Highlight, Gaslight, Delight: Otaru, Mt Fuji , Shimizu

We have navigated Japan from the southernmost islands to the northernmost chasing the sakura and trying on kimonos. We have seen the various Zen courtyards, palaces, and gardens, including the Yokohama Necklace. I did lament that we hadn't visited the world  famous whole sale  fish market in Yokohama. Also that we hadn't seen Mt Fuji. These wishes were fulfilled in an unexpected way.

 Tastebud test

As we were strolling from the port to the town of Otaru in Hokkaido, Japan, what caught our eye was the canal that reflected the century old stone warehouses, their facades charmingly covered with age old creepers. As we explored the town we found a parallel street filled with pastry shops and cruise passengers eagerly buying small amounts to sample. A couple we knew bought something they felt was unique and quite palatable. They generously gave us some. We waited until they were a safe distance away before I dared to gingerly place it on my tongue. The moment it touched my taste buds I gagged. Prawn flavoured candy! Who would have thought? It will take some getting used to, but not for years to come. 

Street lights and clocks

We were glad to turn our attention to shops that sold glass art work for which Otaru is famous. It felt like we were in a tiny version of Venice. With only one canal, but lots of stores selling glass trinkets. We began to notice gas lit lights and then the steam clock, similar to the one in Vancouver's China Town. Apparently the clock did come from Canada and it is the world's largest of its kind.

Mt Fuji grants us a wish

Since we circumnavigated Japan and spent only a day at most at the ports we didnt expect to see the renowned Mt Fuji. We could have done an excursion but it would not only have been expensive but also deprive us of the opportunity to explore the port of arrival. Besides, we consoled ourselves that Mt Fuji is most often engulfed in clouds. The pictures you see of the snow capped mountain not obscured by clouds would have been snapped by the lucky ones or those who had the patience to wait days or months even. The first time we went to Yokohama we didn't even know which direction to look at and even whether it would be visible from the port. The second time we went, almost a year later, we had a fantastic view from aboard the ship just a few hours before we were to set sail. It was autumn and there was no snow cap. Who would have thought?

 We also had views from Shizuoka port which is the closest to the icon and so many passengers would have visited it. The view from the ship was excellent, but this time with a cloud line about a third of the way below the peak. 

Shimizu shindig 

Exploring the city we came across a huge complex. Lo and behold, they were celebrating Tuna Festival with banners everywhere and hundreds of booths selling local tidbits. As we walked into a hall, where we heard a lot of cheering and saw nearly a hundred people surround a stage we got curious, nudged ourselves into the crowd and boy were we in for something we hadn't even imagined. A giant tuna was lying on a table on the stage and several chefs,identified by their blue aprons, wielding huge choppers, slicing the fish elegantly and effortlessly like slicing through butter and then holding up the chunk of meat with a flourish for all to see, all to thundering applause. When the carcass was brought to the audience everybody, including children, scraped some of the flesh off as the chef held it, greatly enjoying the fresh flakes of fish. We didn't of course. But we did walk about the rest of the market watching people buying lots of sea food and eating with gusto.

 Another surprise awaited us as we walked through a mall. Long bamboo tubes sliced lengthwise in halves were connected telescope fashion to form channels, leading from a height of a metre and a half from the entrance of a noodle restaurant into the mall, turn at right angles so that the tube now led parallel to the restaurant and inclined towards a point just about half a metre from the floor. A noodle soup was continuously poured from the top and it slid down the tube. Children and some adults stood strategically along the channels, armed with chopsticks and bowls deftly lifting the noodles, stuffing themselves with sucking and slurping.