Live(ish) Millennium Japan 19th Aug review

[villauk]

2 hours ago, Texed said:

 

We are doing great.  We hope all is well on your end also.  😊

We’re having a great time, thanks.

[villauk]

 

It was my DF’s birthday today and the highlight was a tour with Koichi (Tous by Locals) recommended by @Miaminice. 
 

After an MDR breakfast, we received a text from Koichi to say he was waiting for us outside the terminal building. We took lots of water again today as the temperature was expected to be similar to yesterday 🥵! I was still suffering with my legs, so we did say to Koichi that we thought we wouldn’t quite make the full 8 hours around Kyoto. We didn’t want to spoil every further day for the sake of an hour or two on one day.

[villauk]

Kyoto from Osaka

 

We left Osaka Cruise Terminal at 8.30am and took the metro to meet the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. If you book with Tours by Locals, you pay the guide’s transport costs too. May I say that the transport system is fantastic in Japan; we never have to wait for any trains, everything is on time.

 

 

Below shows how we sat facing each other by depressing a lever beneath the chairs.

 

 

We had one stop only, which was approximately 15 minutes for £12 each way. The signposts are also in English, so navigating your way through the station was easy. 

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

Kyoto Tour with Koichi (Tours by Locals)

 

We chosen another star guide - Koichi was brilliant and very understanding when we explained how the heat was really impacting us.
This was our original itinerary to give an idea to those who haven’t decided their own itinerary as of yet (we rearranged the order slightly and missed a shrine or temple along the way because it was too hot):

 

8:30 Pick you up at Osaka Cruise Terminal (Osaka Metro)

9:00 Shin-Osaka Shinkansen Station (Shinkansen Bullet train to Kyoto:Max Speed 300km/h )

9:30 Kyoto Station (JR train:150JPY)

10:30 Fushimi-Inari Shrine (Keihan railway: 170JPY)

11:30 Sajusangen-do Temple *Admisson ticket:600JPY (Taxi: about 1500JPY*2cabs)

12:20 Lunch around Sanjusangen-do Temple (Walking)

13:30 Kiyomizudera Temple *Admission Ticket:400JPY (Walking)

15:00 Gion GeishaTown (Walking)

16:00 Nishiki Food Market (Subway: 220JPY)

16:30 See you off at Kyoto Station

As @Miaminice has reiterated previously on the boards, Japanese tour guides do walk quickly. If you looked at our itinerary and thought it was too much, let them know! We didn’t want to offend Koichi, but we knew that we just wouldn’t be able to see everywhere without one of us collapsing from the heat. You’ll see from the photos that we did an alternative activity which celebrated my DF’s birthday wonderfully - a special memory to treasure.

 

 

 

 

[villauk]

Kyoto Train Station - very impressive architecture 
 

 

 

Views of the city:

 

Fushimi-Inari Shrine 

 

 


Guessing the weight:

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

Next on our tour was the indoor market - so many food stalls and interesting artisan goods. Oh, and sake - we couldn’t refuse a little taste 😂.

 

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

We decided to stay around the Nishiki Food Market for lunch. It’s quite difficult accommodating for all taste, but Koichi found an appropriate place and my DF and I couldn’t resist our tradition:

 

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

Koichi then took us to a department store as he had a surprise for us! To celebrate my DF’s birthday, he purchased a bottle of sake from his local town….it was well received.

 

 

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

 

Off to Gion and Geisha Town. You can’t take photos of the girls - we did see a few - but Koichi snook in a photo outside one of their houses. The information from Koichi was invaluable to our experience; he told us about being a taxi driver and returning the maiko, trainee girls, to their abodes. It takes four years to become a geiko.
 

I can’t recommend Koichi enough. We know that we’d have missed out on so many experiences throughout the day without him. 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 25 by villauk

[villauk]

We said our goodbyes to Koichi and thanked him for a wonderful day. He produced a little memento for each family which had been handmade by his wife. 
 

