Today’s port is Sakata, each day we are heading more Northerly at present.
This is apparent in the weather watch we go though before dressing each day. Although shorts are OK, we need a waterproof jacket on top as rain is considered likely, and temperatures are starting at 10°.
We take the ship’s transfer into town, and then commence our planned wander around the known attractions the city can offer. We look at the Rice Warehouse district, where a battery of identical units are lined up and under various stages of restoration, but preserved as they were since the early 1600s. A replica Kokai boat is on display, which was used to move goods around the area along the Mogami River. Former houses, marked for restoration are also here.
Crossing back over the river we move towards the town centre, finding shrines along the way. We also find an interesting dance poster, not sure if unicycle ballet has made it elsewhere? Mr Google’s instructions are amusing – fortunately not really needed, although I do have a propensity to go off-piste most of the time so it’s useful he’s watching.
We find a local merchant’s house, the Honna family is one of the richest in Japan we are told, certainly 34 rooms would have been some luxury. The rooms are mostly empty but a few dolls and the kitchen remains as well as part of the garden.
Across the road is the family annex which holds the fire engine such as it was, counting house with abacus, and dolls house amongst other things. The next shrine was also built by the Honna family.
Moving on we venture into a less salubrious area where the nightclubs of the city are found. We find a disused cabaret, and another which was just receiving two busloads of Seabourn customers, but not us as we’re not on their tour. A traditional Maiko performance is on offer – young ladies training in the grace and artistry required to be geisha.
Adjacent is the Hiyoriyama Park where several shines can be found. One has the dubious reputation as the only place in Japan to find two Living Buddha, monks who have mummified themselves in self sacrifice, albeit a very long time ago as this is not allowed nowadays. Mr Google told us this Shrine is closed today, although in a later conversation with fellow travellers we find that there was in fact a way of viewing them, but we don’t feel disadvantaged to have missed this.
The park is pretty and in the early stages of the blossom festival, although this far North the blossom is mostly yet to start – tomorrow perhaps? There are stalls all around and people enjoying picnics on the grass. The lighthouse shows how close we are to the river.
Our final destination turns out to be in the playground of an infant’s school, so we are waving and bowing to children and teachers respectively as we progress to the Great Buddha of Sakata, some 17m tall. It’s story is explained in the accompanying photo.
We plan to walk back to the ship, so have carefully cultivated our route to head progressively North, and we set off through various neighbourhoods as we return, from tight traditional housing, through smarter areas with TWO car parking spaces! And past terraces which seem to be one-up one-down houses. The common factor is that there’s absolutely no litter, and no need to lock anything up – garden equipment, bikes, children’s toys and pretty much anything else is just left in the yard on full display.
Our route takes us past a large school and right through a recreational forest. As we approach the docks we see lumber yards forever, until we finally come across Quest, which seems to have become the tourist attraction for the day, with many locals just taking photos of us.
Later on sail away is accompanied by a large group of dancers, every day is a wonderful experience organised by the locals to wish us well, and of course safe returns!
Dinner this evening is poolside at Earth and Ocean, both having Panko crusted Shrimps, then Husband on beef ragu pasta and me farmer’s cocotte, pudding is apple tart.
The performance tonight is again the delightful and exceptionally talented pianist Tomono Kawamura, her programme includes Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Japanese composers.
