May 10, 2019 to May 2, 14 night cruise going from Japan to Russia to Alaska
- Oct 26, 2020
- 8 min read
This curse is a special one for us, first time to Japan for the both of us and its also my gift from my husband for my birthday.
May 10, 2019
We had to fly up to Seattle to then fly to Tokyo. When in Seattle we got to see old friend of ours.
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May 11, 2019
We land at Tokyo Narita airport.We had lunch before heading to the hotel. This part was not hard because we only had our two carry on bag's. We stayed at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel. We where planing on going out to see things but ended up falling asleep.
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May 12, 2019
After a goodnight sleep we got up supper early to walk around Tokyo before we have to leave for the Ship. We ended up walking down to the old fish market and saw the Hama-rikyu Gardens. WOW . So much to take in and enjoy. We walked past a lot of places wish I could have had more time to see and learn but that just means we will have to come back. Side the hotel is amazing and confutable.
On our walk down to the old fish market. We got here before loads of people on tour guides.
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On our walk back saw sign for the Hama-rikyu Garden so we just had to go in. So happy we did.
the second photo is a 300 year pine tree, is a black pine that is said to have been planted in honor of the great achievement of the 6th Shogun Iesen when the garden was renovated. The thick branches overhang low, boasting a majestic appearance.
photo 14 -18 is a Kamoba duck hunting site There are two types, Koshindo Kamoba and Shinzeniza Kamoba. The former was built in 1778 and then latter in 1791. Kamoba, the pond and forest were surrounded by a bank of about 3m, and evergreen trees and bamboo bamboo trees were planted around the bank to block the duck from the outside so that it could rest in peace. Here, a few lines of moats (thin moats) are set up in the pond, and while watching the duck from a small peep, lure the ducks with food such as Japanese millet and millet and decoy ducks, and look at the machine behind the bank. During the Edo period, ducks were used, and during the Rikyu period, they were hunted with a forked net (Sademi).
Info on the history of the garden:
A representative daimyo garden of the Edo period with a pond of Shioiri and two duck fields. A tide pond is a style that is usually used in seaside gardens because it guides seawater and changes the taste of the pond depending on the ebb and flow of the tide. Former Shiba Rikyu Garden, Kiyosumi Garden, Former Yasuda Garden, etc. used to be Shioiri Ponds. However, at present, this is the only place where seawater actually enters and exits. Until the Kanei era (1624-1644), this area was a falconry ground for the shogunate and was a full-scale Awara. The first mansion to be built here was Tsunashi Matsudaira, the younger brother of the 4th Shogun Ienobu and the Minister of Kofu. In the third year of Jōō (1654), Tsunashi received permission from the shogun to reclaim the sea and build a villa called Kofuhama Mansion. After that, when Tsunashige's child, Tokugawa Ienobu, became the sixth shogun, this mansion became the villa of the shogun family, and the name was changed to Hamarikyu. Since then, successive landscaping and renovation work has been carried out by successive shoguns, and the garden of its present appearance was completed at the time of the eleventh shogun Iesai. After the Meiji Restoration, it became the imperial detached palace, and its name was Hamarikyu. After that, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake and the war, precious buildings such as teahouses were burnt down and trees were damaged, and the remnants of the past disappeared, but on November 3, 1945, it was given to Tokyo. After maintenance, it was released for a fee in April 1946. In addition, based on the National Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, in December 1948, it became a national scenic spot and historic site, and in November 1952, including the surrounding water surface, it was a national special scenic spot. And was designated as a special historic site.
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Time to leave the hotel and make the long subway car down to the ship down in Yokohama Tokyo by subway is about 40min but toke us longer to get our sense of direction. In no time we made our way down and on the ship. The ship is called Quest with Azamara.
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days highlights short clip:
the rest of the day was unpacking getting use to the layout of the ship the emergency drill, the meet and greet and signing up for the off shore excursions for each port of calls, and the welcome aboard dance party.
May 13,2019
Still feeling jet lag and on top of that finding my sea legs I tock it easy and, it was a day at sea. So just had some RandR.
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May 14, 2019
Our first port of call is at Sapporo (Muroran), Japan
We went to the Shikotsu-Toya National park Nobody Betso Jigokidani
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Jigokudani is located to the northeast of Noboribetsu Onsen, these remains of an explosion crater measure approx. 450 m in length and are the location of the wellspring for the Noboribetsu Onsen. Volcanic gasses and hot water gushing out violently can be viewed from the surrounding footpaths.
Then it is time to go lunch
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and hot bath that was not photo because is it birthday suit and separated by your sex.
Time to head back to the ship and sights we saw on our way back out to open sea.
