Blogs from Shizuoka, Japan, Asia

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Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Shimizu February 16th 2024

Tour Day 128, Cruise Day 26 – Shimizu, Japan – We had a notably topsy-turvy night getting to Shimizu, and, indeed, the captain announced we had aborted our first approach to the harbor because of the persistent high winds. Our second approach was successful, we arrived under brilliant blue skies and were greeted by a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji. My shore excursion didn’t begin until 1200 hours, so I circled the ship on the walking deck, watching the docking proceedings and taking several pictures I hope you enjoy. “Nihondaira Outlook & Kunozan Toshogu Shrine“ Shore Excursion Begin this spiritual day with a coach ride to Nihondaira Park Outlook -- a Prefecture Natural Park and the perfect spot to take in views of Suruga Bay and magnificent Mt Fuji (weather permitting). Board the scenic ropeway (cable ... read more
Arriving in Port – Shimizu, Japan
Arriving in Port – Shimizu, Japan
Arriving in Port – Shimizu, Japan

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka April 19th 2023

2023_Blog 22_Japan April 11 Port of Call: Omaezaki, Japan – Weather: Sunny - 70°F/20°C – wind: 37 mph. The first stop on this leg of the cruise is in the port of Omaezaki, where we were awakened by Taiko drummers performing on the pier to honor our arrival. As I said before in a previous blog the Japanese are welcoming us with open arms. They are so happy that tourism is returning after being cut off completely during the pandemic. Westerdam is the second cruise ship to enter their port this season and they entertained us throughout the day. We didn’t participate in any excursions today as they were all sold out back in early February. We were on a waitlist, but nothing came through, so we had a relaxing day. We did go down onto ... read more
Cars ready for export.
Mayor of Omaezaki welcoming us.
Captain van Hoogdalem making his reply.

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Shimizu April 14th 2023

2023_Blog 20_Japan April 9 Port of Call: Shimizu, Japan – Weather: Clear sunny skies - 57°F/14°C – Wind: 15 to 20 mph. As we sailed into harbor this Easter morning, we were greeted by a glorious sight of Mt. Fuji being bathed in sunlight and appeared to rise straight out of the sea. We had been told that this was quite a remarkable sight as the mountain is frequently wrapped in clouds and not visible. Now that we have seen it, legend holds that we will come back to Japan once again. Our excursion for the day included a visit to the Shinto Kambe-jinja Shrine with its highly decorative wooden buildings. As with all the shrines visited on this trip this one presented the viewer with an explosion of color, fantastic carvings overlaid with a feeling ... read more
Kambe-jinja Shrine - decorations.
Kamba-jinja Shrine - gate guardian.
Kambe-jinja Shrine - pond & bridge.

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji September 9th 2019

Wiele rzeczy w życiu ma swoje przeznaczenie i gdy dostajemy coś do ręki czasem nawet nie zdajemy sobie sprawy z tego kiedy i czy w ogóle z nich skorzystamy. Więc gdy zaczepieni przez panią z biura przy wejściu na trasę Yoshida Trail wsparliśmy miejscową fundację datkiem, dostaliśmy przy wyjściu dziwna paczkę z zawartością dla wspinających się po szlaku. Nie zastanawiając się bardzo nad tym, co jest w środku, wrzuciliśmy je do plecaków. Nawet nie podejrzewaliśmy w jak dramatycznych okolicznościach znów z nich skorzystamy za paręnaście godzin... No to od początku. Prognozy pogody były niekorzystne. Jednak mając, świeża, bardzo dokładną wiedzieliśmy, że, aby uniknąć spotkania z tajfunem na szlaku musimy wyjechać z Kawaguchiko najwcześniejszym autobusem o 6.30. Do naszego schroniska, Goraiko-kan, z 5 stacji, czyli wysokości około 1200 m npm, według przewodników, idzie się około 5 h. ... read more
Basia naciera na górę.
Jedno ze schronisk.
Nasz Goraiko-kan.

