Kurashiki and Naoshima, 9/19/2023, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Japan
Leaving the city of Kobe at night allowed us to enjoy the city lights. Meanwhile, we headed to the port of Uno for our next day of amazing activities.
Under a radiant sun, some of us enjoyed the island of Naoshima where Yayoi Kusama has one of her most famous sculptures at a dock: the yellow Pumpkin. The rest of the group went to enjoy the beauty and calm of Koraku-en garden, one of the most incredible gardens of all of Japan in Kuroshiki. After a wonderful lunch, we walked through the canal and observed the traditional houses while eating a delicious white peach ice cream to refresh ourselves a bit.
Maria Intxaustegi is an internationally awarded maritime archaeologist, naval historian, commercial diver, professional offshore sailor, and expedition guide from the Basque Country.
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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.
