Day 16 – Farewell Seabourn Encore, Hello Tokyo!

Well, the day had finally arrived. It was time to say goodbye to our beautiful Seabourn Encore and begin the next stage of our journey home. Although I was sad to be leaving the ship, we still had a couple of nights in Tokyo to look forward to, and I was determined to make the most of them!



It was an early start, but what a spectacular way to begin the morning!

I sat out on our verandah watching the ship sail into Harumi Port, with the magnificent Tokyo skyline unfolding before us.



There is something truly magical about arriving in a city by sea. Watching the buildings come into view, seeing the city gradually wake up and knowing that another adventure awaits is such a special experience.

I found myself sitting quietly, taking it all in and feeling incredibly grateful for the wonderful journey we had just experienced.

After enjoying our final breakfast aboard, it was time for those last goodbyes.

We have been so well looked after by the crew throughout our cruise, and saying farewell to everyone was rather emotional, particularly after all the care and kindness they had shown Joe during his recovery.

Then it was time to disembark, make our way through immigration and collect our luggage.



Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and before long we were in a taxi heading towards our hotel, which would be our home for the next couple of nights.

We were very fortunate that the hotel was able to arrange an early check-in for one of our rooms, which meant Joe could have a much-needed rest whilst Gaby and I headed out to explore Tokyo.

Although, of course, before we could do any sightseeing, there was one very important stop to make.

A chemist!

Honestly, I think Joe has managed to visit more pharmacies on this holiday than most people visit in a lifetime!

It has become something of a running joke throughout our travels, but at least we managed to get him what he needed before taking him back to the hotel to rest.

With Mr C safely settled, Gaby and I were ready to discover Tokyo.

Our first stop was a chopstick factory, and what a fascinating place it was!

There were so many different styles, colours and designs of chopsticks, all made in-house. It was incredible to see the variety and craftsmanship involved in something that we might otherwise consider such a simple everyday item.

I love discovering these little places when travelling. They offer such an interesting insight into local traditions and the attention to detail that is so characteristic of Japanese craftsmanship.

After exploring the chopstick factory, it was time for the destination that Gaby had been looking forward to throughout our entire trip.

Electric Avenue! ⚡🎮

We jumped into an Uber and headed towards Tokyo's famous electronics, anime and gaming district.

Well, I think it is safe to say that Gaby was in her absolute element!

The streets were filled with enormous shops dedicated to electronics, gaming, anime and all sorts of gadgets and collectibles. Everywhere you looked, there was something colourful, unusual or fascinating to discover.

It really is an extraordinary place, and I can understand why it had been so high on Gaby's list of things to experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching her excitement as she explored the shops and took in everything around her.



It is one of the things I have loved most about travelling with Gaby on this trip. We have been able to share experiences that interest us both, but also discover things through each other's eyes.

And today was definitely Gaby's day!

Of course, all that exploring eventually made us hungry, and finding somewhere suitable for lunch turned out to be a little more challenging than we had anticipated.

With so many restaurants and cafés around, you would think it would be easy, but sometimes finding somewhere that suits what you fancy eating can be surprisingly difficult.

Eventually, we found a café where we could sit down, enjoy some lunch and recharge our batteries before continuing our day.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Joe was beginning to feel a little better.

And what did he decide to do?

Find a sushi restaurant, of course! 🍣

I really shouldn't have been surprised!

After spending practically the entire cruise visiting the Sushi Restaurant aboard the Seabourn Encore, it seems that his love affair with Japanese food is continuing on dry land.

The hotel kindly recommended a sushi restaurant and arranged a taxi for him, so off he went to enjoy lunch on his own.

I was delighted that he was feeling well enough to venture out independently. After everything he had been through since leaving Gibraltar, it was wonderful to see him regaining a little more confidence and energy.

After our adventures around Tokyo, Gaby and I headed back to the hotel to check on Joe and enjoy some rest before dinner.

It had been quite a busy day, particularly with the early start and disembarkation, so a little downtime was very welcome.

For dinner, Gaby had found what sounded like a wonderful vegan ramen restaurant.

As a vegetarian, I was particularly excited about this one!

Thankfully, the hotel was able to make a reservation for us, which turned out to be very fortunate indeed.

The restaurant was tiny but incredibly popular, and there were people queuing throughout the evening.

It is always lovely to discover somewhere that is clearly so well loved, and we were very grateful to have secured a table.



It was a wonderful way to enjoy our first evening in Tokyo, experiencing another aspect of Japanese cuisine and spending time together after a busy day.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for an early night.

We were all rather tired, and after the excitement of arriving in Tokyo, exploring the city and settling into our hotel, a good night's sleep was definitely needed.

As I reflected on the day, I couldn't help but think about the contrasts we had experienced.

We had started the morning peacefully sailing into Tokyo aboard a beautiful cruise ship, surrounded by the ocean and the wonderful crew who had looked after us so well.

By the afternoon, we were immersed in the hustle and bustle of one of the world's most exciting cities, surrounded by bright lights, technology, shops and people going about their daily lives.

And somewhere in between, we had managed another pharmacy visit, a chopstick factory, a sushi lunch for Joe and a delicious vegan ramen dinner!

Not bad for our first day in Tokyo!

Although I am sad that our time aboard the Seabourn Encore has come to an end, I am grateful that we still have a little more time to explore Japan before heading home.

And most importantly, I am delighted to see Joe gradually returning to his usual self.

Farewell Seabourn Encore, and hello Tokyo! Our adventure isn't quite over yet!❤️

🌿 Daily Reflection

Every ending opens the door to a new beginning. Today reminded me to embrace change, appreciate the memories we've made and remain excited about what lies ahead.

✨ Highlight of the Day

Watching the magical Tokyo skyline from our verandah as we sailed into port, followed by seeing Gaby in her element exploring Electric Avenue!

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