Japan & South Korea

This palace became the coronation site of the kings in 1592 when the other palaces burned. The buildings are very interesting and colorful and the grounds are lovely.

This the best known shopping district in Seoul, and it has high end western stores as well as local crafts and clothing establishments. This area is consistently named as one of the most expensive shopping areas in the world. In contrast to the high end stores the streets are filled with street food vendors of every type imaginable. As good as the street food looked we decided on a sit down Korean barbecue restaurant. We had beef and pork belly with all the delicious sides and enjoyed every bite. We then made our way back to the hotel, had a bath and fell into bed at 9 pm.

After a lot of picture taking we walked across the street to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Here we saw the changing of the guard and explored the dining hall and the sleeping rooms. My vertigo kicked in so I sat part of the exploration out. It was funny that while I was resting people asked to take my picture. We returned our hanboks and reboarded the bus.

Our next stop was Bukchon Hanok Village. This village represents construction ethos over 600 years old. Many of the hanoks have been converted into businesses and people still live in the area so you have to be quiet and respectful. This area is on hill and the views are lovely as well as the views down the streets. From the village our next stop was the Gwangjang Market.

Honey Park had us try mung bean cakes before we had free tie to explore. The cakes we delish and Hugh and I still had an appetite for some custard filled Bungeoppang (Korean fish shaped pastry). The market was crowded so we took our pastry and walked along the river until time to meet our group. Next up was the National Museum of Korea.

Here Honey Park took us around to see the main exhibits before giving us free time. This museum was established in 1945 and is the premier museum of the country. My favorite part was the celadon gallery. After the museum we went back to the hotel and had time for a short rest before our welcome dinner at 6. We ate in the hotel restaurant and we got to know our fellow adventurers. It was 9 before we all hurried up to our rooms for a good nights rest.

We watched a short movie about the tunnels and then donned our helmets and descended over 300 feet into the tunnel. The last time we rode a train down but this time we had to walk in and out as the train was broken. Going down we had to be careful as some areas were slippery. We reached the spot where the North Koreans stopped digging . We were just some dirt away from North Korea! The trip up was much harder and we were all huffing and puffing by the time we made it. We left the tunnel area and drove to the Dora observatory where we got a Birds Eye view of the DMZ.

Back at the hotel we took a nap, dropped our bags in the lobby to be bussed to our next destination before heading out to enjoy some of the parades and lantern festivals in the area. Today is Buddah’s birthday and the celebrations and parades are amazing! We stopped for a light dinner of pho before heading back. We did some typing and reading before going to sleep.

Here we got to learn about life during the Joseon period. This UNESCO World Heritage site has a remarkable collection of traditional hanok houses. It was easy to distinguish the main house from the servants houses: the main house had a traditional tile roof and the servants had thatched roofs. At the end of our tour we went to a small brewery in a home where the gentleman who runs it brews Soju by distilling rice wine in the traditional way. We were able to taste the single fermentation cloudy wine and the double fermentation clear wine and the alcohol content was very different. He does not sale his wine, he only does the classes. The wine is used in his home or donated to his community for special events.

After the village we checked into our hotel, The Commodore, and had enough time to wash some clothes and shower before meeting for dinner. Tonight we had beef barbecue and it was good but rushed. Back at the hotel we journaled and went to sleep.

We were able to go into one excavated tomb and we could see the complex building practices used to construct them. It was easy to see why they are still standing after being built between 57 BC AND 935 CE. We then visited the Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory. This was built by the first female leader in the Silla era and has withstood all nature has to offer for over 1400 years. It stand 9.17 meters and is the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia and possibly the world.

Our next stop was the National History Museum to see the artifacts from the tombs we had seen earlier including the golden crown. This was a beautiful museum and we enjoyed seeing all the national treasures it had on display. Lunch was next on our agenda and we went to a restaurant that served a dish called the golden crown. The restaurant was located in a historic village where the first university of the Silla kingdom was established. Lunch consisted of an omelette folded into a crown shape and filled with rice and vegetables. Tasty!

We the visited the Bulguksa Temple which encompasses 7 national treasures of South Korea including Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas. We walked around the area enjoying the brightly painted structures and the many different Buddhas. After a walk down to the bus we went to dinner. Our last stop of the evening was Woljeonggyo Bridge to enjoy its beauty at night. This is the largest wooden bridge that has ever been built in Korea. It was windy and cold and everyone made their pictures and hopped back on the bus. We were all tired and ready to rest by the time we made it back to the hotel.

After the cemetery we drove into the main part of town and visited the Jagalchi Fish Market. There were fish, sea urchins, octopi, squid, and eels aplenty.it was so fresh that there was almost no fish smell. There was a restaurant above where you could get your purchases cooked and served. We also walked through the International Market which was filled with a variety of items including Abibas (Adidas)Socks. Our next stop was lunch at a lovely hotel. It was a buffet with foods from all over the world. Hugh ate some of all but the Italian dishes called out to me.