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji September 7th 2019

Już niemalże przywykliśmy do tego, że wizyta w Japonii to spotkanie z tajfunem. Tylko żeby w akurat w tą noc, kiedy mamy wejść na szczyt Fuji, co jest najważniejszą częścią naszej tegorocznej wyprawy. Nie nie damy się, bo mamy plan. Ale od początku... To przytrafiło się nam już drugi raz. Powaleni do wygodnego łóżka w tokijskim hotelu, po przespanych 2h/24h, zostaliśmy uratowani przez room service. Pani pokojówka wyrwała nas ze snu torując sobie drogę między naszymi plecakami. Totalnie zakłopotana faktem, że jesteśmy w pokoju, tak szybko, cicho i niespodziewanie zniknęła jak się pojawiła. Gdy spojrzeliśmy na zegarek okazało się, że gdyby nie ona musielibyśmy zapłacić za dodatkową dobę w hotelu. Była 10 czasu miejscowego, czyli środek nocy dla Europejczyka. Zdążyliśmy na styk wykonać szybką toaletę, omówić plan trasy do Kawaguchiko i wymeldować się, przed graniczna godzina ... read more
Lake Kawaguchi.
Miska ryżu dla biednych turystów.
Oraz tempura dobra o każdej porze.

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji April 27th 2019

As we sailed into Shimizu harbour all we could see was low lying cloud and fog. Despite this we went out in hope. First stop the inevitable shrine. - Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine to be exact. We entered through the Torii gate, purified ourselves with the sacred water, entered the shrine, did our two bows, two claps to waken the gods, offering of money , a wishful prayer and bow out. Got this down to a tee now. This one did have a lovely scared pool with lovely wisteria over it. Then it was back on the bus and a drive past lots of green tea plantations to the Matsubara Pine Grove. These ancient pines are protected and thought to be sacred and I must admit they are lovely trees all sweeping and bending over. ... read more
Torii gate
Azalea walk to shrine
The shrine

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji November 22nd 2018

Mt Fuji is located on Honshu Island 60 miles S/W of Tokyo. The active Stratovolcano is the highest mountain in Japan 12,389 feet. It is one of the holy mts along with Mt tote and Mt Haku. Its lava flow has produced a lake of hot springs lake Ashi. It is in the Hakone district with a population of 13,492. We set out early in the morning for the long journey to one of Japans most sought highlights with over cast and drizzle to arrive with soft clouds and sun. It was a long blessed journey.... read more
Cable cars Mt Fuji
Hakone hot springs
Hakone mt Fuji

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji November 22nd 2018

Its our last morning in our favourite little hotel and i'm pretty gutted to be leaving it must be said. We've got an early start as its going to be quite a long day of travelling to get to Mount Fuji. The forecast has changed from shining blue skies to forecast rain so we're a bit unsure as to whether we'll actually see any of the notorious mountain, but we'll wait and see…. Breakfast is ashamedly a mcdonalds breakfast muffin and the strongest coffee I think i've ever had. we're used to a little foamy cafe con leche but here they seem to like a very strong black filtered coffee with a tiny teeny coffee creamer which does little more than colour the coffee from black to very dark brown. Once again we consult the trusty ... read more
The asobi factory hostel
Kachi kachi ropeway
Smile!

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Mt Fuji August 20th 2018

Hello my fellow travellers! When I left you yesterday I had just reached the 9th station of the Fujinomiya Trail on Mount Fuji. I was doing a bullet climb throughout the night after having previously climbed Mount Hōei together with Takae before she had to go back home to Shizuoka. After a while of staying hunkered down at the 9th station I dragged myself up as I was getting too cold to stay stationary for too long. My plan was to make it to the top and then add as much clothing as I possibly could to myself and find myself a decent spot to wait out the last few hours until sunrise would come and hopefully warm me up a bit. The climb up to the 9.5th station was a slow and arduous one as ... read more
Friendly Proprietor of the Toilet
Helpful Man and Me
Goraikō (Sunrise on Mount Fuji)

Asia » Japan » Shizuoka » Fujinomiya August 19th 2018

Hello my fellow travellers! This morning I left before Ichiro woke up and made my way over to the train station to go to Fujinomiya, a city located at the foot of Mount Fuji on the Shizuoka side. I was greeted by a lovely morning with perfect weather and I felt good about the prospect of climbing Mount Fuji under such conditions. The train ride to Fujinomiya went well and as I exited the station I was met by a smiling Takae who had arrived about 20 minutes earlier than me. She had already checked up on the location of the buses heading to the Fujinomiya trail 5th station which is where we would begin our climb. Before our ascent however there was one place in Fujinomiya that I wanted to visit, the Fujisan Hongū Sengen ... read more
Haiden (Hall of Worship)
Cleansing at Wakutama Pond
Takae at the Wakutama Pond




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