Crossing Kobe - Kagoshima, March 19, 2026

Kobe and Kyoto, March 18, 2026

Kagoshima, March 20, 2026

... work in progress ...

Bye bye, Japan

It was a wonderful and educational trip. Japan wasn't nearly as foreign as we had expected. The language barrier is significant, but with Google and the translation tools provided...

Shimizu, April 12, 2026

The weather forecast was not promising for a view of Mount Fuji. But surprisingly, the view from the balcony upon arrival showed Mount Fuji after all. ... Daily report to follow

Toba, April 22, 2026

The captain's decision to set off yesterday only in the morning, but to travel a bit faster, paid off. The whole journey was quite calm. Upon arrival in the morning, it was still...

Ferry ride Hososhima - Toba, April 10, 2026

Today is our last day at sea. As another low-pressure system moves over Japan, which is expected to bring high waves, the captain has decided to spend the last night in the port...

Shinjuku Park and Nature and Technology Museum

I visited the park at Shinjuku, which does have an admission fee but is really beautiful and worth it. Right in the city, near the world's busiest train station, you can find...

The trail continues over hill and dale until it reaches the mountain railway.

After setting off without a plan, I decided to hike to a train station. However, it was still a long way there and I had run out of water. Luckily, the

From the temple, continue off the beaten path

From the temple, a staircase leads uphill with over 200 steps to a smaller shrine. Once there, however, the path continued to a hiking trail. I met two women who were...

Odawara Castle and Temples

After Kamakura, I went to Odawara, where there's a substantial castle that's beautifully illuminated in the evening. In the evening, I went back to the coast and then to a...