We then boarded our bus and rode to the Gamcheon Culture Village. This area started out as a village of refugees from the Japanese occupation and then the Korean War. After the war the city wanted to demolish the area but the residents fought back and won. The city decided to paint the houses bright colors and develop the area as a tourist site. It is now one of the most visited sites in Busan with flourishing shops and eateries. We walked around for a bit and visited some shops before heading back to the bus. We then went to a restaurant serving Ginsengy Chicken Soup. It was interesting but I like my chicken soup much better. We arrived at the hotel Avani around 8 and everyone headed to their rooms for showers and sleep. It was another long and fun filled day.

Our first stop after lunch was the Jusangjeolri Cliffs. A jeolri is a split side of a rock and in volcanic rock it makes a columnar joint. These joint are 25 meters high and are made of basalt from 140,000 to 250,000 years ago. These were amazing to see and we made a lot of photos.

Back on the bus we had a short drive to the Spirited Garden. Established in 1969 as the passion project of farmer Seong Beom-yeong, the 10-acre garden was built on land considered too poor to grow crops. Seong and his team created a rolling landscape of grassy hillocks, tumbling waterfalls, koi-filled ponds and stone sculptures that reflect Korean garden design principles such as tranquility, simplicity and harmony. The Korean bonsai are displayed like works of art on pedestal and ledges. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through this serene landscape. Our last stop was the hotel where we had a hour to freshen up before dinner. We showered and did some laundry before joining the group and head to VIP, where we had a delicious buffet dinner including wine and beer. After dinner we purchased some lotion at the Seven Eleven and headed off to journal and to sleep.

From the museum we drove to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. The mountain is 182 m (597 ft) tall and has a diameter of 600 m (2,000 ft). Part of our group took off for the top. It was a moderate hike with significant elevation gain. All of us took our time and rested when we needed to. We all made it to the top but did not have a lot of time to spend there. During our 30 minute hike up clouds had rolled in and it was getting very windy with some sprinkles. Hugh wanted to spend more time but Istarted down. I caught up with some others in our group and we made it to the bus just as the heavens opened. Hugh was not so lucky and he was rather damp when he made it back.

Our next stop was the Jeongbang Waterfall. The fall is 23m high and the two streams of waterfall that fall down the black cliff create a thrilling sound and a wonderful view. By the time the 5 people that got off the bus and saw the waterfall were back, we were drenched.

He let us out on Myeongdong Street, the main shopping area of Seoul. Hugh and I had no agenda so we wandered over to Lotte department store and had a Korean style burger and the best sweet potato fries we have ever had. We looked through the store and the mall then spent the rest of our time going in shoe stores and wandering up and down the side streets looking at all the different restaurants and K-pop shoppes. We met our group at 4:30 and attended the NANTA show. It was hilarious! This electrifying 90-min show, on the comically-charged efforts of four cooks who are tasked with preparing an entire wedding banquet in just one hour, is one of Korea's most popular musicals. We all loved it. After the show we checked into the AMID Hotel and Hugh and I quickly unpacked our clothes for the next 2 days and set up our room like we enjoy.

We then walked back to the Myeongdong area to the street vendors for dinner. Hugh had a pork skewer and we shared my K Chicken. We strolled back to the hotel and then did some pressing. It was then time for a leisurely soak in the tub before bed. Tomorrow we have a late departure so we can sleep in.

We were then turned loose to cook our own lunch. Hugh and I went right to work and I must say our dishes looked just like hers and tasted delish! After getting our diplomas we said goodbye to Ellie and her kids and boarded the bus to a temple. It was a 45 minute ride and Honey told us some history on the ride.

When we arrived we were ushered into a large room with floor cushions and I must say we were not a graceful group. We were joined by a female monk, shaved head and grey robe, who told us about drinking tea and the ceremony. After tea she answered our questions and then we were allowed free time to explore the different buildings.

It was cold and damp and felt good to get back on the bus. We arrived back at the hotel in time for a short rest, clothes update, and some packing. We then met in the lobby for our “ last supper”. Tomorrow we all go on our separate ways without Honey to guide us. Our dinner was long and so much fun. Stories shared, addresses swapped, and Honey hugged and thanked , we headed back to the hotel. Tomorrow will be netherworld early!!

Soon we were out on the street heading to Odori Park and the Sky Tower. On the way I made a stop at the Tiger Shoe Store. It was swamped with people and they were out of my size in each one I liked. We found the park and had a lovely walk. We saw beautiful cherry blossoms and had a funny little lady get in a picture with us. From the park we walked to Sapporo Station which is unlike any train station I have ever seen. It was a huge mall with fine dining. We ate ramen for dinner and then headed back to the hotel. After long tub baths we read, journaled, and went to sleep!

After the tower we walked through Odori Park to the Sapporo Clock Tower and museum. We covered the whole museum and it gave us a real insight into Sapporos educational history. We were surprised that English played a big part. Our walk continued past some beautiful tulips in full bloom. Our next stop was The Former Hokkaido Government Building. The interior was being renovated so we saw only the red brick exterior.

