Sunday 29 April 2012

Osaka, Kyoto, Tsuruga and a trip to Nigata on ShinNihonkai's Azalea

Here is the latest installment of my recent trip to Japan. The narrative begins in Kobe, from which I visited Osaka, then took a train to Kyoto for a brief visit before continuing to Tsuruga, where I stayed overnight. The next morning, I boarded ShinNihonkai's MS Azalea for a coastal trip through the Sea of Japan to Nigata.


 The Pacific Venus arrives in Kobe:



En route to Osaka by road:



Seen in Osaka's docks:





Heading for Downtown Osaka:



 Neo-neo-gothic post-modernism:



Luncheon in Osaka:


Osaka local train:




The train to Kyoto:


Once again, there was a splendid view of the line ahead and it was possible to watch the driver at work:


The driver's name, displayed for all to see:


Japanese train drivers all wear white gloves and point at signals better to ensure they've registered the signal's presence and colour aspect:




Kyoto's futuristic station concourse - a railway cathedral:


The rather whizzy Kyoto Tower Hotel:



Kyoto street scenes:



Inter-war former garage with good stained glass depicting motoring scenes:



Boring tourist attraction - seen one, you've seen the lot:




The biggest and best department store I've ever encountered:



A forest of camera tripods in the photographic department:


Model kits of ferries in the model department:



Model kits of buses too:


A brief visit to the Kyoto Tower Hotel:






Back to Kyoto Station:


Crowded train to Tsuruga:


Obama Line:


Tsuruga by night:


Hotel breakfast:



Tsuruga by day (it looked better by night):



The Azalea in port:




Azalea's entrance hall:




The cinema:





The cafeteria:




 Dormitory room:


Couchettes:



Long-abandoned jacuzzi on deck:


Passing scenery:



Nice ship - but this is an overstatement:


Scenic Grand Bath:


Observation Lounge with windows plated over:


 Fortunately, we escaped notice:



Buffet luncheon, marketed with the Swedish term 'Smorgasbord':





 My lunch:



Lovely waitress:




Captain's uniform trial again:



Dinner before arrival in Nigata:



More to follow shortly!