10/3 Kagoshima Japan

Next day – we’re now in Japan. Not as pretty a day, overcast with threatening clouds. There’s a darkening cloud on the ship too as we are all trying to go through immigration again – meaning the entire ship must have their finger prints and eye scans done again. We went through this for the first time while we were doing our North Pacific crossing. Took 5 days, 2 hours a day, everyone scheduled in staggered groups. We had Japanese officials onboard with us for the entire 5 days. This time, however, there are no officials on board. They join us when we dock and we all have to file through Club Fusion when called.

We’re pretty bummed, because they have assigned each person a number according to their cabin location. They are going top deck to bottom so we are in the last batch - #2198 and 2199. Great! We’re never getting off this ship! And we have a tight time schedule to get to Sakurajima for the hot springs. The whole process started around 7:30, and went pretty slowly. We were making plans for lunch on the ship! But, a silver lining, we at least have entertainment while we wait and wait and wait.

This is the one-year anniversary of the Port of Kagoshima and there are ceremonies galore out there. First of all, it is a beautiful port. A new garden with black rocks and a pagoda wraps around the end of the pier, and all the area around the port facility is landscaped with flowers and plantings. There is a large flower bed spelling out Kagoshima and one large port building. Tents have been set up with chairs, microphones and dignitaries abound. A H.S. marching band is here to provide music and then a group of little school children arrive to perform songs for us. Booths are being set up with free rice cakes (they are making them fresh as we sit on our balcony and watch! A man is pounding the rice mixture in a huge mortal, while I woman mixes it up in between hammer hits.) There’s also an origami booth and more booths down by the building we can’t really see. All in all, it’s really a great show- and at least makes the time pass a little more quickly.

We are finally processed and out the door by 10:30. Hopped on a shuttle for a quick ride to the center of town. All these shuttles are run by the local government and so far, they have been fantastic. Kagoshima even has a staffed table with maps and information set up where the shuttle drops you off in town. You cuoldn’t ask for better service or welcomes.

We jumped off the bus and headed over to the ferry pier for Sakurajima. It’s an easy 15 minute walk on wide sidewalks with good directional signs. The Ferry runs every 10 minutes or so, back and forth from Sakurajima, the active volcano island right off of Kagoshima. We walked up to the ferry and managed to get on the 11:10 – just walked right on. Asked about where to buy tickets and the guy putting up the gangplank said “buy in Sakurajima”. Ok – we’ll do that! It’s cheap as dirt, only 150 Yen each OW (that’s about $1.50US).

The ride is really short, only about 15 minutes. We ran into a couple of Japanese girls from the ship – American, but with a working knowledge of Japanese, so we sort of teamed with them when we found out we were all going to the Furusato Kanko Hotel for the hot springs.

Off the ferry – paid our 150 Yen each (had to get change in the change machine – which obviously are pretty standard over here everywhere!) and walked downstairs to wait for the free shuttle to the hotel. We missed it by a few minutes and had to wait about ½ hour before it arrived again. By this time 3 other couples had arrived on the next ferry and were waiting with us. When the shuttle arrived, it was small, only an 8 passenger van – so one couple couldn’t come. We of course made sure we were first on the bus – along with our new “girlfriends”. We all scrambled in and rode the 15 minutes to the hotel in companionable silence. (Well, I guess it was companionable, it was a little odd actually that no one was talking to each other – but then again we didn’t try to converse with them either so….can’t really say much!).

The landscape here is just gorgeous – and terribly different. Sakurajima is an active volcano, with a huge eruption in 1914 that actually closed the channel with the lava. You would expect something that looks like Hawaii with all the lava and some scrub. But not so. Here the lava is covered with luscious green flora and fauna. Pine trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers – it’s just beautiful with the dark brown/black lava rocks juxtaposed against the vibrant green foliage.

Once we got to the hotel, we hot footed it inside to get in line for the hot springs. As it turned out, only the girls and us went in. The other couples went across the street for something – we’ve no idea what! The girls had actually reserved a private room through a Japanese friend of theirs, so once they were checked in an headed off, we asked about just the Hot Springs. We were shown across the hall to a stand in the lobby that looked sort of like a coat room. The woman who took us there then began to explain about the springs, the cost, etc……all in Japanese. It was hysterical – she was having a grand conversation with us in a foreign language and we were going right along! Too much fun!

So – here’s the deal: We paid for our admittance, 1050 Yen each, by putting our money into a ticket machine. It spit out two tickets. We gave the tickets to the woman who then fitted us for our yukata robes (robes you must wear in the outdoor hot spring pool) by holding the robes up to us and sizing them by sight. She then wrapped the robes and a towel in a little waterproof plastic shopping bag with handles. Fortunately, they also had instructions, in English, on a piece of paper she handed us. She then walked us over to the lockers, showed us how to pay our 100 Yen for each locker, then pantomimed what to leave in the locker (she kept showing us her cell phone) and what to wear in the hot springs – either no bra and panties or only bra and panties under the Yukata – we don’t have a clue! The paper said wear nothing, we think she said wear something? Whatever!

Next she led us over to a fountain with a drinking cup and pantomimed we drink from the fountain. No way! Oh jeez –well, in for a penny, in for a pound – so both of us drank from the cup! We’ll either die of some dreadful disease or we’ll be cleansed from the warm salt water we ingested. Guess we’ll see in a few days! Next we were directed to the elevator where we had to leave our shoes and put on supplied sandals (yes, Mom, I know what you are thinking, putting on shoes that a million others have had on? Well, what can I tell you?). Off come the shoes, on go the sandals, down we go in the elevator – which is more of an incline than a true elevator.

