We’re embarking today on the National Geographic Resolution, an arctic-class cruise ship identical to the ship (the Endurance) we sailed to South Georgia in March 2023. On this trip, Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture, run by National Geographic on a ship managed by Lindblad Expeditions, Pam and I and my parents will be cruising along the southern coasts of Japan, and make a brief stop in South Korea, exploring many of the natural and cultural highlights of this beautiful region of the world. More to come, and you can be sure I’ll bring back lots of photographs!
After a 13-hour non-stop flight from Boston to Tokyo, during which the sun never set on our Boeing 787 chasing the sun west over Canada, Alaska, and the northern Pacific, we spent a night in a downtown Tokyo hotel. The morning (September 2) allowed us time for bit of exploration, shopping, and a bus tour of central Tokyo, before dragging our suitcases to Tokyo Station. There, we hopped the ‘bullet train’ – the original Tokaido Shinkansen – for a comfortable three-hour ride to Kobe at 285 km/h (177 mph). At the elegant Hotel Okure Kobe, we connected with my parents and prepared to join the tour group the next morning.
The weather was sunny, hot, and very humid – a condition that will persist throughout our time in Japan, and a reminder that Typhoon Shanshan had passed through a day before our arrival. My photo gallery captures a few snapshots from around central Tokyo and along the train ride. (Below are two ‘appetizers’ – a lunch in Tokyo, and the bullet train after arriving in Kobe.)
The rest of the trip (index):
Day 2 (September 4): Uno, Naoshima
Day 3 (September 5): Takamatsu
Day 4 (September 6): Hiroshima
Day 5 (September 7): Uwajima, Uchiko
Day 6 (September 8): Yakushima Island
Day 7 (September 9): Kagoshima, Sakurajima, and Sengan-en garden
Day 8 (September 10): Nagasaki
Day 9 (September 11): Gyeongju, South Korea
Day 10 (September 12): Sea of Japan
Day 11 (September 13): Sakaiminato, Matsue
Day 12 (September 14): Kanazawa
Day 13 (September 15): Shinkansen, Tokyo
Day 14 (September 16): Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji temple, Geisha
Day 15 (September 17): Tokyo’s Hama-rikyu Gardens
We’re thinking of taking this trip next summer. I’m curious whether the humidity was bearable or not. Any issues with typhoons? I noticed you had a swim in the Sea of Japan but any other opportunities for swimming or going to the beach (Japan doesn’t seem to be known for it’s beaches)
We were there in September, soon after one typhoon and departing just before another. (Lucky timing!) The weather was unusually hot and humid, for that time of year, so some outings were more challenging due to the heat. The trip was nonetheless wonderful. Our swim in the Sea of Japan was, I gather, something this ship’s captain likes to arrange when the sea is calm, if only because it’s such an unusual thing to do – to swim so far out at sea. Otherwise, this trip was not oriented toward outings that would involve swimming, and there was only one hike. This trip is focused on culture rather than nature, though we did visit several gardens and one volcano. If swimming is an important goal, or you like to sit on a beach, you may prefer a different kind of trip.