We walked into Marayama Park expecting to see a shrine and some paths but it was so much more. It was Golden Week, a huge holiday in Japan, and the first thing we noticed was that this was a family meeting place. There were families picnicking everywhere. We walked through pop ups that made us think we were at the fair! We saw the shrine but the liveliest thing was a grove of cherry trees in full bloom. People were out to make the family photo among the lovely pink blossoms. We enjoyed this so much and it was unexpected!!

We took another taxi to the Mt Moiwa Ropeway and Observatory! The views were amazing: the the ropeway was a great way to see the area. From the ropeway station we took the free shuttle down the mountain. From the shuttle stop we took the tram back to our hotel.

We had a short refresh and then headed to Ramen Alley for dinner. We had a great meal and then it was back to the hotel. I did some laundry after a brief fight with the machine. While waiting on the laundry I journaled!! A great day all around!

From this stop we had a lovely view not only of the lake but also the Volcano. We halfway rested and listened for this part of the trip.

I will say the glasses and some of the vases were beautiful and unique. We stopped for coffee before boarding the bus for the 40 minute ride to Sapporo. We left the bus with big smiles and were so happy to walk back to our hotel. Too much sitting for us. Our only comment about the day was we hope the rest of our guides do not talk that fast!!! Back at the hotel we freshened up and headed to Ramen Alley for dinner. We had a great meal of spicy pork ramen and walked back through the shopping area near our hotel. Hot bath, some journaling, and we were ready for bed.

We landed late but our bags came quickly. We decided on a taxi to the hotel after talking to the info people. We could take ferries, trains, or buses but taxi seem the shortest and easiest. Our ride was quick and soon we were being pampered at the Le Suite Harborland. The lady who checked us in had us order our breakfast which will be delivered to our room in the morning and then she escorted us to our beautiful room. We then went to the lounge for a lite dinner and some wine. We were serenaded by a Japanese singer who did great with some of my favorite old tunes. We felt very pampered when we went to our room for a hot bath and bed! Tomorrow we board the Regatta for a two week cruise!!! How blessed are we!!!

It took much less time than anticipated and we were on board having lunch by 2. We finished lunch and went to our suite! We quickly unpacked, made a laundry pile and a pressing pile and headed to the launderette on 7. We are well situated with dining and shows one floor down and laundry one floor up. It was crowded but soon I was washing and getting the pressing done. Hugh played runner and as the pressing was completed he took it to the room. We finished with all the clothes and had time for a nice rest and shower before dining in Polo. Before dinner we played some cards and enjoyed some happy hour refreshment. Dinner was excellent and we sat with another couple and ended up talking until time for the show. The show was the usual intro to the entertainers and I can honestly say they all seem very talented. Our cruise director, Peter, is an odd duck but he is enthusiastic! It was off to bed for us.

When we left the castle it was still raining but we decided to go to the Japanese gardens anyway. We made the long walk out of the castle grounds and then it was just a short walk to the gardens. Showing your passport if you are over 65 gets you in free and soon we were walking through the lovely grounds. The light with the rain makes it very serene and beautiful. When we finished with the garden it was time to head back to the train station and our trip to Kobe. We made it with time to spare and were soon on the train back. Again navigating around Harborland malls to get to the port was a bit of a challenge but we did it. Soon we were having a very late lunch in WAVES. After lunch we had a short nap before dinner time. We went to Horizons for happy hour and listened to The Power of Two before heading to the dining room. We ate dinner with 2 ladies who were traveling together without their husbands. Both were delightful and the meal lasted until time for the 9:30 show. tonight we had a balloon artist from Japan and he was amazing! It was late when he finished and it was off to bed for us.

From there we walked to the Peace Memorial Park. The park is a dedicated space that pays homage to the memories of the direct and indirect victims of the atomic bomb which claimed the lives of as many as 140,000 people. The first memory we saw was the Children's Memorial. Sometimes we think of war and soldiers only but the Japanese remember the schools, homes, and parks that were destroyed that awful day! We then went to the War Memorial Museum and stayed until our hearts hurt so bad we had to leave.

On happier note we then went to the Hiroshima Castle. Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called Carp Castle was the residence of the daimyō of the Hiroshima Domain. The castle was originally constructed in the 1590s, but was largely destroyed by the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945 and rebuilt in the early 1060’s.

From the castle we walked to the Japanese Garden. It was so lovely that we spent a large part of our afternoon just strolling around. We then took a taxi back to the shop and had a late lunch. We had time to rest before we had to shower and dress for the Captains cocktail party. We sat with a lovely lady from Vancouvetr and the cruise director even asked me to dance! From there we went to Toscano and sat with a couple from Sydney and almost closed the place down. The show was Paul Backer, a singer from London's East End. He was great and we look forward to his next show. It was full day and it was off to bed for us.

The one thing we didn't see was the Busan tower and the park around it, so we navigated there. There were a lot of steps but fortunately most of the areas had up escalators. At the top we had a nice view of a temple drum and of course the tower. There were a lot of families enjoying a picnic or a stroll. We went up into the tower and had a lovely 360 degree view of the city. We saw some interesting street food as we made our way around the city.