At the bottom of the incline, we continued to walk down sloping paths that wound their way to sea level. At the bottom of the paths was a changing room where we changed into our white Yukata robes with the Japanese symbols on the back. (And yes, we kept our swim suits on!). We met outside and walked down to the hot springs, which were really hot! We had originally been disappointed that the day was overcast and a little chilly and muggy, but once we got into the Hot Spring pool, we were really  pleased it was overcast. We would have fried in the bright sunlight.

The pool was almost in kidney bean shaped – two big round pools joined to together in the center with rocks to sit on around the perimeter and in the center of the first pool. One side backed up to the rocky hill, the other to the ocean with endless views. On the rocky side, a huge tree hung over the pool with exposed roots and an area that was cave like under the tree roots where little Buddha idols were set up along with those drinking cups again! There were also a couple of wooden entrance “shrines”, one at the entrance to the pool and one at the opposite end of the pool.

There were only 3 other people in the pool when we arrived, and they left shortly after we got there – so we had the whole thing to ourselves. It was so peaceful and quiet. Quite the serene place to think, reflect and cleanse your body and mind. It was a wonderful experience, made all the better because of the adventure it had been to get there. We spent about half an hour in the pool, until we couldn’t stand the heat anymore and Ed was dripping with sweat!

We reversed our steps, showered, changed and headed back upstairs to get the shuttle back to the mainland. Had to wait for 45 minutes to get another shuttle, during which time I tried to explain to one of the hotel folks to hold our place in line for the shuttle. We were worried it would be full and we wouldn’t be able to get back, so I tried to explain it by making Ed line up behind me to signify standing in line! That went over well!

Next, we did manage to get a beer in the little lounge area and have a lovely conversation with a Japanese gentleman who wanted to know where we were from and why we were there at the hotel! Finally got to use our point it book – but it didn’t help much as we don’t have a picture of a cruise ship in there! He did finally get the idea that we were from the US and close to Washington DC. Other than that – don’t know if he understood a word. We sure didn’t!

Wasted time out in the lobby taking pictures – and Pietro was  attacked by a giant wooden Eagle and a little porcelain cat that was trying to swat him in the entrance way. He finally found a nice Japanese friend that saved him from the giant beasts who were out to get him!

Shuttle came, and it was only the 2 of us in it. Don’t know where the girls went or the other couples, so we had a private driver basically! Hit the ferry terminal, paid, walked onto the 2:30 ferry and headed to the front of the ship to the noodle stand. We had read that the ferry had the best noodles anywhere and we wanted to sample them. A sign said there was something for 200, 400, 450 and 550 yen. I walked up with 200 and asked for noodles, the lady shook her head and said something in Japanese. Oh boy! I held out the 200 yen, and she pointed to some rice stuff. No, I shook my head and pointed to the noodles. Ok – she points to the 400. I handed over 400 and then she takes the noodles, dunks them in hot water for a couple of seconds, pours broth over them, then dumps in spring onions, some crunchy stuff that was probably chicharones or something and a crunchy fried thing we think was chicken or tofu – go figure! I grabbed 2 sets of chopsticks and we dug in. Oh my gosh – it was so good! Noodles tender, broth great, crunch stuff all good. It was fantastic. Of course once we were done, then comes the problem of what to do with the trash! We were fortunate enough to have a couple sitting at the same table eating their noodles and we watched them when they threw away all their refuse! Follow the leader!

Off the ferry, we wandered through Dolphin Point, a new shopping and restaurant complex. It was interesting looking at all the shops and their funny translated names: “He who me” was our favorite! Upstairs was a wedding chapel along with a photo studio and accompanying restaurant! It was all set up so we were wondering if there was a wedding that night. Back downstairs, we stocked up on liquid supplies and chocolate and headed back to the shuttle stop.

We were early enough that we were able to wander through the shopping district of Kagoshima a bit before getting back on the shuttle. Tons of people walking through a covered portico on each side of the main thoroughfare. And even more people lined up for the local buses. Traffic is fierce, but so it the public transportation which apparently gets lots of use here. We wandered around, found another Richmond Hotel (obviously a big chain in Asia), took some Pietro pictures – he’s happier here since there are no giant animals waiting to attack him – and finally ended up finding the Kagoshima Brand store (the tourist store) around the corner from the shopping plaza. Out front of the store, some enterprising folks had set up a tent and were selling some sort of small dried fish. They were telling us all about their wares – all in Japanese of course! – and gave us a sample in a little sliver tray. Nasty! Totally fishy tasting and crunchy. Ed didn’t mind them, but I didn’t even get through one bite without wanting to spit them out. We think the lady selling them was telling us that they go into things or can be sprinkled on top of food. Looked like what she was pantomiming anyway. And here again, talk about clean and recycling! We started to walk away with the little trays once we were done and she came after us and took them back from us to dispose of. We were impressed – either that or naïve – they probably re-used them!

Shuttle back to the ship, the visitors bureau had a couple of stands handing out saki and the tiny oranges that are grown in Kagoshima. I went back for more of the oranges – Ed had my Saki! Wandered up to the end of the dock and had a beer from a little stand selling food and beverages, sitting under an umbrella watching little Japanese children play while their mom’s looked on.

Back aboard, we sat on the balcony and watched the farewell  show at the port. A big drum show and – best of all – Sakurajima erupted! It was amazing to watch as a huge plume of ash spewed out of the top of the volcano. We had the perfect position from our balcony to watch as the mushroom cloud of ash rose over the island! Wow! What a great way to end a really fabulous day in Kagoshima!

Stayed on the balcony as we sailed and waved to everyone on shore watching us go. Then did our norm: gym, dinner, wander, nothing going on, to bed!