Saturday 28 April 2012

Mojiko, Shimonoseki, Kitakyushu and Ferry Suo

Here's the latest of what will be many postings about my recent three-week trip to Japan. We begin in Mojiko:


The view from the waterfront at Mojiko towards Shimonoseki (above) and an old shipping line headquarters building, looking a bit like a Mechanics' Institute or public library in Wigan (below):


Mojiko is full of shipping-related signs:



A once-proud Scottish shipping company:


On the fast ferry to Shimonoseki:





Statues commemorating sword-wielding thugs - sorry, I mean warrior heroes:


A new A-Line ferry is born in the shipyard at Shimonoseki. Adjacent is the former nuclear-powered test ship Mutsu, nowadays diesel-driven and used as a research vessel:


Cranes for handy-size bulk carriers:


Ferries from Shimonoseki to South Korea - a long-established and important route over the Sea of Japan:



Heading for Shimonoseki:


Another building in the English provincial manner; apart from the roof garden, it could be a bank in Derby:


Downtown Shimonoseki:


Food Holes Hallo Day:



Police station pictogram:


Shimonoseki waterfront:



Sword-wielding thugs re-enactment:


Fast ferry back to Mojiko:



Kyushu Railway Museum:









The type of whizzy 1960s electric train we like to see:





A Gekko train, which can be converted for night-time use as a sleeper - very ingenious:





The luggage racks open down to form upper couchettes, while the seats can be pulled together to make beds:


As demonstrated by this vintage publicity image:


Old Japanese train headboards:


Staff insignia:


More headboards:


My favourite bit - a big exhibition about catering on Japanese trains:


A selection of food packaging:






Menus and advertising images:






Old uniforms, worn by alarmingly ghoulish waxwork figures:






And so to Kitakyushu Ferry Terminal - a fine example of the Japanese neo-vernacular:


While terminal 2 favours the post-modern symbolism of a Hanku Ferry's funnel:


Trailers awaiting loading:




City Line and Hanku Ferry departures and arrivals:









Our next ship, the splendid Ferry Suo, which will take us back to Kobe:



Japanese ferry terminal check-in desks thoughtfully provide pairs of glasses to aid the long-sighted when filling out the requisite forms. These are not in frames that one would be tempted to steal, though:


The embarkation waiting area for checked-in foot passengers:


The Ferry Suo's entrance foyer, with a typically Japanese grand staircase:



Leaving Kitakyushu:


A wide choice of delicious-looking dishes to select in the cafeteria servery:








My dinner - mmmm!



My three travelling companions:


The cafeteria:



Post-dinner captain's uniform modelling - by now, a shipboard ritual:


Ferry Suo pictograms:




Second Class dormitory accommodation, requiring the removal of shoes before entering:




Capsule cabins - compact and bijou:


A karaoke room for hire:



Please don't get drunk:


Japanese passengers in their kimonos showing the correct usage of a ferry's grand staircase:


Next morning off Kobe:


Breakfast service:


Me with a charming young lady who was travelling to Kobe especially to visit the hairdresser:




A man in the Scenic Grand Bath admires the bridge:


The Ferry Suo's foyer:


Arriving at Kobe:





Disembarkation:


More to follow shortly!

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