Day 11 – Akita: Lanterns, Samurai, Tea Ceremonies and Childhood Memories!

Today we arrived in Akita, Japan, and what a wonderful day it turned out to be! From fascinating Japanese traditions and beautiful Akita dogs to a very special tea ceremony and some unexpected childhood memories, this was certainly a day filled with lovely experiences.

Gaby and I started our morning with breakfast before making sure Joe was settled and had everything he needed for the day.

Of course, Mr C had already made his daily visit to the ship's medical centre to collect some more medication! I am beginning to think the medical centre has become his second home aboard the Seabourn Encore. He seems to pop down to see the team every day and always manages to come back with something he needed!

Thankfully, he is gradually improving, which is such a relief after the worrying start to our holiday.

As Gaby and I headed towards the shuttle bus, we happened to meet the ship's doctor and his wife. They were absolutely lovely and reassured me that they really enjoy Joe popping in to see them. They were also delighted to see how much he was improving each day.

It was such a comforting conversation, and I cannot express how grateful I am for the kindness and care the medical team have shown him.

With Joe safely settled aboard, Gaby and I headed off to explore Akita.

The shuttle bus dropped us at the Akita Castle Hotel, conveniently located just across the road from Senshu Park. What a fantastic area to explore! There was so much to see and do, all within walking distance, which made it a perfect place to spend our day.

Our first stop was the Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Centre, where we were treated to a wonderful introduction to some of the region's traditional cultural performances.

There were various live demonstrations, but the one that really impressed us was the display connected to the famous Akita Kanto Festival, which takes place every August.

The festival involves performers balancing enormous bamboo poles decorated with beautiful hanging lanterns. We were able to see life-size versions of these incredible structures and watch demonstrations of the skill involved.

Some of the poles weigh around 50 kilograms, and watching how they are balanced whilst the lanterns sway above is quite extraordinary.

The strength, concentration and balance required are immense. I could hardly imagine trying to keep one upright, let alone performing with it!

It was such a wonderful example of Japanese tradition, discipline and dedication, and we were both fascinated.

Next on our adventure was something completely different — meeting the famous Akita dogs! 🐕

What beautiful animals they are!

It was wonderful to be able to get close to them and even give them a little stroke. They are such magnificent dogs, and it was a lovely experience for both of us.

We then continued exploring the museum, where Gaby had the opportunity to dress up as a traditional samurai soldier.

Naturally, she couldn't resist!

I am loving how she is embracing all these different experiences, whether it's dressing in traditional Korean clothing, taking part in shipboard activities or becoming a Japanese samurai for the day. She is certainly collecting some wonderful memories!

Our next experience was something I had particularly been looking forward to — a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. 🍵

We entered a beautiful little tea hut, where we were welcomed by the loveliest ladies, who were so gracious, kind and patient.

They explained the traditions and meaning behind the tea ceremony, demonstrating how to prepare matcha tea and serving us a traditional sweet alongside it.

There was something so peaceful and mindful about the whole experience.

Every movement seemed to have a purpose, and everything was done with such care and attention.

After watching the demonstration, we were invited to have a go at preparing our own matcha tea.

What a lovely experience!

As someone who enjoys meditation and mindfulness, I found the whole ritual particularly special. It was a beautiful reminder of how even something as simple as making a cup of tea can become an opportunity to slow down, be present and appreciate the moment.

After thanking the wonderful ladies, we continued exploring Senshu Park and the other interesting areas within it.

The park itself was beautiful, and I really enjoyed wandering around and taking in the surroundings.

But something quite unexpected caught my attention.

Pine cones.

There were pine cones scattered all around, and suddenly I found myself transported back to my childhood.

I remembered walking through the forest with my grandparents, searching for pine cones that we would collect and take home to throw onto the coal fire.

Such a simple memory, yet one that brought back so much warmth and happiness.

It is amazing how something as small as a pine cone can instantly reconnect you with people, places and moments from so many years ago.

I found myself smiling as I remembered those precious times with my grandparents, feeling grateful for the love, experiences and memories they gave me.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments when travelling are not necessarily the famous landmarks or attractions, but the unexpected things that touch your heart.

After exploring the park, Gaby and I decided to venture a little further into Akita.

By this point, we were getting hungry, so we found somewhere to enjoy a traditional Japanese ramen lunch.

I was very happy with mine, but unfortunately, Gaby wasn't quite so impressed with her choice, as it turned out to be a cold dish!

Not quite what she had been expecting.

Thankfully, we were able to share mine, so at least neither of us went hungry. Another little culinary adventure to add to our collection!

Before long, it was time to head back to the ship.

We caught up with Joe, who had decided to visit the Sushi Restaurant for lunch.

He had particularly enjoyed the miso soup and was full of praise for the wonderful service he had received.

However, he wasn't quite as impressed with the lunchtime menu, which is different from the evening offering.

I think he has become rather attached to his usual dinner choices!

Still, it was lovely to hear that he had managed to get out of his suite, enjoy some food and spend time chatting with the crew.

Later in the afternoon, Gaby and I attended the final port presentation of our cruise, this time covering Miyako and Tokyo.

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching the final few destinations of our Japanese adventure. The days seem to be flying by, and there is still so much to see and experience.

After another full day of exploring, Gaby decided that she was going to have a quiet evening in her suite, ordering room service and enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.

Even our resident social butterfly needs an evening off occasionally!

Joe and I decided to have dinner together in The Restaurant, which made a lovely change from our regular visits to Sushi.

Afterwards, we headed back for a quiet evening.

And finally, I managed to find some time to catch up with writing and publishing this blog!

I had fallen rather behind with everything that had been happening, particularly with Joe being unwell, so it felt good to start getting our adventures documented again.

I love writing these daily blogs, not only to share our experiences with family and friends, but also because they give me an opportunity to reflect on the day and appreciate all the wonderful moments that might otherwise be forgotten.

And today certainly gave me plenty to reflect upon.

From the incredible strength and skill of the Kanto performers to the gentleness of the Japanese tea ceremony, the beautiful Akita dogs and those precious childhood memories brought back by a few pine cones, it had been a truly special day.

Another beautiful reminder that travel doesn't just take us to new places — sometimes it takes us back to treasured moments from our past. ❤️

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🌿 Daily Reflection

Sometimes the simplest things, like a pine cone, can bring back the most precious memories and remind us of the love that has shaped our lives.

✨ Highlight of the Day

Experiencing the beautiful Japanese tea ceremony with Gaby and being transported back to childhood memories of collecting pine cones with my grandparents.