Kagoshima/Japan

11.4.2024 Kagoshima

Kagoshima didn't make a particularly inviting impression on me. The excursions on offer didn't convince me either. I had a different plan.

I really wanted to try the best meat in the world in Japan - Wagyu beef. I found the best restaurant for it on the internet according to reviews - "Gyo do!".

After a two-hour walk, I reached my destination. The "Gyo do!" is an inconspicuous restaurant hidden in a side street. Without the tips on the Internet, I would never have found it.

I was given a seat right at the counter where the butcher was working. In front of me was a gas grill with a smoke extractor and a light above it. I was given a tablet to place my order on - all in Japanese! I managed this with the translation app on my smartphone and ordered a bamboo tablet with ten different types of Satsuma Wagyu meat.

The meat was probably the best I've ever tasted. Soft as butter (only the piece of tongue had the usual firmness) and full of flavour. I tried, successfully, not to give each piece of meat more than the necessary heat. Even without any side dishes (there was only salt, wasabi and soy sauce), I was full and very satisfied after the ten pieces.

As I stood up to go to the cash register, a Japanese couple sitting at the next table asked me if I was part of the ship and said they were passengers there themselves. They wanted to know how I had come across this restaurant. It seems to be an insider tip for locals.

Afterwards I walked around the city center, crossed the red light district, which was almost deserted at that time, and returned to the ship after another two hours on foot.

In the evening program, the magician Peng Fei Su had some tricks and jokes ready for us.

Later I felt ready to watch a film called "Big Man Japan". What a bad mistake! I have never seen a more stupid and pointless film. Only the hope that the supposed Japanese wisdom could give the film some sense and meaning prevented me from escaping. But the film maintained its unbelievable stupidity until the end. Waste of time!