Cruising Japan and Jeju Island on the final Leg of our Japanese adventure. #cruise #japan #jeju
Our Japanese cruise on Celebrity Millennium took us to Kov, Asaka, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. All shown in previous videos. In this video, we cruise to Juju Island in South Korea, Kagashima, and Shimuzu before returning to Tokyo. But why does a Japanese cruise go to South Korea? It is so that they cross international borders and therefore they can be duty-free. At Jehu Island, a shuttle bus is provided to take you into Jehu City, which drops you off at the XU Guana, which is the old administrative center dating from the 14th century. For a small fee, you could spend some time looking around the grounds. Each of these buildings had a different use, which is explained to you using information boards with English translations. You will enjoy looking around here at these exquisitely ornate buildings and marveling at the craftsmanship from the Baon era. As well as the shuttle bus, there is a free city tour bus which runs from the port. This tour lasts 2 hours and you can hop on and off whenever you like. However, the buses are hourly and once you leave the center, there is very little to warrant spending an hour at. The tour was actually quite boring and everyone was glad when it was over. So, we advise you to give it a miss and just walk around the center even though it is free. Sturgeons on the island center around volcanic activity and lava formations, which is amazing if you have never been to a volcanic island before. We chose to spend our time around city center on a self-guided walking tour. Just 250 m east of Zju Muana is the riverside area which is extremely colorful. It is also where you will find the main entrance to the indoor market which has a vibrant array of stalls offering eye-catching displays of local produce and delicacies as well as gifts for all. [Music] You can see fish which are sold fresh from tanks or pre-salted and there are many stalls selling satsumas which is a famous product of leaving the market. Walk back down the west bank of the river and you will arrive at black pork street. This whole street is dedicated to the South Korean delicacy of black pork. Restaurants here are set up like ceremonial rooms where you can try a set menu for £29, but not until after 400 p.m. which would leave it a bit tight for getting back to the ship on time. Instead, you can spend your time looking at some of the sculptures scattered around the area before returning to the ship. You will need the internet to find your way around both Japan and South Korea. Mayor Mobile provides a good value eim for both countries. Scan the link to see the latest deal which helps support our channel. Ensure your phone accepts eims first though. The next port of call was back in Japan at Kagashima where a smoking Mount Sakurajima had greeted us. This is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. As we found out later, a free shuttle from the port drops you off at Waterfront Park where you can catch a ferry across to Sakurajima or simply go and explore Kagashima itself. We opted for the latter beginning with the Nishi Hongwani Temple. Sego Takamorei statue and the Terrauni shrine starting at the Tory arch. This 19th century Shinto shrine features a tree groomed in the shape of a bird in flight. The shrine is dedicated to Shimazu Naryakira, lord of the Satsuma clan, and is the largest shrine in Kagashima. We then took a walk through the shopping streets and arcades and stopped at a ramen noodle bar at the bottom of Ten Monan Shopping Arcade for lunch. This is another Japanese eating experience you should not miss. You queue to get in and while queuing, you order and pay for your food and drinks at a vending machine which gives you tickets. When seats become available, you are sat down and your tickets are taken to be replaced within 5 minutes by the food and drink you ordered. all cut directly in front of you. They provide you with full napkins because you are expected to slurp your noodles down. Just look around you and do what the locals do. The flavors were incredible and the staff were so pleased to serve foreigners. We really recommend this place. More shopping and amusements was our next adventure. [Music] That’s better to be good. [Music] [Music] Got it. [Music] madness. Originally, we had planned to spend the afternoon on Sakuruima Island, but we were a little tired, so we decided to return to the ship instead. This turned out to be a good change of plan because while we were on the shuttle bus back to the ship, the volcano erupted. We were so surprised and relieved that we weren’t there. Apparently, it is a daily occurrence in Kagashima, and it is the reason the local school children wear hard hats to school so they don’t get hurt by falling pommy stones. What a life experience though. The next morning you arrive at the port of Shimizu in Shizuoka, which is the best port from which to see Mount Fuji. But on arrival, all we could see was cloud. So we decided to take a water taxi across the bay to Miho to see if we could get a better view. After a 4 km walk, we arrived at the optimal viewpoint. But as you can see, no matter how far we walked, she kept herself behind her cloak. This is what we saw and this is what we could have seen or even this. So we gave in and walked in land to see the Miho pine forest and shrines. Beyond the forest is a boardwalk. This boardwalk is 400 m long and leads you to the Miho Shrine which became the last shrine we would visit on our trip. Miho shrine is said to have the scraps of Hagar Romo, robe of feathers from the Hagar Romo legend. It is also popular as a place for producing harmony between married couples, a power spot for matchmaking, and it’s famous for cherry blossoms during spring. It certainly brought harmony to us. [Music] The area was very peaceful and tranquil with the sounds and sense of nature playing a merry dance with your senses. The shrine itself was beautifully kept, enticing us to convey our hopes and wishes. From there, we made our way back to the water taxi and the ship. In total, we had walked around 7 and 12 km. Back on board, we made our way up to the sky lounge in the hope that Mount Fuji would make an appearance. A couple of cocktails later, and she finally began her dance of the seven veils. The following pictures were taken over a 25-minute period, but I have condensed that down to only a minute for you. Aunt Fuji is such a temptress. She peels away a veil of cloud across her midriff, only to replace it moments later. Then she whisks away the veil over her head, just enough for us to glimpse her charms before pulling up another veil from below. The dance of the seven veils continues on and on, peeling away a veil of cloud and then covering her heavenly body again enticingly. For 25 minutes, we were on the edge of our seats, drooling at the thought of what we were about to see. Finally, she reveals herself in all her magnificence, stunning us with her beauty. one of the world’s greatest icons. I’ll leave you a moment to marvel in her wonder. [Music] [Music] It was such a special moment and a fitting end to our cruise just a day before leaving our amazing home at sea, the Celebrity Millennium. Let us know about your visit to Japan in the comments and feel free to ask any questions. Help support the channel too by liking and subscribing to us. We hope you enjoyed the video as much as we enjoyed the trip. Most of all, thank you for watching and safe travels.
Our Japanese cruise on Celebrity Millenium took us to Kobe, Osaka, Heroshima and Nagasaki all shown in previous videos.
In this video we cruise to Jeju island in South Korea, Kagoshima and Shimouzu before returning to Tokyo.
At Jeju Island, A shuttle bus is provided to take you into Jeju City which drops you off at the Jejumok Gwana which is the Old Administrative centre dating from the 14th Century
As well as the shuttle bus, there is a free city tour bus which runs from the port. This tour lasts 2 hours and you can hop on and hop off. However, the buses are hourly and once you leave the centre there is very little to warrant spending an hour at. The tour was actually quite boring and everyone was glad when it was over so we advise you to give it a miss and just walk around the centre.
Excursions on the island centre around volcanic activity and lava formations, which is amazing if you have never been to a volcanic island before.
We chose just to spend our time around Jeju City centre, on a self guided walking tour.
The next Port of Call was Back in Japan at Kogoshima where a smoking mount Sakurajima greeted us. This is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan as we found out later.
The free Shuttle from the port drops you off at Waterfront park from where you can catch a ferry across to Sakurajima or simply go and explore Kagoshima itself. We opted for the latter visiting a couple of shrines.
We then took a walk through the shopping streets and arcades and stopped at a Ramen Noodle bar at the bottom of Tenmonkan shopping arcade for lunch.
This is another Japanese eating experience you should not miss.
While we were on the shuttle bus back to the ship, the Volcano erupted.
We were so surprised and relieved that we weren’t there. Apparently it is a daily occurrence in Kagoshima and it is the reason the local schoolchildren wear hardhats to school so they don’t get hurt by falling pumice stones.
What a life experience though.
The next morning you arrive at the port of Shimizu in Shizuoka, which is the best port from which to see Mount Fuji. But on arrival, all we could see was cloud.
So we decided to take a water taxi across the bay to Miho to see if we could get a better view.
Bacxk on Board Celebrity Millenium we went for a cocktail or two in the Skylight Bar where we saw Mount Fuji Reveal herself finally.
Mount Fuji is such a temptress. She peels away a veil of cloud across her midriff only to replace it moments later.
Then she wisks away the veil over her head just enough for us to glimpse her charms before pulling up another veil from below.
The dance of the seven veils continues on and on.
Peeling away a veil of cloud and then covering her heavenly body again enticingly.
For 25 minutes we were on the edge of our seats, drooling at the thought of what we were about to see.
Finally she reveals herself in all her magnificence, stunning us with her beauty. One of the worlds greatest icons.
It was such a special moment and a fitting end to our cruise just a day before leaving our amazing home at sea, the Celebrity millennium.
Let us know about your visit to Japan in the comments and feel free to ask any questions. Help support the channel too by liking and subscribing to us.
Thank you for watching and Safe Travels.
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