April 22 - Kushiro, Japan

Sailed into a chilly and gray Kushiro, but like the peoples’ welcoming smiles, the sun also smiled and shined brightly for us.

 

Went into the surrounding countryside to the Kushiro Marsh Conservatory, seeing many dairy farms along the way.

 

After a nice hike in the Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, headed over to the Japanese Crane Reserve, getting to see Japan’s national bird up close. Due to the recovery efforts of this reserve and others, the species will survive.

 

Went back to town and took a look at the local fish market, referred to as the kitchen of Kushiro. I saw some of the strangest (and ugliest) fish. They better taste good, because they will not make it to the table based on their good looks. At this market they offer the katte don (as you like it bowl) – one buys a bowl of rice, then proceeds to the various fish mongers and adds whatever appeals to them before sitting down to enjoy at one of the picnic tables.

 

Last stop of the day was to the Kushiro City Museum. In addition to the  historical and geological exhibitions, they had life-sized stuffed critters, my favorite being the massive walrus, battle scars and all.

 

As the ship was preparing to set sail, a saxophone player performed for us, with a group “waving” goodbye. Since we were docked right in a city park area, many of the locals came out to send us on our way as we leave Japan and begin our 3,700+ mile journey across the seas to Alaska.

April 21st - Hakodate, Japan

Started the day with a visit to the Morning Market with more than 280 stalls selling lots of great looking seafood, fruits and vegetables. The strawberries looked fabulous, but then at about $8.00 US for a small carton, they should!

 

Next it was up to the Goryokaku Tower and Fort, they say it is “a symbol of the unfulfilled dreams from the twilight of the shogunate years”. The fort was built in 1864 to defend itself from the “Black Ships” (foreign ships). At the top of the Tower, opened in 2006, one gets a view of the remaining fort complex and surrounding areas. Strolled the grounds here and visited the reconstructed Magistrate’s Office, the center for the shogunate government and administration. Even by today’s standards it is quite large and all of the rooms were multi-purpose.

 

Headed over to the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway for some even more spectacular views.

 

Before heading back to the ship made a quick stop at the Hakodate Museum of Northern People housed in the former Bank of Japan to see the exhibits of artifacts of the native Ainu or Aleut people.

 

When the sun starts setting here the temperatures really drop – need to get back to the ship while there is still a little light.