We stopped in the big Lotte Mall and realized it was just like all the others we had seen. We got our steps in and slowly made our way to the shuttle and we had to wait just a little for it to come!! Back on the ship we had a light meal and then took some time to rest our feet and look at pictures. We are both a bit behind in journaling and editing. After showers we went to Martinis and played some cards before heading to the dining room for another meal. We were seated at a table for 2 and enjoyed a quiet meal. Afterwards we played some cards and collected our art scavenger hunt pages before going to the show. It was a production number by the cast and we enjoyed it very much. Then it was back to the cabin but we looked for art on our way. This one looks like a real challenge!

We spent as much time as we wanted and then made our way to the shuttle. We were surprised to see most of our early bus people waiting to go back. Back on the ship we ate lunch, did some art hunting, rested, and sat on the balcony and journaled. We saw a lovely sail out and got a great picture as we sailed under a bridge!! Showers done, we went to the Terrace for dinner!!! The Terrace was swamped with people so we went to the main dining room and had a lovely quiet meal. We went back to our cabin and popped the cork on our bottle of expensive champagne that the ship provided! We played kings in the corner: We finished just in time for the show which was the Regatta cast in Debonnaire. It was great and we felt energized to head to Horizobs for the Beatles songs done we by Power of Two. Then it was off to bed for us!!!

The ride was about 20 minutes and they dropped us off at Gwandeokjeong Government Complex. One of the oldest buildings in Jeju, Gwandeokjeong Pavilion was established in 1448 by the magistrate of Jeju with the purpose of training local soldiers. This historical edifice is renowend for its intricately painted girders, adorned with murals depicting the ten symbols of longevity, scenes from the Battle of Red Cliffs, and hunting imagery. We had a great afternoon just wandering around reading about the use of each of the buildings. We met a lovely family from Texas that were Korean and visiting family. They asked us lots of questions and particularly want to know how we like Korea. We assured them we were blown away by it in the best possible way!! We took a lot of pictures and just had time to run to a pharmacy for some decongestant before getting the shuttle back to the ship. We ordered a Chai Latte and sat and journaled and edited in the Baristas lounge. We went to the suite to clean up and after resting for a while we went to The Terrace for dinner! We finished up our art scavenger hunt before we went to the showroom for the movie, The Conclave. The movie was great and we enjoyed a glass of champagne with our popcorn. It was after 11 when we retired to our room!

Hamanomachi Arcade has over 700 shops. We saw our Future Cruise person, Roseanne, go in but we soon lost her in the maze filled with masses of people.

We continued up river to our first true stop, The Meganebashi Bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1634, its construction overseen by the Chinese monk who would go on to become the resident priest of Kofukuji Temple. It is nicknamed the Spectacle Bridge because it looks like a pair of glasses. It was getting quite warm as we made our way to our next stop.

We arrive at the Sofukuji Temple hot and sweaty. It was an uphill walk and then a climb up along flight of stairs. This was a temple built in 1629 in the Ming Dynasty by a Chinese monk Chaonian primarily for Nagasaki's Chinese residents.

There was not a lot to see so we headed to Nagasaki s China Town. As we walked we were amazed at how tiny garages were. The cars barely fit! When we arrived in Chinatown it was overrun with school children on a field trip. We strolled through the streets and watched the kids!

Our next stop was Glover Gardens and guess what, it was all uphill. We were huffing and puffing and crazy hot by the time we made it to the entrance, only to be met by more stairs. This is our first really warm day and we also have hugh humidity. We made the climb because the first time we came, many years ago we did not have cash to get in and they did not except credit cards. This time we had cash and they now take all cards. We entered and were ever so happy to see escalators that took you to the top of this mountain. The views were lovely and we learned a lot about Mr Glover.

This open air museum consists of nine Western-style homes built between 1868 and 1912 for Western merchants living in Japan. Hot and tired and with over 7 miles on our feet, we headed back to the ship. When we arrived back at the cabin the main thing we wanted to do was shower and wash our very sweaty clothes. I showered and then went to put the clothes into wash when Hugh showered. Hugh rested while I enjoyed time on the verandah while the laundry finished. We dressed and went to the Japanese Drum performsnce which was wonderful. Such coordination and precision. It was off to dinner after the show. We were seated with two friends we had dinner with earlier. We finished in time for the show and it to was fantastic!! It was a Jamaican born singer who lives in Tokyo. After the show it was off to bed for us!!

We walked to the Terukuni Shrine which was dedicated to the head of a clan that was important in the Meiji restoration. We spent some enjoying the peace we before heading to the Saigo Takamori Statue. He was the head of the clan and a great industrialist.

Then we enjoyed the walk down. We stopped for something to drink at the bottom before trying to get a taxi to the Japanese Gardens. There were no cars on the Uber or GO apps available so we continued our walk to the Meiji Restoration Museum. We walked along the river and through a lovely park on our way there and stopped to rest our feet.

It started to Rain as we walked along streets with full sized trees shaped like Bonsai. The views were lovely and the rain refreshing. The castle ruins consisted of the main gate but it was impressive. It was raining harder so we decided to try for a taxi again. We used the GO app and got one. The GO-Pay worked well and we were soon back at the pier. We headed to WAVES for a bite and then to the cabin for a shower. Hugh napped and I journaled and rested my feet. We dressed for a late dinner in the Terrace.

