End of the line. Time to leave Kyoto. I took the Haruka train from Kyoto to Osaka Kansai airport to fly to Oman through Thailand.
Category: Asia
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 25 [Kyoto, Japan]
Last day in Kyoto. A visit to Njo-jo Castle and Fushimi Inari with the thousand torii gates.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 24 [Dismbarkation in Kobe / Kyoto]
Disembarkation from the Diamond Princess in Kobe Japan before taking the train to Kyoto. As I have been to Kyoto before I decided to go to the train museum before heading to the Gion district and more temples.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 23 [Sea Day]
Sea Day and final day on the Diamond Princess
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 22 [Sea Day]
Sea Day and Formal Night on the Diamond Princess.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 21 [Keelung, Taiwan]
The last port day of the third and last cruise on the Diamond Princess was a stop in beautiful Keelung, Taiwan. This port is nearby Taipei, but I used my time to explore Keelung rather than see a big city. Today’s adventure included Zhouzheng Park, Zhupu Altar, Heping Island Park and the night market.
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Taiwan (Republic of China) visa stamps
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 20 [Ishigaki, Japan]
Two islands for the price of one – Ishigaki and Taketomi. Ishigaki had a 400 year old temple and Taketomi had water buffalo.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 19 [Okinawa, Japan]
Today the Diamond Princess arrived in Okinawa Japan where I took a monorail to the Shurijo Castle Park (castle burned down in 2019) and walked to the Shikinaen Royal Gardens before walking back to the ship through the market.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 18 [Sea Day]
Another relaxing sea day on the Diamond Princess, complete with a Champagne fountain.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 17 [Kobe, Japan]
At the end of the second cruise the Diamond Princess arrived in Kobe where I went for a nature hike behind the Shin Kobe station to see the Nunobiki Falls.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 16 [Sea Day]
A relaxing sea day with tour of the bridge of the Diamond Princess.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 15 [Kagoshima, Japan]
A very special day visiting an Sakurajima, an active volcano in Kagoshima, Japan. The volcano is only a short ferry ride across from the city.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 14 [Jeju Island, South Korea]
The second and last stop in South Korea for the Diamond Princess – Seogwipo on Jeju Island. Today is a stress-free shore excursion through the ship. The tour went to Yakchunsa Temple, Cheonjeyeon Falls, the Yeomiji Botanical Garden and the local market where I bought Dalgona candy (it’s a Squid Game thing).
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 13 [Nagasaki, Japan]
Second and last visit to Nagasaki while sailing on the Diamond Princess. It’s an opportunity to see more of the city that I was unable to earlier in the trip. I walked through Glover Gardens, a couple of temples and a small zoo.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 12 [Sea Day]
Another sea day on the Diamond Princess to prepare for the adventure ahead.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 11 [Yokohama, Japan]
End of the first cruise, start of the second cruise and a day to explore more of Yokohama. I visited the Nogeyama Zoo and the Customs Museum.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 10 [Sea Day]
A relaxing sea day. Spent some time catching some rays in the hot tub. Dinner at the specialty restaurant – Sabantini’s.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 9 [Nagasaki, Japan]
Man Overboard! A visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial Park in Nagasaki, Japan.
2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises – Day 8 [Busan, South Korea]
The first port in South Korea – Busan. Another day exploring on my own as the shore excursion I was interested in was cancelled. The highlights of the day was Haedongyonggungsa Temple and the Gamcheon Cultural Village. I also stopped at the local market on the way back to the ship.