The waters were alive with marine life and over the day, saw us encounter 20+ sperm whales as well as several fin whales that loitered remarkably close to our comfortable home, National Geographic Resolution. The avian life was just as captivating—our first sightings of streaked shearwaters were long anticipated, and we marveled at rafts of Leach’s and Tristram’s storm petrels that danced on the waves in near-comical fashion.
8/26/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Kushiro, Japan
Today we woke up after four days at sea with land in sight! By breakfast we were alongside the port city of Kushiro in Hokkaido, Japan. It was our first stop in Japan and that meant going through customs onboard before heading out for a day full of activities. We visited the Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve and had delicious kaisendon (make your own seafood bowl) at the Washo Market. Another option for lunch was the delicious robatayaki BBQ experience. We also visited the Onnenai Visitor Center and walked the boardwalk in Japan’s largest wetland. In the evening when we returned to the ship, the town of Kushiro had set up many food trucks, sake tastings, and even the chance to try on Japanese clothing and join in a dance at the pier. The evening was capped off by a second Japanese language lesson. It was a full day and just the beginning of our adventures in Japan.