We took our time but still had time to hunt for some more art before the show. This evening we had a wonderful concert pianist from Japan who studied at the Royal Academy in London as a teen. She said her most shocking thing when arriving in London at 15 was how cold the toilet seats were! Her first concert outside of Japan was in Israel and Yitzhak Rabin attended. He invited her to dinner the next night and was assinated the day after. What a memory!! It was off to bed after the concert!

We got off the shuttle near Beppu Station and we decided to walk to the Beppu Tower for our first stop. After arriving and realizing we had to walk to the top we moved on to our next stop. We visited a nearby shrine and it was not very well taken care of. We walked back into town and went to a spa in the huge department store to soak our tootsies and enjoyed conversation with a couple from Melbourne. After we dried off we decided to take the 40 minute walk to the ship along the sea walk. We saw a fleet of tiny sail boats all with spinnakers up. We arrived back on the ship hot and sweaty. I took a shower while Hugh took the laundry from the last several days to be washed. We sat in the cabin and cooled down and edited pictures and journaled.

We walked the ground and then got in the line to go into the Hommaru Palace. Nagoya Castle's Hommaru Palace was completed in 1615 and was originally used as the administrative offices and residences of the first feudal lord of Owari. The palace's interior was richly decorated with gorgeous wall and screen paintings, and fine, decorative metal fittings, earning it a high reputation for its quality art and advanced craftsmanship. As such, it was recognized as masterpiece of Edo period (1603-1867) castle palace construction. The palace was destroyed in WWII but rebuilt as we see it now. They used extensive recordings that were preserved. The Hommaru Palace features extensive use of valuable hinoki cypress wood. Decorative metal fittings and the fine art gracing the walls have been recreated by traditional master craftsmen and artists to the best of their abilities. We could not wear shoes or touch anything but it was easy to get lost in the beauty we saw.

The temple we were going to was at the end. Temple Osu-Kannon is a popular Buddhist temple. Originally built during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). This is a reconstruction but quite impressive. From the temple we took a walk through the park to the science museum which is an impressive structure but closed on Mondays. From here we took a taxi to the port. Before going to the ship we walked to see the Minatomachi, an Antarctic explorer ship. We also walked to the aquarium which was closed. So it was back to the ship for us. We sat on the verandah and read and people-watched until we sailed away. We cleaned up and we went to dinner and the show! It was one of our favorite days!!

We saw the oldest tree, Miho-no-Matsubara, the site of the legend of Hagoromo. The story tells of a Celestial Maiden who was overcome by the beauty of the pristine white sands, green pine trees, and sparkling water. She removed her feathered robe and hung it over a pine tree while bathing. A fisherman found her robe and refused to return it until she performed a heavenly dance for him. The Celestial Maiden needed the robe to return to the heavens, and so she danced before flying away. We had time to walk on the beach and visit the visitors center before meeting our guide. We then made the walk along the wooden walkway, “path of the kami”, Shinto spirits! We then boarded the bus for our drive to Fujinomiya.

We saw the pond where climbers purify themselves before making the climb. We left the shrine and enjoyed a Japanese treat at a local bakery our guide recommended. We then walked into town and looked in a few shops before returning to the bus. Just as we were getting ready to climb aboard Mt Fuji made an appearance.

As we walked we took side trips through some Japanese Gardens and across some bridges for the views. When we arrived at the Sumo Arena we were very surprised at how many people were waiting to enter. We had booked a tour and so we met our group at a hotel next to the venue.

At the end of the afternoon he was undefeated. We got a taxi back to the ship and just barely had time to shower and dress for dinner in Toscano. We had a great couple from New Zealand sit with us and they were going to the Sumo the next day. After dinner we went to the movie, Fly Me to the Moon, with glass of wine in hand. Then it was off to bed for us!!

From there we walked to the Ginza. I was very disappointed in this area. It was all high end stores with nothing that would fit a regular person let alone a short girl. Definitely a bummer. We stopped at a fancy bakery Starbucks combo for a rest and some sugar to make me feel better. We decided to leave this area and head to Asakusa.

It is lined with about 90 shops selling crafts, souvenirs, and plenty of sweet and savory snacks. We even stopped as the Akakusa Hanayashiki the oldest amusement park in Japan. We were getting hot and tired so we caught a train back to our hotel for a rest and a shower. After our rest we caught another train: we are getting good with the rail system here. This time we stopped in Shibuya.

Built to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this shrine celebrates their legacy in modernizing Japan, proving that emperors can leave behind more than just portraits and history books. This is built in the very middle of a 700 acre manmade forest.

We made one more stop at Mandarake, a store for Manga lovers, anime buffs, and collectors of all things nostalgic. It is 4 stories underground and totally packed! Back at the station we got our train to the hotel. Feet very tired, we stopped for yogurt and went to our room to rest. Several hours later we headed out to Shinjuku. We arrived at the station which is the busiest train station in the world with 3.6 million travelers passing through each year. It has 300 exits and we had a lot of trouble navigating our way out. Once we made it out we did not have enough time to start our tour so we navigated to our spot to meet our Food Tour!

