My First Visit to Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun

After a long stretch of nothing but open ocean between Alaska and here, stepping onto Japanese soil felt like entering a different dimension altogether. It’s been a whirlwind, a blur of sensory overload. Here are a few glimpses from our journey.

Our first stop was Hakodate, and it was a feast for the eyes and the stomach. The city's markets were a riot of sights, sounds, and smells. There were piles and piles of live crabs, crawling all over each other, just waiting to become someone’s dinner. In one memorable restaurant, we got to pick our own crab, which was then whisked away and returned to us as a delicious, steaming, ultra-fresh, meal. 

That crab is still alive, but is destined for our plates. The woman behind me is a fellow resident from the ship who happened to be walking by 🤗

Next, we sailed into Hachinohe, a port that felt a little quieter and more serene. The highlight here was a visit to a picturesque shrine, its vibrant red and gold architecture a stark contrast to the misty green landscape. 

Sendai was a different kind of adventure. We hopped on the "Loople" tour bus and took a grand tour of the city, but the real thrill for Jim was our visit to a mega-store. It was a tech lover's paradise, a multi-story temple to all things electronic. He was in his element, and emerged victorious with a much-needed HDMI cable. It’s the little victories, right?

Then came Tokyo. Just getting there was an adventure! So many trains, lines, and stations. We traveled with friends, Wayne and Donna - and it took all of us to figure it out!

We went to TeamLabs Planet, an immersive art museum where you literally walk through rooms with water almost to your knees, surrounded by projections of blooming flowers and schools of glowing koi that react to your movements. It was a surreal, magical experience.

Coming home (back to the ship) we didn't have Wayne and Donna to help us navigate. We went around in a circle before figuring out the right line to get on!

That night I studied up on the train lines with Gemini A.I.'s help and did much better the next day when we went back to Tokyo and spent the night. We went to a baseball game with 35,000 raving fans. The energy was electric, a roaring wave of cheers and chants. A highlight was getting a beer from a girl who came to your seat with a keg on her back! Afterward, we returned to our hotel, where we wrapped ourselves in the special robes they provided, called yukata, and soaked in the public hot baths. The contrast of the high-energy game and the peaceful, hot soak was just perfect.

The next day in Yokohama gave us a chance to slow down. We rode a giant ferris wheel with a panoramic view of the city and the harbor, a perfect way to take it all in. We even made a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe, where the sales clerk admired Jim's mustache. When I snapped a photo of her with him, she got so excited she asked to take her own! It was a small, sweet interaction that captured the genuine friendliness we’ve encountered here.

Our final stop was Shimizu, a city nestled at the foot of the iconic Mt. Fuji. Sadly, the mountain was shy and stayed hidden behind a blanket of clouds, but that didn't stop us from having a little fun. We went to the local mall to find a sculpture of Mt. Fuji made entirely of sushi! It was a brilliant, creative nod to the country’s most famous landmark.

Every day in Japan has been a fresh wave of discovery, a new story to tell. It's a country that honors its traditions while embracing the future with open arms. I'm already looking forward to what the next ports of call have in store for us. I'd love to hear about it in the comments.