Blogs from Kanagawa, Japan, Asia - page 2

Blog 7_Japan_2023 March 27 Port of Call: Yokohama – Weather: partly cloudy – Temperature 16°C Today we took our time packing and getting organized for our transfer from the hotel to Yokohama Cruise terminal by way of the limo service we had previously hired. After checking out we left our baggage with the Concierge and went for a light lunch before our 1:00 pm pickup which was exactly on time. Excellent service! Upon our arrival at the cruise terminal at 1:45 pm we fully expected that we would have to wait for our scheduled embarkation time of 3:20 pm but to our surprise we were whisked through the waiting area on a Priority Pass. One of the many advantages our being 5 Star Mariners with Holland America. The health inspection exercise went smoothly as we had ... read more

Japan has 30,000 Inari Shrines across the country that is famous for their picturesque vermilion torii gates. Inari shrines are dedicated to the spirit of Inari which represents rice, the essential element of Japanese food. To express gratitude to the deity of the shrine, visitors traditionally donate a torii gate whenever their wish comes true or when making a prayer for prosperity. This tradition has been carried out over several centuries now, and as a result the shrine has accumulated countless gates, giving them the name senbondorii (“a thousand gates”). Legend has it that Minamoto Yoritomo, the first Shogun of Kamakura was visited in a dream by an Inari, (a white fox) who advised him when to attack his enemies, thus ensuring a victory. Out of gratitude, Sasuke Inari Shrine was built in the 12th century ... read more

My usual travel companion hurt her back. She had decided on the event in Kamakura 9 years ago. She booked us rustic but clean and adequate accommodation central to our interest in the Yabusame ritual at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine - realistically horse archery in a shrine complex showing off authentic 12th century samurai archer costumes and horse paraphernalia. Our friends from Hay Flat are country girls, one of whom is a serious equestrian eventer whose daughter practices horse archery in Australia. So they jumped at the chance to see the rare event. Alas our hostess could not join us on our long weekend ( a holiday to repect older people!!!) So we had to travel hundreds of kms on the Shinkansen and local trains to a the shrine in Kamakura. I forgot that I am so ... read more

We woke up early to a warm, humid day in Gora. We had a lovely shower and an onsen, which was nice and relaxing for stiffening muscles. We ate our traditional Japanese breakfast and then went out for the day. We wandered around the streets and alleys of Gora. It is a very green and leafy area, though not as expensive or prestigious as Hakone by the lake. We went up to the lookout, via a hotel lift, which ascended diagonally up the hill. It was bizarre to watch through the glass. It was extremely hot in the sun and fans and air-conditioning blew full steam ahead. We went into stores and tried different specialities and bought a few treats to share. There are so many unusual regional desserts and sweet foods to try here, though ... read more

The rain has cleared overnight and we wake to blue skies and only a few scattered clouds. We’re desperate to get a good view of Mount Fuji after yesterday’s thick cloud and pouring rain, so we get back on the Hakone Ropeway and head up again towards the Owakudani Valley. As we head higher we can see the lower slopes of Mount Fuji, but the only clouds in the sky seem to be very determined to gather around its peak. We decide to get off the ropeway halfway up at Ubako where we were told there is a Mount Fuji viewing point. It’s not obvious exactly where this is, but we find a sign to a trail through the forest to a viewing point, so we assume that this must be it. We pass a sign ... read more