It happened to be across the street from a Starbucks do we had coffee and tea until all the group arrived. Sara was our guide and she was a bubbly 18 year old who had her act together. This was way more than a food tour as she took us to Piss Alley, (Hugh sprained his ankle here), to see the big cat billboard, the Godzilla billboard, the red light district called the Golden Gai, and 4 eating establishments.

This is considered a fancy establishment and expensive. Sara said locals go there for celebrations. Next stop was an Okinawan restaurant. Here we had multiple dishes including taco rice bowls. We had my favorite Meeshu sake and Orion beers. Our final stop was for Taiyaki, a custard or bean paste filled Japanese pancake in the shape of a fish! We had so much fun no one wanted the night to end. We said our goodbyes and headed off to the station. Once we found our entrance, we were on our way to the hotel. We felt like we had accomplished something important navigating this huge station! Off to bed for us!!

The Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area in the heart of Tokyo. The original Meiji Kyuden burned down in 1945 during the air raids of the Second World War, while the current Kyuden was completed in 1968. It was built less as a symbol of dignity and majesty, and more as a symbol of affection and simplicity. The green roofs here are also the result of the oxidised copper they are made from. I am assuming the Emperor was at home as they guarded the grounds like we were all assassin's. You truly could not step on a piece of grass, a bridge curb, or even cross the center line if the street without a guard blowing their whistle or running toward you yelling in Japanese.

From there we walked through a lovely public park from there we went to the train station and got a train to Shibuya. We had timed tickets for the Shibuya Sky experience but we arrived in time to shop and eat Italian before we went in. It was an interesting experience covering 3 floors. We made a lot of pictures, some with us, and enjoyed an amazing view of the Shibuya Scramble or crossing. Afterwards we went back to the hotel to rest and get ready to meet our tour group. We met at 7 and our guide is Fumi. We are a large group of 36 and most from the US. We had a lovely dinner at the hotel and then it was off to bed.

This is a tranquil place to enjoy the trees, iris, ponds, and even a teahouse. Hugh went to see Kiyomasa's Well: Named after the military commander who dug it around 400 years ago, this well is renowned as one of the most famous from the Edo Period. It was muddy and slick and Hugh rehurt his ankle. We limped back to the bus to meet our group and then to head to the Imperial Palace. We had been given strict instructions not to tell the group we went inside as the tour is only to the outer area.

We had one of each with pork and they placed them on the hot grill built into our table. This may be my favorite meal so far and we enjoyed every bite. The man waiting on us was delightful and we shared that we had seen the sumo wrestling championships and he was impressed as locals have a hard time getting tickets. We left with full tummies and took the train to the hotel. We rested, journaled, packed , and let Hugh stay off his foot! At dinner time we walked to the closest busy area and stopped for some very good ramen. We played trivia and relaxed during our meal. Back at the hotel we journaled, edited pictures, and soaked inthe tub. Once we had everything ready for an early morning we went to bed!

Our next stop was the Mt Fuji visitors center where we saw a film on Fuji and it's creation and had time to shop. There were clouds covering the mountain at this time so no pictures here of the mountain. From there we went to La Ville de Gaspard et Lisa theme park village which was behind the restaurant where we were having lunch. We walked around and there were so many bakeries sndboukangeries that the air smelled heavenly. We were do ready when Fumi called us to lunch.

Wow what a change!!! It went from lush to desolate and steamy with an intense sulphur smell. As we prepared to get off the gondola Fumi said to try black eggs and black ice cream. The eggs are cooked in the steaming pools are blackened on the outside but normal inside. The ice cream has essence of charcoal. We didn't try either. We made our photos and did some looking in shops. We even bought a red Tori Gate for a Christmas ornament. The bus picked us up at the top and we're were off to our next stop Lake Ashi and a boat ride around the lake.

Dontonbori is the foodie street and Shinsaibashi is the shoppers street. We walked along gawking at all the store sighs and looking at all the delicious looking food. Fumi told the area is known for its Takoyaki, grilled octopus, okonomiyaki, pancake like dish with cabbage and other veggies served with shrimp or pork, and Teppanyaki, a noodle dish served on a hot grill at the table. We turned into the shopping area and went about halfway before turning around and going to lunch. We had Teppanyaki which is our favorite and played trivia as we ate!! After lunch we slowly walked back to the meeting point. When the bus arrived we headed to Osaka castle.

The castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. We climbed to the 8th floor and had an amazing view. We had time to walk through the museum and then make lively pictures from a Japanese garden nearby. We then walked about a mile to the bus and went to the hotel to check-in. Our room is lovely and they delivered our luggage quickly. We both soaked in the tub for a while we before getting dressed for dinner. We had dinner on the 32 floor of a nearby building and had a fun getting to know more people in our group. After dinner we collapsed and had a wonderful sleep!!

