A real highlight - Miyajima

My journey around Japan with a total of six different ports, one of them as a detour to South Korea (Busan) last week, has flown by, but has left an incredible number of impressions. Our ship was welcomed everywhere with great enthusiasm. In Kochi, it was again a 'maiden call', the first visit of the Queen Elizabeth, and here too there was a grand reception with music and many dance groups, as well as with delegates and prefects of the city, and an exchange of gifts with the captain. When we disembarked, many people were standing at the gangway, applauding to greet us, so the Japanese are really hospitable. The children in particular were very excited about the ship. In Hiroshima, a real market was even set up in a large hall on the quay, with a stage for performances and many culinary and local stalls, which were enjoyed not only by the passengers, but also by the Japanese and their families. It was almost like a small folk festival. There were also small nice gifts that they politely handed out and explained as we walked around. Each port has come up with something different, and it was always exciting and beautiful for everyone.

Today we are back in Kobe, where our Japan tour started and where now 650 Japanese passengers will disembark. The Japanese can only take short trips, so Cunard has adapted to them in this regard. One of my tour guides explained to me that the Japanese usually have 18 days of vacation per year, but only take half of it and give the rest to the company (as a sign of solidarity). Making a world trip of 4 months is unimaginable for everyone I talked to, because they would never have that much time. Since Kobe had already put on a great program of fireworks for the reception and farewell a week ago, instead there was a gift from the city of Kobe for each passenger on this arrival, which was in the cabin for everyone last night. I thought that was very nice and we all felt really spoiled.

Of the places I visited, Kochi and Miyajima impressed me the most. Miyajima is a small island, only 10 minutes by ferry from Hiroshima, on which there is a sacred temple complex for the Japanese, which is in the middle of the water at high tide. Therefore, it looks as if it is floating on the water. Above all, the entrance gate in red-orange, the OTorii, looks fantastic and is also the most photographed motif in Japan, so it can be found in many calendars as a typical image of Japan. That was my personal favorite even before the start of my trip, which I really wanted to see. I was lucky enough to have a sunny day and even a few flowering cherry and plum trees and rising water, so that the temple complex was in the water. This place - as already mentioned - is sacred to the Japanese and you could also feel it in the complex (shrine) itself, as they entered the temple complex full of reverence, washed their hands at the entrance, and then prayed in front of the main shrine (two bows - clapping twice with their hands plus another bow to start their prayer) and then threw coins into a grated box. It was very nice that you could look into the room during the official ceremonies.

The individual rooms of the complex itself are connected to each other by long, open corridors in red wood, in which time and again horoscope tickets or lucky charms were drawn and then hung up. Outside the temple complex, many deer came towards us, which are tame and therefore we received a written warning to avoid paper or plastic so that the animals do not eat it. The deer are considered "messengers of the deity" and are therefore also sacred. They were so trusting that they even posed for Japanese group photos.

I really liked the beauty of the temple complex and the entire atmosphere and I was happy to have seen and experienced it.

The city of Kochi offered a special location with a very long, wide beach and a rock formation at the end of the bay. In the city itself, there was an interesting castle complex that is built entirely of stone with a moat and a portcullis and has a pagoda structure as a castle complex for the ruler, which is all in white. That also looked very beautiful, as most of the palace and temple buildings are red. However, aesthetics had its price, there were many steep steps, even within the pagoda there were very steep stairs that were not easy to climb in stockings (shoes have to be taken off). The last section up to the lookout point was really difficult, especially when descending. But I came down unharmed. A Japanese woman at the entrance explained the construction to me and when I said that I come from Germany, where there are many castles, she immediately spoke to me in German and enthusiastically told me about her visit to Germany. Traveling is something that the Japanese are very proud of.

Well, enough of the culture for today. I have also made another observation that I don't want to withhold from you, and that is the dogs that people have here. I have now seen several times that dogs are ridden in small strollers and that they are dressed. Usually only the back is covered, but I saw two dogs wearing T-shirts and jeans. I have also seen smaller dogs in dresses or skirts. Take a look at the photos for that!,

Now two days at sea are coming up and I will process my impressions of Japan and the many photos before moving on to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Best regards and hopefully soon many beautiful spring days for all of you!

Eva