As you make your own way back from Kyoto, I suggest that you take photographs of the train stations/platforms you need - it worked well for us 👍. 

[villauk]

DO NOT MISS the local drumming troupe who perform during your itinerary. They were the act in the theatre after our day in Kyoto. One of the best performances we have seen on a cruise ship! 
 

We have our first full overnight in Osaka…

Edited August 25 by villauk

[Pushka]

1 hour ago, villauk said:

DO NOT MISS the local drumming troupe who perform during your itinerary. They were the act in the theatre after our day in Kyoto. One of the best performances we have seen on a cruise ship! 
 

We have our first full overnight in Osaka…

Yes. I think it's our overnight in Kobe (we don't port in Osaka) and have planned our half day in Kobe (we don't arrive until 12 noon) accordingly. 

[chemmo]

Thoroughly enjoying your trip!
 

My goodness it does look hard work though! I hope you are feeling better and that you continue to manage in the heat.
 

Goes to show the value of CC in terms of advice for helping you plan and arrange tours and excursions. All too often we can read on CC bits of ‘bickering’ and sadly at times rudeness…Your report is a reflection of Cruise Critic at its best…You have received help from others and are now entertaining and educating us in return.

 

Continue to enjoy!

[Miaminice]

9 minutes ago, chemmo said:

Thoroughly enjoying your trip!
 

My goodness it does look hard work though! I hope you are feeling better and that you continue to manage in the heat.
 

Goes to show the value of CC in terms of advice for helping you plan and arrange tours and excursions. All too often we can read on CC bits of ‘bickering’ and sadly at times rudeness…Your report is a reflection of Cruise Critic at its best…You have received help from others and are now entertaining and educating us in return.

 

Continue to enjoy!

Fully agree! 
As you know we also post our experiences on CC - because we are passionate travelers and because we love to share our passion with others.
The quality of a cruise - actually any kind of trip - depends a lot on your own mindset. When we have a fantastic journey, WHY even mention that one steak in two weeks which isn’t quite medium?! Some seem to think it makes them more important 😁

For that matter there’s often to much critic in Cruise Critic for me.

 

So I am thoroughly enjoying that @villauk and family are having a good time. Because THAT’S all that really matters.

[chemmo]

36 minutes ago, Miaminice said:

Fully agree! 
As you know we also post our experiences on CC - because we are passionate travelers and because we love to share our passion with others.
The quality of a cruise - actually any kind of trip - depends a lot on your own mindset. When we have a fantastic journey, WHY even mention that one steak in two weeks which isn’t quite medium?! Some seem to think it makes them more important 😁

For that matter there’s often to much critic in Cruise Critic for me.

 

So I am thoroughly enjoying that @villauk and family are having a good time. Because THAT’S all that really matters.

Absolutely!

 

Whenever we cruise (or holiday in another fashion) we always remember how lucky we are rather than focus on any small issues. I am now also aware that the adventures we enjoy will be enjoyed time and time again through our memories…

 

Japan was always on our hit list but one of the few places we never actually made it to and to be honest, at the age I am now, I really wouldn’t have the stamina…Am I sad about it? No…We really have done so much in our lifetime and there is still more I can enjoy even if at a slower pace…

 

Reading Villauk’s review (although we have never met) feels a bit like reading family postcards…I think my son is about 8/10 years senior to theirs and we have always shared similar posts both asking and giving advice…It is wonderful they are continuing to share such special family time as I continue to do with my family…

 

 

Edited August 25 by chemmo

[villauk]

2 hours ago, chemmo said:

Thoroughly enjoying your trip!
 

My goodness it does look hard work though! I hope you are feeling better and that you continue to manage in the heat.
 

Goes to show the value of CC in terms of advice for helping you plan and arrange tours and excursions. All too often we can read on CC bits of ‘bickering’ and sadly at times rudeness…Your report is a reflection of Cruise Critic at its best…You have received help from others and are now entertaining and educating us in return.

 

Continue to enjoy!

