Had never realised sea travel was so wonderful! Just spent 2 ½ weeks on an enormous ship with twelve decks, like a floating twelve storey luxury hotel, sailing along the coast of Japan.
I’d been asked to give lectures while the ship was visiting Japan. Arrived in the port of Otaru in Hokkaido and stood at the bottom of the gangplank, not knowing what I was letting myself in for. Inside was like a 5 star hotel – no, a 7 star hotel – with huge lobby with chandeliers, 6 restaurants, 2 pools, huge gym and my little cabin with the water rushing by outside and fabulous sunrises from the balcony.
Followed around the coast of Hokkaido, passing many places which I last visited when I was researching for The Courtesan and the Samurai – Esashi where the Kaiyo Maru sank and was recovered and is now docked and Matsumae and Hakodate where great battles were fought. But alas the coast of Japan just a distant twinkle on the horizon. And after 2 days at sea, watching the water from my balcony, sailed into Tokyo Bay feeling like Kate Winslet on the Titanic…
Click on thumbnails to scroll through the gallery. All photographs © Lesley Downer.
