Sakaiminato, Japan - Day 7

 Wednesday, June 18, 2025 

[INSERT PICTURE GETTING OFF OF THE CRUISE HERE]

Today we have a shore excursion planned. This is “Plan B” since our only excursion was canceled due to weather. It took quite a while to get through the customs line, but when we did, we were greeted with regional characters to get photos with.  So that was value added. Later in the day, I saw lots of merchandise with these characters on them.  I guess it is a thing, where you go to a particular region in Japan, and then you buy the “local goods” that have their characters on it as a reminder of being in that location.  It’s a fun concept.

After the quick photo op, we rode the bus out to Adachi Museum of Art.  It had very beautiful gardens that we viewed through windows that seemed to serve as a frame for the living art work. Our favorite feature of the gardens was how they had planned the shape of the tops of the trees to match the hills in the background, greatly enhancing the depth and scope of the garden. As Desmond commented, “The garden looks like it goes on forever.”

I also enjoyed the waterfalls. And Desmond was taken with the koi in the pond. We toured the museum, Dylan found a few things to buy in the gift shop, and Desmond used one of the many vending machines all in a row to get himself a cold drink. 

When we got back on the bus, our tour guide, Shun san, told a samurai ghost story, as we rode past rice fields with cranes in them and residential areas on our way to our next stop.  

The next stop was Matsue Castle Tower. It was very picturesque. Completed in 1611, this defensive castle was used by samurai. We removed our shoes at the entrance (I was glad I had brought little socks to put on), climbed up many sets of wooden stairs, and took in the view. On the way up, various parts of the building were labeled as to their use (such as arrow slits and windows to drop stones from). The dark wood that the structure was made of was worn smooth by many visitors. 

After we had seen the castle, we went back down the hill to the shrine where the lord of the castle had been enshrined. 

Next we took another bus ride to a restaurant for lunch. The restaurant had been reserved just for our tour bus, and they were ready for us the moment we walked in. The tables were spread with salad bowls, rice bowls, and an ample plate of meat to grill. After pointing out the various sauces and their uses (a BBQ and a salad dressing) they turned on the grills in the center of the tables and the cubes of fat sitting in the very center began to sizzle, preparing the grill for use. 

We had such a good time. Each person grilling their own meat and eating it with the sides provided. There was fish, some sort of scallop, thin sliced pork, and excellent beef. There were also veggies to grill such as carrots and onions. The food was delicious.  Afterward there was a coupon for a discount on an ice cream cone for dessert. 

Finally we went to the boat launch for a little scenic boat ride around the moat. The boat was of a style that necessitated sitting on the floor of the boat. And some of the bridges were so low that they would mechanically lower the roof and we all needed to bend over or crouch down. Dad, who had hurt his knee the other day, couldn’t sit without pain, and so opted to lie down on the bottom the boat instead. The rest of us spotted cranes, turtles, fish jumping and mom enjoyed the plentiful hydrangea along the edge of the moat. At one point we went through such a narrow tunnel under a bridge, with the roof lowered down, that Bryan and I felt like it gave off Willy Wonka vibes, but the majority of the boat ride was very nice. During the passage under one wider bridge, our guide (who by the way was wearing a very traditional hat to keep off the sun) sang us a song in Japanese, keeping time with her hand against part of the boat. It was such a neat experience. 

All in all, this excursion was an enjoyable “Plan B.”

We got back in time for a few minutes of quiet in our stateroom before it was time to head down to the dining room. Dad’s back was giving him some trouble, so he didn’t make it to dinner. The rest of us visited and enjoyed beef Wellington, lamb, and goat cheese soufflé. Afterward, Bryan and I took Desmond to the show to see a juggler. Then we hung out in our room having a little screen time and eventually ordered some room service.  It was a nice evening together as a family.

Tomorrow is an at sea day with nothing much planned as yet.  We will see where the day takes us!