 

Thank you. I do really appreciate all the help and advice I’ve received from CCs 😉. It’s definitely helped me plan this wonderful experience for us all 👍.

[villauk]

1 hour ago, Miaminice said:

Fully agree! 
As you know we also post our experiences on CC - because we are passionate travelers and because we love to share our passion with others.
The quality of a cruise - actually any kind of trip - depends a lot on your own mindset. When we have a fantastic journey, WHY even mention that one steak in two weeks which isn’t quite medium?! Some seem to think it makes them more important 😁

For that matter there’s often to much critic in Cruise Critic for me.

 

So I am thoroughly enjoying that @villauk and family are having a good time. Because THAT’S all that really matters.

 

We are having a super time, thank you. We’re making the most of our Japan experience. I love reading all of your journey reviews - they definitely assist in my planning 👍.

[villauk]

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

advice…It is wonderful they are continuing to share such special family time as I continue to do with my family…

 

We are making the most, as I know you do, of spending time with our boys 💕.

[villauk]

Awaiting in my DF’s cabin was a special surprise from her room steward.

 

 

 

More surprises at dinner:

 

 

I’m sure it will be a birthday she’ll remember for many years.

[villauk]

After our overnight stop in Osaka, we’d decided to take it a little easier. Down days are essential on this port-intensive itinerary.
 

Next to the port (literally 25m from the doors) was the perfect shopping mall to purchase a few souvenirs, or in our case a few ‘thank you for looking after the house’ gifts. There are a multitude of stores selling various items, there’s even a petting zoo! We watched a cute Japanese boy feeding the enormously fluffy rabbits with a spoon 😂.

 

 

Outside the port:

 

There was also a Legoland in the same area.

 

Petting zoo occupants:

 

 
 

 

We took some back streets away from the main shopping centre in search of a small shrine and temple which we’d located on a local map. We were the only visitors - it felt strangely cathartic after all the huge crowds of the previous day.

 

 

 

 

 

You know you’re back at the port when you see the ferris wheel; I’ve never seen so many as I’ve seen in Japan.

 

 

An invite to the helipad had been received by everyone in the group . We attended and out on the pier were some drummers, playing us out for sailaway. The helipad was full to bursting - unsure if it was just for Elite and above 🤷‍♀️.

 

 

 

[villauk]

 

Hiroshima

 

Last minute, we realised that we were on the first sailing where the port had changed to Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf from our original port of Itsukaichi. We weren’t sure if there would be a free port shuttle until we left the ship. As it was, the shuttle actually drops you off at the Port of Hiroshima, where you can either take the tram into the city or catch the high-speed ferry to Miyajima. We did the latter and purchased the tickets, inside the terminal at the far end. You have a choice of a return ticket - we didn’t dock until 1pm and the last high-speed ferry leaves at 5pm - or purchasing a single/one-way and returning on the alternative route: shorter ferry route to Miyajimaguchi and then the train.

 

(Sorry the quality isn’t great, but you can see the options)

You are handed a boarding card and you need that to board the ferry (we were never asked for our tickets only the numbered boarding card that you relinquish as you board). I think the journey was approximately 30 minutes for 2200 yen pp.

 

Edited August 26 by villauk

[villauk]

Miyajina

 

Once you arrive on the island, you are in the centre of everything. This little man greeted us off the ferry:

 

At our own pace, we followed the road to our right towards the Floating Great Torii - remember , Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine with Torii Gate. 
 

There wee various monuments and more deer along the route.

 

 

Unsure who was more frightened 😂.

 

 

 

At last, we’d reached the Floating Torii.

 

[villauk]

There were many crowds of people, so we continued on towards the 5-storey pagoda.

 

 

Views:

 

 

 

There is so much to do here, from the aquarium to shops to restaurants to hiking - something for everyone - and of course the deer.

 

Our favourite photo of the cruise so far:

 

Mine’s a double cheeseburger 😂!

[villauk]

What time do you open?😂😂😂😂😂

[villauk]

A beautiful railway from Hiroshima: