Shimizu

Today we visited this ancient port town, the closest to Mount Fuji which can be seen from the harbour when the weather is favourable – it rarely is at this time of the year.

Unfortunately all the tours were already booked so we decided to be flexible and see if we could organise anything ourselves when we went ashore.

Majestic  Princess is the largest ship to ever visit here and the local people certainly put out the welcome mat for us.

We left the ship and wandered through the streets where friendly people wearing vests proclaiming they were volunteer guides, indicated sites of interest.  Their English was very good – a lot better than our Japanese.

Our first visit was to the Suehiro Museum which had been set up in the 1880s by a local philanthropist as a Seamens’ Inn.  Upstairs was an English school because Jirocho, the philanthropist thought it was important that everyone could speak English.  This philosophy seems to have endured to the present time.

We wandered along the streets to the Myokeiji  temple, graveyard and fortune bell.  Two ladies chatted to us as they practised their English. 

                                

                                             This Buddhist temple had wonderful gardens.

                                                Gail outside the temple.

We continued through the town always with guides to direct to new places to visit.  We were invited to make some origami shapes – all at no cost but instead headed for the birthplace of the town’s philanthropist.

 Jirocho’s house, now a museum, was typical of Japanese houses in the 1880s with its indoor well and wood fired cooking stove.  He had been a professional gambler but at the age of 48 changed and became a person who cared for all people, a peace maker who thought all were equal and who cared about everyone.

                                                  The old well and stove

After leaving Jirocho’s house we visited the Minowa Inari Shrine.  We walked through the red Tori Gate.  Rob rang the temple bell and tossed a coin into the box as directed by the Japanese lady who explained it would bring him good luck.

                             Just couldn't resist a shot of the garbage truck going out the Tori gate

                                                        Gail at the shrine

                                             Just as well that Gail didn't wear red!

                                                                    and Rob!

We managed to hail a taxi to take us to the Nihondaira Yume Terrace which has incredible views across the bay to Mount Fuji – when the clouds are kind!  We were lucky.  While we were there the clouds lifted for a short time and we saw the mountain from the observation deck of this splendid place which had been designed by the architects for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.  Quite a thrill even though only a glimpse.  Not everyone was so fortunate.

                                               Mt Fuji above the clouds.

Back at the port we wandered through the stalls set up by the local people and looked at ikebana displays, kimonos to try on for photos, handmade trinkets, local sweets and green tea.

When we left at 4.00 pm, it looked as if the whole town had come to say goodbye as the port was filled with waving people, fireworks were exploded and the ship’s horn played the theme from The Loveboat on its sirens.

                                             The end of a wonderful visit.