A good night’s sleep and the head cold seems to have vanished. Thank goodness. No rush to get moving as we had nothing booked in terms of morning tours. After breakfast, we had Japanese immigration to deal with, which once again was an on board face to face – but with a twist or two, before going ashore.
Ship berthed on the starboard side.
Our el Cheapo, $30 Vodafone pre-pay phones worked - ‘Welcome to Japan’’ – Paula’s outgoing text did go.
A passport photocopy is required as issued by the ship and a sticker is affixed to the back and stamped.
The stamped, stickered copy is retained for the next Japanese port and surrendered before leaving Japan.
The stamped passport had to be shown on leaving the ship.
No sign of a HoHo bus, but a free shuttle to town.
Cruise cards checked on returning to the ship.
Ship’s hand luggage scanning on return.
Over the tannoy came the message that the queue for immigration was about 15 minutes. By the time we ambled down, it was about the same.
We queued outside the Legends bar and once at the entrance, were given a numbered ticket. We then sat and waited until our number was called. Then we waited in line yet again, for the queue to move through the library, through the internet cafe and finally into the Vista lounge, past the thermal camera, making sure no overheated bodies got ashore. (Someone needs some training on how to manage queues effectively…) The sticker was attached to the back of our photocopy and we waited for the next official. This time, it was a fingerprint system. Left and right forefingers on the pad.
Right hand – green light. Left hand – red light. Try again. Same. Try again, after a wet-wipe across the fingers. Another fail, but the nice young guy merely stamped my paperwork, winked and waved me through!
The shuttle into town was straightforward other than the Japanese coach design must be aimed at the very short legged ones, as my knees were not only jammed up against the seat in front, but also up against the cup holder. In the event of a bus crash of even minor severity, my kneecap wouldn’t survive. I can only wonder about Air Japan or Nippon airways. Not worth the risk.
The coach dropped us in town at the bus station and on the way through, it was like a ghost town. There was virtually no traffic, foot or road. Almost eerie.
It wasn’t long before we found the local morning market – along with most other cruisers it seems. There were “Welcome to the Sun Princess” signs on several stalls, but one elected to stand out from the crowd. Now we have been going to markets in many countries for many, many years, starting with as children, Nottingham’s Sneinton Market and the Central Market. Sneinton Market was one of Dad’s all-time favourite places and a few yards from the Army surplus stores, where he bought anything from yet more Morse key tappers to bomb aiming mechanisms (I kid you not!). Hakodate’s market however, seemed to consist of stalls selling seafood or melons. Well, at least 90% would be covered by that observation.
I have never seen so many crabs, dead or alive anywhere. They varied from the small to medium to giant. Weighed and killed on the spot, (see pic) sold frozen or chilled, BBQ’d or steamed, it was up to you. Kids were even catching their own squid and there were packets and packets of goodness knows what, as nothing much was in English. This wasn’t just a market of half a dozen stalls either. What we didn’t see was meat and there were very few fruit and vegetable stalls, but there were melons galore for sale. Our photo collection of produce probably explains more than words ever could.
The rest of the town within easy walking distance didn’t offer much, but I did buy a birthday card for grandson Noah. The Onesmart card wouldn’t work so I used Mastercard. That was our only purchase. No doubt there are other areas of Hakodate that are busier, but one option for visitors is the bullet train, which I believe made it to the area earlier this year. Hakodate is supposed to be a holiday destination for locals, but we didn’t really get to a beach area or anywhere where that would suggest a traditional resort.
We headed back to the ship lunch time, preferring food items that were recognisable and yes, maybe we do miss out on some of the local food experiences, but that is our choice!
After a light lunch, we headed back to the cabin where we diligently embarked on a bit of ukulele practice.
We had a Princess 6:45pm tour booked to go up the cable car to the top of Hakodate mountain.
We may have thought it wasn’t a tourist destination earlier, but Tuesday night up there probably proved it was a tourist attraction. There were thousands there. The cable car carries about 125 people (all standing) and probably takes around 5 minutes to fill, run and then empty. At the summit was a large gift store inside and several viewing platforms outside, giving great views, but usually hogged by people who just occupied a spot, took a pic or two then just stood there, so turnover was slow and a good viewing spot difficult. As we were there at sunset, the initial expectation was of some spectacular pics, but that wasn’t to be.
If queuing to get on the cable car to go up was busy, queuing to come back down was chaotic. We were patiently waiting in line with the rest of bus #3, about three wide, when a tour guide brandishing a multi-coloured flashing light stick elbowed her way past – but her flock never followed, as they were polite Aussies and Kiwis… It was bus #1 I think, who had a 5 minute later assembly time. We couldn’t all get on the cable car at the same time but the upside of that was that we were first in line for the next empty car. Boy, you had to be quick to get to the window as we were just about shoved out of the way by those behind - who were not Aussies and Kiwis…
We’d taken the 6:45pm tour and were back in 2 hours. Those on the 7:45pm tour had the problem of two tardy passengers who wandered off and even longer queues, so were last on the ship, 15 minutes late. Maybe tour guides should take the names and cabin details of those who hold up others and they are then tagged on the Princess system?
Back on board, it was open dining anyway (and late) so a meal at the buffet which was a real mix, by choice. Chicken schnitzel, a piece of salmon (I’m trying to eat fish most days) guacamole and very tasty samosas, with a potato and lentil filling, rather than potato and pea, plus a spoonful of pasta with a carbonara sauce. A chat afterwards to a couple we have seen on other trips, but never really chatted to before - and a late coffee.
Sailaway was about 11pm, but I don’t think too many people assembled on deck 11. (We did hear that some had their pyjamas on under their outer clothes.)
A day at sea tomorrow and our Ukulele debut/final concert in the Vista lounge. Wow! From beginners to performers in a month… I wonder how often that happens. I’d guess that we may get about 50 to 100 spectators.
No comments:
Post a Comment