Nagahama, 9/22/2023, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Japan
Today offered a new port of call for National Geographic Resolution and a new destination for everyone on board. Nagahama is the port town and gateway to the ancient city of Ozu on Shikoku Island. Guests went ashore to visit the old town of Uchiko with its beautiful streets and shopping, a museum of wax productions, and a kabuki theatre. Some adventurers headed to the streets of Ozu to visit a preserved traditional house, the riverfront, a tearoom, and the Ozu Castle. Originally built in 1331, the castle was torn down during the 1888 ‘restoration’ and then rebuilt in 2004 on the original grounds as an important cultural relic.
Pacific Northwest born James Hyde grew up immersed in the Salish Sea, on Vashon Island with Seattle as his backdrop. A passionate traveler from a young age, James explored four continents before finishing his degree at Western Washington University's...
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I got the call to join the East China Sea expedition in the hours before I was to head out for a fourteen-day-long backpacking trip through the Rockies in Alberta. I had an internet connection that lasted just long enough for me to respond, “Absolutely, count me in.” While carrying 55-pound packs up mountainous terrain, I thought of Japan. I had never been, and the last time I was in Asia, I was pickpocketed by a monkey, a Balinese macaque that was half my size. But like our guests, I’m always game for an adventure. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect since this was Lindblad’s first year of voyages in Japan. However, based on previous expeditions, I had faith that this experience would be one of a kind and very memorable. Now that we are in our final moments of the journey, I can confidently say that this trip was better than any I could have imagined and not only because the toilet seats were heated. For the nature souls, a hike to Yasukuni cedar trees, many of which date back more than a thousand years, was a favorite. There were chances to see deer, monkeys, birds, and waterfalls. Culture and history buffs enjoyed countless castles, museums, gardens, and artisans (soya sauce, silk cotton, and 60 proof saki, to name only a few). For the ocean lovers, there were days on the beach, explorations in mangroves, Zodiacs in the water, snorkel adventures, and gorgeous video footage from the underwater specialist. The trip was full of delightful moments. I’m sad this journey is coming to an end. But like the Japanese attitude towards the cherry blossoms, we enjoyed it while we could. Until the next one.
A bright dawn welcomed National Geographic Resolution to Yonaguni Jima, the last Japanese Island we will visit on this trip along the Ryukyu Islands chain. As the sun warmed the sky during breakfast, the sea transformed into a beautiful blue that perfectly matched the colour of the ship’s hull. There are no large ports on the island, so the Zodiacs came out one last time to shuttle guests onto Nama Beach inside the breakwater at the western end of the island. After we transferred onto some of the island's small buses, we set off to explore, visiting the Tindabana cliffs below the huge rock plateau that overlooks the beach and Agarizaki Cape at the eastern end of the island. A stop at Sakimoto Awamori Distillery revealed how the island's famous awamori alcohol is produced. In a performance at the local community centre, we were introduced to local dance and song and enjoyed snacks. After a hearty lunch on board, many ventured back to the beach to enjoy snorkeling over a sheltered coral reef. Fish darted between corals and seabed wrecks from the small port, and a lucky few spotted an octopus as it held court over its watery domain. Back on board, the final reminder that our time in Japan was at an end came with a customs check, and we diligently filled in our arrival cards for our next stop tomorrow: Taiwan.
Today we edged even closer towards Taiwan on our second to last day in Japan. We docked at lovely Ishigaki Island in the southern part of Okinawa prefecture and were greeted by a team of local women dressed in Okinawan kimono and dancing to traditional music. The Ishigaki Highlights tour began at Minsa Kogei Kan, a craft center specializing in the Minsa weaving technique from Okinawa that dates to the 16th century. The next stop was Ishigaki Yaima Village, which showcases relocated Yaeyama-style traditional residences and is home to a large number of squirrel monkeys. After enjoying a local music and dance performance, we enjoyed a glass-bottom boat ride on Kabira Bay before returning to the ship for lunch. Other groups enjoyed birding at Banna Park, riding in a traditional Okinawan fishing vessel called Sabani, or relaxing and snorkeling on Yonehara Beach. After lunch, shuttles offered a chance to explore the Ishigaki Town Center with its island vibe and fascinating confluence of Japanese, Chinese, and local Okinawan cultural influences.