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Day highlight clips:
May 15
Kushiro, Japan
Our first stop is Lake Mashu this is the world's most transparent lake. Mashu has beautiful emerald color and the surface chages moment to moment but regardless of the color their is always a mist that either fully covers the lake or mist here and there but always present. The Ainu people named this lake " lake of the Gods" since ancient times. You are not allowed to go down to the lakeshore, you can only view the lake from three viewing locations. In January 25, 1902 the temperature was 91 degrees below the freezing point. Wish it was not an overcast day but you can still tell how clear the water is with the reflection. Now off to the next stop.
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Our next stop is Mt. Iwo and Mt. Meaken is an active valcano its name is Sulphur mountain. When you arrive here to walk around you will smell the sulfurou the moment you open the car door. spuriously as you get closer to see the steam vents and the smoking areas where the yellow sulfurous vents you can hardly spell it. Here at Mt. Iwo they did Sulfur mining. Sulfur is used in gunpowder so at all volcanoes throw out Japan are minded for this element. Mining here at Mt Iwo started in 1876. In 1887 they laid railroad track from the foot of the Mt. to the near by town of Shibecha. There was a prison built near by and the prisoners where forced in too hard labor to mine the much needed sulfur. With the over mining and the large scale the sulfur resources disappeared rapidly. In 1896 the mining here ended. after the mine closed the 24.855 miles of train track fell in ruin. Until it was added in to the national railroad and is now part of the JR Senmo line. I did not see the railroad must have been on the other side of the Mt. Iwo.
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the next stop the Kawayn Onsen Foot Bath this is open to the public and there are some nice walking tails to scroll on.
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Off to lunch and some yummy treats.
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Heading back to the ship
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highlights from the day video:
May 16
Day at sea
I did ballet class, watercolor class, how to take good iPhone photo trikes and scavenger hunt photo {i only missed one}
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May 17
Second day at sea.
some of the things I did sketching and finish my watercolor from yesterday.Had fun playing Bingo, I crashed Disney song to what movie.....
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May 18
Today is my birthday.
Todays Port of call is Petropavlovsk, Russia.
I picked to do a picnic but it was far from what I thought it was going to be but still had a blast of a time. Then had Birthday dinner.
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when we got back to our room, they decorated our room and I had a happy birthday card from the director of the hotel operations and free champaign at dinner. later that night we went to magic show and went to the went to lesson to piano. Had amazing birthday.
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May 19
Day at sea
Had relaxing day did water color, bingo, trivia and omg the food is amazing. Hubby volunteer to do singing so I sneaked my way in to watch with out them knowing.
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May 19
Day at sea.
Today we cross the line so we live the same day all over again. As we sail up to Alaska we cross the a imaginary line called the International date line. So when you cross it coming from Asia you will relive that day for us it was on Sunday... dang miss having my birthday twice in a row, and still be the same age.....
May 20
Day at sea
did about the same thing as the day before but did game board, had a special invitation to join the Hotel Director and other invited guests to a privet dinner with him. I finally got to thank him for my birthday card and the gift. This was amazing to get to know him and we have never had invite from ship officer for dinner with them before. I'm still in shook.
May 21
Dutch Harbor, Alaska
After US Customes and Border did there thing we where free to get off the ship.
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Alaska ship supply has tones of stuff for deadliest catch the Tv show and other amazing items. I highly recommend going if you ever come here.
we decided to go in on paying for a taxi to drive us around to see as much as we could of the town with another couple.
there are some of the ships in port ready for this season behind us.
Then its off to the local church wow
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now off to the ww2 memorial's
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heading back to ship on the way we stoped in the
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May 22
Day at sea
watercolor class,Bingo,Trivia, wine tasting with chess and chocolate tasting, and much more...
May 23
Today was going to be stop at port of call for Kodiak, Alaska but because of bad weather and rough sea we had to detour and I stayed in bed for I had sea sickness.
May 24
Homer, Alaska
we just did a lot of walking around and I did shopping.... Homer is prefect blend of ocean and mt. veiw's. I feel in love this this town. The Portside coffee and co is a must stop the food is amazing. Im not a coffee person but I had one of the best hot chocolate here.
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off to the Pratt Museum
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across the street
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back to the ship that night hubby and the rest who sign unto sing did so tonight. It was amazing wish I could post clip here but I was asked not to....
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thank you to the crew.
the last photo is of crew member and I have the same birthday. wish I could recall name but to much time went by from trip to putting in blog.
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dinner we did buff-a
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May 25
last day on the cruse we got off at Seward, Alaska
we only had half a day before we got off.
we watch our ship sail off.
Then we walked around and found the Alaska SeaLife Center, this place is amazing a must see.
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May 26
we had to get up early to get on bus to get up to anchorage to fly legs home.
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nice to be back home until next adventure.
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