Chasing the Perfect Fuji shot.

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

They had a store there with a lot of local products. I bought these 2.

 

 

The first was a tomato snack. A bit too much sugar. The second pickled smoked Daikon said to be a local favourite. I liked it but a pungent odour and I had to keep it on our balcony.

 

And from the bus back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Back to the ship and our sail away.

 

 

 

The Namahage join in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we sail away from another wonderful Japanese farewell.

 

 

More visual pollution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Back to Atlantide.

 

 

 

Rojaan had the seared scallops.

 

And I had the Carpaccio and then the seafood chowder.

 

 

Rojaan then had the lamb cutlets and I the Stroganoff.

 

 

Then she finished off with the crumble.

 

 

[drron29]

The next morning we are steaming in to Aomori.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

A different kind of welcome.

 

 

Then I set off on an excursion to Hirosaki Castle Town.

 

Snow still on the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

First we went to Neputa Mara for a view of the Neputa Annual festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our guide and translator.

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

Volunteers try their hand at Taiko. not too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit to being very naughty at this point. there were 2 annoying women. one in front of me in the performances holding her phone above her head videoing the whole performance and another young woman who all through the cruise would walk in front of others taking photos. I photobombed both more than once. The young one complained and I politely told her I could do it another 33 times to catch up to the number of times she had done it to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After going through the museum shop there were a few craftsmen doing their thing.

 

 

 

Then it was out into their garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Then we walked to Hirosaki Castle. We passed through a little shopping precinct. Some interesting food places.

 

 

 

We came to Hirosaki Castle in 2016 but 2 weeks later at the end of April and it was peak Sakura time and still the best display we have seen. So I was not expecting much this time but it was a little more advanced than I thought it might be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hirosaki is one of the 12 Japanese castles that remain from before the Mieji Restoration.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 5 by drron29

[drron29]

Great views of Mt.Iwate from the castle. Locally it is known as Fuji san Iwate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The last of Hirosaki Castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sakura festival had started and there were quite a few food stalls on the way out.

 

 

Then we walked back down the road to the museum and our bus.

 

 

 

 

Before I got back on the bus I bought myself an extra spice curry bun. Delicious.

 

 

Edited May 5 by drron29

[drron29]

A few shots from the bus back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aomori is known for it's apples. The Fuji apple was first grown by the Agriculture research Station at Fujisaki, Aomori in the 1930s but wasn't commercially grown until 1962, now the largest growers are China and the USA. So this are one of the extensive apple orchards in Aomori.

 

Back on the ship for lunch which we had at the Grill. Mrsdrron had her Caesar salad and I had a burger. Much improved from the one on the first sectot probably because of many more Americans on board for this sectot around Japan. J am aware some did complain about the terrible burgers.

 

[taxatty]

Your photo from the Lawson convenience store parking lot with Mt. Fuji in the background may be one of the last of its kind. The town is apparently now constructing a large screen to block the view to keep tourists away. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/fujikawaguchiko-town-japan-block-mount-fuji-view-overcrowding

[drron29]

5 hours ago, taxatty said:

Your photo from the Lawson convenience store parking lot with Mt. Fuji in the background may be one of the last of its kind. The town is apparently now constructing a large screen to block the view to keep tourists away. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/fujikawaguchiko-town-japan-block-mount-fuji-view-overcrowding

A different Lawson's. This is in the north of Honshu between Hirosaki and Aomori and the mountain is Iwate. The locals dub it Fujisan.

5 days after that picture we were in Kawaguchiko for 3 days and drove past the famous Lawsons several times. But that was before it hit the news so no pictures taken.

[drron29]

Some views from the ship.

 

 

 

 

There were some mosaics on the wharf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

I had a long afternoon walk on Deck 11. Sunset was quite early so I watched it progress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

That night it was our trivia team dinner in Indochine so a lively night of discussion. Only took one photo of the Tom yum soup as it was excellent.

 

We awoke the next morning docked in Hakodate next to a Museum ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt. Hakodate.

 

 

Two of the rarely seen deckhands doing a great job on the hand rails - sanding then varnishing. Only got to see them as our excursion was moved from an 8.30 start to a 1.30 start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Time now for the excursion to the Trappistine Monastery and Goryokaku Park. From the bus -

 

And we arrive at the Monastery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They do have large grounds which would be colourful in late April or beginning of May.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first sakura buds.

 

We stopped at the store and had an Hokkaido ice cream.

 

[drron29]

We then got the bus to Goryokaku park and first walked to the Magistrates house which is a reconstruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

We did get a tour of the building but basically it is empty apart from a few displays. Looking at the work and watching a video on it was fascinating but again this bit could be shortened. Some photos from the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They covered any joint with these. Several different designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we walked to the Tower.

 

Past a magnificent old tree being treated tenderly.

 

We waited while the guide bought our tickets.

 

[drron29]

So I looked around and there were displays talking about the last stand of the Shoguns which was in Hakodate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And looked around the shop. Some Japanese chocolate which is quite nice.

 

 

Then it was up to the viewing platform by fast elevator. great views. First the lay out of the fort,

 

 

 

 

 

And over the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good to see our ship is still there.

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good for plane spotting as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the bare trees below are cherry trees.

 

@mysty posted some photos from the Tower about 3 weeks later and they were fabulous.

We then proceeded down by the stairs for a floor where we both had a Hokkaido soft serve and i also had a curry bun.

 

Back to the ship.

 

And we had the number 1 tug in Hakodate.