This is a site I have seen pictures of and always associated it with Japan. It is a beautiful sunny day and I wanted some great pictures. As we turned to dock we got a nice view of it and it was spectacular. When we docked we had time for a happy stop and then we started our seaside walk to the shrine. We saw a lot of deer just walking about but we were warned to keep papers and food away from them.

We made our way to the large stone Tori Gate which is now the entrance to the shrine. We had a great view of the giant red gate sitting out in the water and we were much closer than on the ferry. I was glad it was high tide as the gate had no people around it. We made lots of snappies and then continued into the shrine. This UNESCO World Heritage site is dedicated to the deity who protects from maritime disaster and war. The shrine was reportedly built in 593. When it was rebuilt in 1168 by the Heian-period warlord Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181), it was expanded into the magnificent vermilion-lacquered shrine pavilions seen today. We walked all through the complex and enjoyed the views. When we finished Fumi gave us options,the shopping street, the restaurant street, or climb about 100 stairs to a temple on the mountain.

Six of us decided to climb the mountain. Daishō-in or Daisyō-in, also called Suishō-ji, is a historic Japanese Buddhist temple complex with many temples and statues on Mount Misen, the holy mountain on the island. It was lovely with thousands of statues of Buddha and others. It made me think of the commandment "Thou shall have no other gods before me.". We loved the views and the architecture was amazing. We made the climb down and had free time. We walked and looked in shops, had some ice cream, and then met the group. We took the 2 o'clock ferry back to meet our bus. We drove back to the peace memorial and the group but Hugh and I went in the Orizuru Tower.

This 50-meter-tall tower stands out among the few tall buildings surrounding the Peace Memorial Park and provides a captivating view of the surroundings, including a lesser-known aerial view of the A-Bomb Dome. We rode the elevator up, enjoyed the view, stopped for coffee, and walked down. There was a slide you could take but we didn't see it until we were halfway down and you had to have a slide rug and a helmet. Only one person zipped passed us. We then took a long walk toward a park but realized we had seen it before. We walked back to Peace Memorial Park and sat by the river until time to get on the bus. Then it was off to the train station . At the station we bought some food to eat on the train, we had rice rolls, dumplings, potstickers, and other things I don't have a name for. We got on the train and ate as we zipped toward Osaka. We arrived back at the hotel around 8 and it had been a long day. After hot soaks in the tub it was off to bed!!

The ceremony was very intricate and the movements deliberate but delicate. We were served the tea and I am sorry to say it tasted like steeped grass clippings. After we tasted then we performed the process ourselves. It still tasted awful but was fun. We had time to shop at the handicraft stores and I purchased a hand-painted fan with a stand to place behind my statue I purchased our last trip to Japan. From here we went to a shopping and restaurant area and had free time. Not being shoppers, we stopped for Ramen and played trivia.

From here we went to our hotel and we're met by a Keiko, apprentice Geisha, and were able to make pictures with her while we were checking in. We had time to go to our rooms and freshen up before we went to the Gion area to walk around. The architecture was Interesting but we did not see the lovely girls. Fumi showed us the restaurant area and we decided to stay and take a taxi back.
We had Japanese for lunch do we decided on pizza for dinner. We sat outside by a river and had wine and pizza. It was so restful and enjoyable. We took at taxi back and it was time for rest!!!

Today was another early morning. We choose to go on the optional tour to Nara which left at 8. The bus ride was under 2 hours and soon we were at Nara Park area. We could see people playing with the deer as we went into the park. Once we were on the ground and everyone had been to the happy room, we started our walk to Nara Todai-ji Temple.

This is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist Temples of Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved away from Nara in 784 in order to lower the temple's influence on government affairs.

Until recently, Todaiji's main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), held the record as the world's largest wooden building, despite the fact that the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size! The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas or guardians. This place was hongous and very impressive. The grounds were lovely also. We then made a hike to the Kansugataishi Shrine.

There were so many lanterns that are moss covered and tucked into the primeval forest. The shrine is noted for it's many bronze lanterns. There is a blackout room where you walk by lantern light. When we left the shrine we had time to play with the deer. We then boarded the bus for Kyoto. We got off the bus at Kyoto Ststion and purchased some yogurt and drinks to have a picnic when we reached our first walking tour stop.

We had to get a taxi but soon we were at Nijo Castle. We stopped on a bench by the gate and had our picnic. We noticed Japanese couples and families doing the same. Nijo Castle , a UNESCO World Heritage site, served as a powerful symbol of the Tokugawa Shogunate's authority and a focal point for important political events during the Edo period. Built in 1603 by Tokugawa Leyasu, the first Shogun, it was designed to overlook the Imperial Palace, demonstrating the Shogun's power over the Emperor. The castle was used as the Kyoto residence of the Shoguns, and it also hosted the Imperial court during visits. We could not take photos inside however. The rooms were large and had an amazing amount of gold leaf and fine paintings. This was a visit well worth the time.
From here we walked a mile to the Imperial Palace. It is in a huge park and we walked and walked before we found the entrance. When we did we were surprised to find out you had to apply on line for tickets and be approved just like the Tokyo Imperial Palace. We left sad but on a mission to see our next sight, Sento Imperial Palace, only to find out it required a government issued ticket also. Frustrated we found a taxi and went back to the hotel.

