From Rough Seas to Bamboo Dreams: A Kyoto Day Trip from Kobe

 Yesterday was a sea day—and not the relaxing kind. The waters were rough, and it seemed like the whole ship was feeling it. Restaurants were practically empty, and we were right there with everyone else… feeling pretty miserable. Being at the front of the ship definitely didn’t help—it’s the rockiest spot, and we felt every wave. Needless to say, we skipped dinner and called it an early night.

By morning, everything had completely changed. The seas had calmed, we docked in Kobe, and just like that—sea sickness gone! We managed a decent breakfast and grabbed a cab to the train station to start our day’s adventure.

From there, we picked up tickets for the famous Shinkansen (yes, I totally butchered the name at first 😄), and what would’ve been a 2-hour journey turned into a smooth 30-minute ride to Kyoto. Japan’s efficiency never stops amazing me.

Next stop: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We had been warned it would be crowded during cherry blossom season—and they weren’t kidding. It was beautiful, but snapping photos took some patience with all the people. Still, totally worth it.

After wandering through the bamboo forest, we made our way down into the charming little town below. Everywhere we turned, there were food stalls—so many options, and honestly, we had no idea what half of it was! But that’s part of the fun, right?

We then hopped back on the train toward Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district, where we explored the streets and visited a few shrines. I wish I could say we spotted a real geisha, but instead we saw plenty of tourists dressed up and posing for photos. And those sandals with socks? They look seriously uncomfortable!

We stopped at a quirky, unique little restaurant (no idea what it was called, but it had character!) and wrapped things up with some matcha ice cream—because in Kyoto, everything is matcha.

Then came the realization… we had round-trip tickets. Yep—time for the long ride back! Finding the right trains and towns can definitely be a challenge when you’re running on low energy.

By the end of the day, I was completely wiped. Safe to say I skipped the evening entertainment and happily called it a night.

Day 3: Cherry Blossoms, Trains & Setting Sail

 Our final morning in Tokyo started the best way possible—with one more walk under the cherry blossoms.

Since we didn’t have to be at the port until 12:30 PM, we took advantage of the time and headed out for a peaceful stroll along the Meguro River. And yes… more cherry blossoms (as if we could ever get enough). The soft pink blooms lining the river made for the perfect send-off from the city.

We got our steps in, snapped plenty of photos, and even successfully used a vending machine all on our own—small victories while traveling in Japan!

After our morning walk, we headed back to the hotel to organize and repack for our journey to the port. Navigating Tokyo with a large suitcase and carry-on isn’t exactly easy, but we powered through like seasoned travelers.

The journey to the port took a bit of effort—two train rides followed by a quick taxi—but it all went smoothly. And honestly, the taxi ride to the pier was totally worth it. At around 800 yen (roughly $5 USD), it made that final stretch so much easier.

Soon enough, we arrived in Yokohama, ready to board the beautiful Seabourn Encore. With only around 500 passengers, it’s considered a smaller, more intimate ship—which is exactly our style.

Embarkation was quick and seamless, so instead of rushing to our room, we did what any seasoned cruisers would do… headed straight to lunch. Priorities, right?

Once onboard, we were welcomed with a glass of champagne and a toast to the adventure ahead—such a perfect way to kick off the cruise.

That evening, we had reservations at Solis, and it did not disappoint. The food and drinks were incredible. I ordered a “Sophia Loren,” a delicious mix with peach schnapps topped with a fun bubble—equal parts tasty and entertaining.

As the night went on, the seas started to get a bit rocky, so we decided to call it an early night and head back to our room.

And just like that, our Tokyo chapter came to an end… and our cruise adventure officially began.

Day 2 in Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Shibuya Chaos & Local Finds

Since we struck out the day before, we made it our mission to get into Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden bright and early. The trick? No reservations needed between 9:00–10:00 AM. Perfect… or so we thought.

We arrived feeling pretty proud of ourselves—only to find lines stretching two blocks long. Clearly, everyone else had the exact same idea. Thankfully, the lines moved quickly. Between people who had pre-purchased tickets and locals using annual passes, we were through in just a few minutes. Tickets were also super reasonable—500 yen for adults and 250 yen for seniors.

Once inside, it was completely worth it.

We spent over an hour wandering through one of the most beautiful parks we’ve seen—especially in the middle of a massive city like Tokyo. The cherry blossoms were in bloom, the gardens were peaceful, and despite the crowds, it felt calm and almost serene. Being a Sunday, families were out in full force, setting up blankets and enjoying picnics under the blossoms. It was one of those “this is why we came” moments.

Next up: the world-famous Shibuya Crossing—also known as the “Shibuya Scramble.”

If you’ve never seen it before, it’s hard to describe. When the lights turn red, people flood the intersection from every direction—straight, diagonal, everywhere—all at once. Hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people crossing at the same time… and somehow, no one crashes into each other. Of course, everyone is filming—including us.

Getting there, however, was its own little adventure. We got a bit turned around coming out of the train station, and Google Maps didn’t quite account for navigating above ground. But eventually, we found it and checked that must-do Tokyo experience off the list.

While in the area, I had one personal mission: find the Hachikō Statue. If you’ve ever seen Hachi: A Dog's Tale with Richard Gere, you know it’s a total tearjerker—and it’s based on a true story. I wasn’t leaving Shibuya without getting a photo there.

We spent some time wandering the neighborhood, taking in all the sights, before meeting up with my best friend’s son—who recently moved to Tokyo. And surprise to me… he had just gotten married a few days earlier! Such a fun and unexpected moment to celebrate.

With a local guide who speaks the language, everything got easier—especially when it came to finding food. One thing we quickly learned: restaurants in Tokyo aren’t always at street level. You might see a sign with pictures… but the actual place could be up an elevator, seven or eight floors above you.

Our first stop was a vegetarian spot, but the menu was pretty limited and the vibe didn’t quite do it for us. The second place—a sushi restaurant—had a waitlist 33 people deep. Not happening.

Third time was the charm.

We ended up at a small, hole-in-the-wall spot, sitting at a counter and ordering like locals. One of the coolest moments was watching our friend prepare tea—pouring matcha powder into a cup and adding hot water from a spigot. Definitely something we would have never figured out on our own.

We ordered sushi, grabbed some drinks, and spent a couple of hours catching up and hearing about life in Japan. It ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect travel moments.

By the end of the afternoon, though, jet lag finally caught up with us. We realized you really can’t do everything in a day—and honestly, you shouldn’t try.

So we headed back to our hotel, ready for a shower, some downtime, and a much-needed reset before the next adventure.