. Without opening your eyes, you wouldn’t have known you were in a fish market! Quite incredible.

 

One annoying thing from our voyage. The one thing I was looking forward to, was Japanese beer, which I was assured would be plentiful. Asahi is the only beer I’ve bought back home for a number of years, so was significant. When we boarded in Osaka, it was available in all bars. By the time we reached Tokyo 2 days later there was none left apart from in Kaiseki. Ordinarily, I’d just take that on the chin, but considering where we were and the news they’d ran out and not getting any more, despite being in Japan was a huge let down. Did you notice if Sapporo or Asahi was being served?

[TLCOhio]

15 hours ago, Port Power said:

I was on a small group (12) tour in March/April.  We visited the Imperial Palace gardens as, fortunately, it was one of the two days a year (or is it just one day?) they are open to the public.  We did a river cruise.  We walked down that busy, crowded shopping street. Some weird outfits!  We went up yo the top of two different high buildings.  From the tallest we could see right across to Mount Fuji.  The other overlooked that famous intersection of pedestrian crossings.  Which we crossed!  The red dog statue is there, as well.  So nothing out of the ordinary.  I would have liked just to walk for miles along the river under the cherry blossom trees. 🌸 Beautiful!  

 

Appreciate this great Tokyo background, details and follow-up from our traveling Aussie friend.  Interesting and very helpful.  Sounds like we will not get "lucky" to be able to tour the Imperial Palance Gardens, but maybe, if and if, to be able to see Mount Fuji from a distance.  Seems as if there are many options in Tokyo.  We will not be able to see it "ALL", but it can be a good, initial sampling in two and a half days during our first visit there.  Keep it coming!! 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[Port Power]

 

After the very warm weather we experienced previously in Yokohama, this is what we arrived to this morning. The photos are in full colour!

 

 

 

Evidently there might be another rainy day, but then sunshine and warmth all the way to Hong Kong.

 

I had to go back into my suitcase last night for my runners (sneakers) and socks.  Sandals would probably not be the best option walking around gardens in the rain.  ☔️ 

[Port Power]

Welcome aboard @drron29 and @rojaan19

[drron29]

Yes a miserable morning indeed. now if you had a starboard cabin I got plenty of photos of that side this morning. All in my report.