Entering Kobe Harbor. This photo was taken from right outside our cabin.
An impressive, modern Kobe skyline.
We are circumnavigating Japan onboard the Crystal Symphony cruise ship. In selecting cruises, I always pick the itinerary first, then see which cruise company has the best match. In this case, Crystal had the best schedule: 21 nights onboard, 18 April to May 9. It is a small company currently with only two ships but an excellent reputation and devoted passengers. Most people we talk to have been on previous cruises with Crystal.
Himeji Castle as seen from a distance.
A view of residential Kobe from the castle's upper level.
View from Himeji Castle toward central Kobe.
Not a natural stream; this scene was created by a landscape artist in the castle gardens.
Lots of colorful carp in the garden pond.
Dawn & I love to visit botanical gardens, and the Japanese are masters of such engaging surroundings.
Steppingstones provide a path across the pond.
Second stop, Kochi, was a smaller port on smaller Shikoku Island; we were told 84% forested and a mainly agricultural economy. Many rice fields; also, vegetables, and paper products. The visit was less formal; they didn’t bother checking passports. We visited a cave, a castle, and a beach, all close by with less time spent on a bus and more active walking.
Ryugado Cave, not too large; very narrow in most places; discovered by a schoolteacher less than a century ago.
Next up was a visit to Hiroshima on a day of steady all-day rain. At ground zero of the atomic bomb blast, the remain of one building has been let stand, and nearby is a peace museum. We visited a garden area and a hillside Buddhist complex until the substantial rain finally won out and we returned to our ship.
The Japanese attitude toward the dropping of an atomic bomb seems to be "Never again." without any lingering animosity toward the USA. Such events are an expected consequence in war.
Shukkei-En Garden on a rainy day. A traditional arched bridge.
Carefully shaped flowering bushes. Note the dimpled pond surface from the light falling rain.
I love the undulating contours of this garden scene.
A small, but very detailed, shrine.
A carved wooden figure.
Temple figurines.
A smaller town, Moji, is located on the island of Kyushu. There our excursion took us to a railway museum and an observatory on a nearby low mountain (about 2100’ altitude). Trains are not one of my interests; Dawn and I left early and walked the harbor front. We had lunch at the observatory after riding a cable car to the top. Great view of the city and across the ocean channel to Honshu Island.
A view of the town of Moji from an overlooking observatory. Honshu Island is in the distance.
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