We did some packing, bathing and dressing before going to our farewell dinner. It was in a banquet room at the hotel and we had a surprise waiting for us. We had a lovely girl in a beautiful kimono play the Shamisen, a traditional 3 string instrument. We enjoyed the evening wishing everyone safe travels home. Then it was up to the room and off to bed.

We walked some more but the weather was turning cold and grey! We made it back to the hotel and finished the last minute packing and decided to go to the train station and see if we could get an earlier train. We got the hotel shuttle to the train station and found the ticket office to have our ticket time changed. It took a while but we got on the bullet train leaving in 35 minutes. By the time we found the platform we only had time to go to a vending machine to get something to drink. The train was on time, no surprise, and we were off to Tokyo. It was an easy 2 hour trip and soon we were in Tokyo Station. When we exited through the gates Hughs ticket came back to him but mine seemed to have an issue. The attendant said I had to swipe my Suica card so I did and was able to exit. This seemed crazy at the time but necessary as we found out later. We found a JR ticket area and stood in line to change our Narita Express tickets for earlier ones. We were told to do it on line or go to the JR East ticket office. Fortunately Hugh was able to login and soon we had new tickets. The trick was to cancel the old ones then repurchase. We picked up a bento box to share on the train. The train came in time and in an hour we were in Narita. I exited the gates with my Suica card but Hugh had to get in a long line as he did not have an active trip on his Suica. Took awhile but soon we were outside terminal two looking for a taxi. We found one and off to the Tobu Hotel we went. We checked in and did some work before going to the World Lounge on top of the hotel. We shared a bottle of wine and some chicken and fries. It was a lovey way to end our trip! Tomorrow is only a travel day so this was our time to celebrate a magical trip!!! Off to bed for the old folks!!!

Slept in this morning and showered, had breakfast, and still had time to get some journaling done before our 11 am shuttle to the airport. When we arrived we went straight to the first class checkin, on to the facial recognition immigration line, and then to the priority security. In less than 30 minutes we were comfortably ensconced in the United Lounge. Time to board and we were surprised to have lie flat seats and all the luxuries for our 3 hour flight to Taipei. Once we were settled in and had champagne in hand it set in that our journey was coming to an end. It was a bit sad but the trip has been magical. We arrived in Seoul South Korea with no expectation and the country and our Gate 1 tour blew us away. Our guide, Honey Park, was amazing and our 14 fellow travelers quickly became family. Seoul was electric, filled with happy friendly people, amazing shops, a great Nanta show, and delish street food. The country was so diverse and beautiful, and the history amazing. We had a cooking class that was so much fun, we climbed mountains, and soared to new heights on the doorways. We had Korean barbecue, chicken soup, and some amazing snacks. It was 3 weeks we will not forget. Then we arrived in Japan and we had high expects. Japan exceeded them all. We toured Hokkaido on our own with our base in Sapporo. The history, diversity, and beauty of Japan is hard to describe. We saw Sumo Wrestling, beautiful temples, ancient castles, and so many wonderful Tori Gates that invited us in to the Shinto Shrines. Our Gate1 tour here was much larger and we did not bond in the same way we had in Korea but our guide Fumi made sure we saw and did it all. Oh I can’t forget all the wonderful places we visited on our Oceania cruise between Korea and Japan. Hugh and I walked an average of 7-10 miles a day and saw the most amazing sights including Imperial Palaces and Mount Fuji. Nagoya was our favorite place on the cruise with Hiroshima coming in a close second. This has been a magical trip! Things we will take away from the whole trip are: the respect of the people for their surroundings and other people, the cleanliness of the countries, the amazing toilet seats😂, the diversity and deliciousness of the food, and how both countries welcomed us. Today was only travel and even though it was first class it was tiresome. After relaxing in the lounge in Taipei we boarded our long flight from Taipei to San Francisco. Excellent service from start to finish. The flight was bumpy but we still got some good sleep. I even managed to watch a movie. Love EVA Airlines!! 17 hours and 4 minutes after we took off from Tokyo we arrived at SFO and got through Global Entry hardly stopping. Our bags arrived quickly and we were in the UBER line very soon. At last we were at our hotel and in our room. We freshened up and then went for a walk. Back at the hotel we went to the cocktail party and got our drinks and snacks… aka dinner! Back in the room we had tub baths and off to bed at 8:15pm. We tried to do some computer work but both were too sleepy. But at 2:15am we are on the sofa looking at the trip pictures. Back to bed at 3:45am and Hugh went right to sleep but I saw 5:30 before I went yo sleep. Up at 8:30am!!

Up at 8:30 , showered, and down to breakfast. Great food and then it was time for our shuttle to the airport. At the Delta counter we checked our bags and went through security. We relaxed in the loungers and were feeling confident until the first flight delay of 15 minutes. Then 45 minutes and it finally ended we hope at 3 hours. They have us over a barrel as there are no other flights. We had a long lunch and still we waited. Eventually we boarded and flew to Salt Lake City toward home. /susan