Day 14 – Toba: When Plans Go Sideways

I had my heart set on visiting the Ise Shrine today—simple enough, just a quick two-train journey… or so I thought. Somehow, we ended up on the wrong platform after being pointed in the wrong direction and boarded a limited express train going completely the opposite way. Thirty minutes later, we realized our little detour.

With it being a Saturday, train options were limited, and the stations here didn’t have as much English signage, which made things even trickier. I asked a group of four girls for help, and they told us to get off and go three more stops—but at that point, we decided not to risk getting even more lost.

So, we pivoted.

Back to Toba we went, and instead visited the aquarium. To be honest, it wasn’t my favorite. Some of the tanks didn’t seem to be in the best condition, which made it a bit disappointing. But I did catch two walruses just lounging in the sun without a care in the world—definitely the highlight—so of course, I snapped a few photos. And a pic of a Capaberra just lounging on his back without a care in the world.

Toba is known for its pearl divers, and that’s a big draw here. We heard you have to pay about ¥1500 just to cross over to see them, which didn’t seem worth it for us. Instead, we wandered through some local shops, but it was more of the same—lots of packaged foods with no clue what they were, and nothing I really wanted to buy just for the sake of it. I’ve been on the hunt for some good t-shirts as souvenirs, but no luck so far.

Shimizu Port is our last stop, so fingers crossed I find something there… otherwise, it’s coming down to airport shopping.

Even with the travel mishap and change of plans, it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day in Toba—and honestly, that makes all the difference.

Day 13 A Quiet Stop in Hososhima, Japan

Today we docked in the sleepy little port town of Hososhima, a peaceful change of pace from the bigger cities. We hopped on the local shuttle and made our way into the historic area of Hyuga, curious to see what we’d find.

We spent the morning wandering quiet streets, eventually reaching a small emperor’s shrine dating back to the Edo period.

 Like many of our stops, we also stumbled upon another old cemetery—something I’m always drawn to when traveling. There’s just something about seeing history and culture reflected in such a personal way.

It wasn’t a town packed with sights, but that’s what made the day feel so calm and authentic.

One of my favorite moments? I stopped to ask a local woman for directions using my map and said “arigato.” She laughed and kindly repeated it back to me. Later, we crossed paths again—and she actually stopped us, handed us each a piece of candy, and let me take a photo with her. Such a simple, sweet moment that completely made the day.

After visiting a few more small shrines, we made our way back to the ship, reminded that not every stop has to be full of big attractions. Sometimes, the quiet, unexpected moments are the ones that stay with you the most.

You really do have to make the best of every day—and today was a perfect example of that. 🌿✨

Day 12- Kagoshima Japan Sunrise Views of Sakurajima: Up Close with Japan’s Fiery Giant

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Kagoshima greeted us bright and early—really early—with a 5:45 a.m. wake-up call to catch the sunrise as we cruised past the island. And there it was in the distance, the dramatic and still-active Sakurajima, a classic stratovolcano and the star of the show.

After docking, we made our way into town and hopped on the quick 15-minute ferry over to the island. A little tip if you go: the fare is 250¥ per person, but you don’t pay until you arrive on the island side—and on the way back, you pay before boarding. Cash only over there!

Once across, we grabbed a 500¥ day bus pass (totally worth it) right on board. You scratch off the date like a lottery ticket to activate it—kind of fun, actually. The bus loops around the island every 30 minutes, stopping at scenic viewpoints, with stops 5, 6, and 11 being the most popular.

We hopped off early, realized there wasn’t much going on, and decided to walk to the next stop instead. Lucky us—it turned into a beautiful, sunny stroll with incredible views. Stop 11 definitely delivered, with the most jaw-dropping vantage point of the volcano. Totally worth the effort.

After soaking it all in, we ferried back and found a small local spot for lunch. Armed with Google Lens, we confidently ordered tempura fish with miso soup… or so we thought. What arrived was what we ordered but also a little  something extra. A big fish head in broth, complete with an eyeball staring right back at us 😳 I just couldn't even try to eat, nor could I eat with it staring back at me. I had to tell them politely I couldn't eat it.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through town and popping into shops, but didn’t pick up any souvenirs until we got back to the cruise terminal. There, I found a baseball cap that looked like it said “Japan”… but the Japanese characters actually read “Samurai.” Close enough, right? I’m pretty sure no one back home will question it 😄

Another unforgettable day—sunrise views, volcanic landscapes, and a lunch story we won’t forget anytime soon!

Day 11 – A Beautiful Day in Nagasaki (and a Ring to Remember)

 

Day 11 in Nagasaki greeted us with clear skies and sunshine—finally, a day with no rain in sight! We set off early, excited for a hands-on experience we had booked through Tripadvisor: a “Make Your Own Ring” workshop.

Since we had some time before our reservation, we wandered around the area and—much to my excitement—stumbled upon one of my favorite unexpected finds: a local cemetery. I’ve always been fascinated by cemeteries in different countries. There’s something so meaningful about seeing how different cultures honor their loved ones. After snapping a few photos and soaking it all in, we headed to the ring-making studio.

We were the first ones there, so it felt like a private experience. We chose our ring styles—deciding on the width, texture, and finish—then got to work hammering and shaping them ourselves. It was such a fun, interactive experience. A silver ring cost around $60, while gold and platinum options were more. Now, every time we look at our hands, we’ll have a little piece of Nagasaki with us.

Afterward, we decided to explore a bit more and walked about 15 minutes to Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown. It turned out to be smaller than we expected, so we kept wandering and eventually found ourselves in a bustling shopping arcade. That’s where I made a beeline for Don Quijote for a skincare haul—always a full-on sensory experience in there!

Travel tip: If you’re shopping tax-free, they may direct you to a special “no tax” register. I waited in line, only to find out my total was 4,600¥ and the minimum for tax-free was 5,500¥. At that point, I wasn’t about to hunt for another 1,000¥ worth of items, so I just paid the tax. It’s only 10% anyway—just a few extra dollars—so for small purchases, it’s honestly not worth the hassle.

We headed back to Chinatown for a quick lunch at a cozy local Japanese spot. We’re still working on perfecting our chopstick skills, but we’re getting there! It was such a relaxed, easygoing afternoon that we decided to walk all the way back to the ship.

And what better way to end a sunny day than with a piña colada by the pool? 🍹