Here are more images from Japan, beginning with a trip from Tomakomai to Sendai on the splendid MS Kitakami of Taiheyo Ferry - a vessel which went straight into a high spot position as one of my all-time favourite ferries. Tomakomai ferry port also proved to be a fine place, having a port museum in the terminal and allowing visitors to walk along the quayside.
The Kitakami:
Sunflower Furamo at the next berth:
The brand new Silver Princess arrives:
An impromptu visit to the Silver Princess:
Even the mooring ropes are pink - such attention to detail:
Nice models in the Port Museum:
Subsequently very famous in Greece:
Taiheyo Ferry check-in:
The Kitakami's entrance hall:
The arcade, connecting the various public rooms:
The show lounge:
Out on deck in the evening, just prior to departure:
Dinner in the Grosvenor House Restaurant:
Chef cooking steaks to order:
Mmmm!:
Taiheyo Ferry Japanese red wine - really very decent indeed:
Rather cute waitress bringing tea:
And some more wine - it was necessary to drink quite a lot just to confirm that initial positive impressions were correct:
The waitresses had translation cards, supplied by the company, to help them serve non-Japanese speaking guests:
That was a proper dinner!
The bar:
Showtime:
Capsule cabins - I had one of these this time:
It may not be much, but to me it's home (at least for one night):
Howthe other half live - an eighties-tastic luxury cabin:
Even with mini-bar:
Be careful out on deck:
The next morning, off Sendai:
Breakfast instructions:
The forward-facing observation lounge:
Approaching Sendai:
Painfully slow bus to the city centre:
Pink rabbit traffic cone (the orange cone adjacent appears pleased to see it):
A quick glimpse of downtown Sendai:
Extremely streamlined Shinkansen:
Changing trainsat Ueno:
School children going on a trip:
The next train was a 'Fresh Hitachi' - very smart:
Turning round all the seats:
New antimacassars:
Another change of trains at Mito onto something a little less salubrious, but rather characterful:
The line to Oarai is entirely elevated on a concrete viaduct:
Oarai Ferry Terminal:
Bus-dog:
Sunflower Furamo at Oarai:
Onboard, the Sunflower Furamo proved to be a most eccentric and weird ferry - nothing quite connected together and things were all in unexpected places and odd in terms of scale, shape and decor. A real example of 'design by committee', maybe. (Her sisters are now the Greek Lefka Ori and Sophocles V. - but these may soon be heading back to the Far East):
The enormous dining saloon on the topmost deck, rather resembling that of a 1930s ocean liner, rather than a 1990s ro-pax ferry:
Dinner:
Sunflower Ferry-branded cakes:
A most strange internal space:
Out on deck the next morning:
A dubious breakfast catering innovation - butter and jam in a single package:
Wildlife photography on deck:
Activities throughout the day:
Details of some of these activities:
Ah yes - the Scenic Grand Baths. This one was rather good with various temperatures of water in the pools:
Kitakami at the berth behind us back in Tomakomai:
More to follow!
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