Yesterday we arrived at the port of Kochi, Japan. The weather was overcast, with a light drizzle that occasionally turned into gentle rain. As on previous port mornings, we were quick to get up, shower, have breakfast, and make our way down to the disembarkation area. At 10:00 am, we boarded a shuttle bus into the city, a journey that took around 25 minutes.
Rather than joining one of the ship's organised excursions, we decided to explore Kochi independently. Our day took us through a Japanese shopping centre and a lively Sunday morning market. While the market's goods were very much geared towards local residents rather than tourists, it was still a fascinating experience. What stood out most were the incredible aromas drifting from the various food stalls. The sights and smells combined to create a wonderfully authentic atmosphere.
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| Roads passing through shopping centres |
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| Local markets |
As always, we spent some time searching for gifts and souvenirs for friends and family back home. Before long, it was time to make our way back to the ship, ensuring we were on board before the all-aboard time of 2:30 pm.
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| Dock performance to farewell shop |
Another curious and thoroughly entertaining aspect of visiting Japanese ports is the farewell tradition organised by the host city. As ships depart, local performers often gather on the quayside to put on a display of singing, dancing, or a combination of both to bid passengers farewell.
Despite the rain, we were lucky enough to witness a small group of performers in Kochi giving our ship a warm send-off as we left the harbour. Equally heart-warming was watching the constant exchange of waves between those on shore and the passengers aboard the ship. Whether they were local residents, performers, or fellow Japanese passengers returning home, everyone seemed determined to keep waving until the ship disappeared from view.
It is a simple, charming custom that perfectly reflects the warmth and hospitality we have experienced throughout Japan, and it made for a memorable departure from Kochi.
Once back on board, we enjoyed lunch followed by a well-earned afternoon nap.
That evening was a special one, as we had booked dinner at the Crown Grill, the ship's speciality steakhouse. We chose it to celebrate our birthdays, as we both enjoy a good steak. True to form, Cos never learns and promptly ordered the largest steak on the menu! It was an excellent meal, but by the end we were both feeling very full, with Cos perhaps suffering the consequences a little more than Melissa.
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| Birthday cake |
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| Crown Grill |
After dinner, we headed to the theatre for a musical performance that blended opera and popular music. It was an entertaining and enjoyable show that rounded off the evening nicely.
Following the performance, we retreated to the ship's Wheelhouse Bar for a few drinks before calling it a night.
One attraction we unfortunately didn't manage to visit was Kochi Castle. It's a shame we missed it, but it gives us a good reason to return to Kochi someday.
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