My Top 5 Cruise Ports in Japan (Part 2)

This is a really “out there” pick, but I believe visiting a country properly means taking in a few contrasts. In the prefecture of Tottori Sakaiminato's claim to fame is the Matsuba crab – another opportunity for a culinary exploit.

Sakaiminato is also the hometown of Japanese manga artist and historian Shigeru Mizuki. Although Shigeru passed away in 2015, his legacy still lives on through his weird and wonderful creations which line Sakaiminato’s streets. You will quickly find Shigeru is the local hero, as almost everything is named after him. Make sure you see the Kitaro statue, one of Shigeru’s most famous characters in the Nakaura Fish Market, before you sample the local kaisen-don (seafood over rice).

But don’t miss out on a clean-up with an invigorating outdoor natural spa and bath in the Kaike Onsen hot springs.

I like this port because: Sakaiminato is the psyche of Japan personified. Eclectic art on the street, an Icon based culture, and the best crab plates in Japan.

Nagasaki

Japan was a closed nation for hundreds of years during its period of isolation. It’s first real contact with the West was through Portuguese explorers and Jesuit missionaries, and then Dutch merchants. Apprehensive Shoguns closed Japan to foreign trade except at Nagasaki. It’s the closest trade port to Asia and is often combined with a port of call in South Korea

Nagasaki was obliterated by the bomb – but with credit to the Japanese they have invested heavily in the reconstruction of heritage buildings in this area.

Visit the Kofukuji Temple, a Buddhist temple in the Teramachi district and the Confucian Shrine, the Sofukuji Temple for excellent examples of this pride in Japanese heritage.

My top picks for a stop here are Hirado, the former site of the Dutch trading post, the volcanic Shimbara peninsular, and a visit to Arita and Imari for some of Japan’ most beautiful and iconic pottery outlets.

Of course, the must do is the Nagasaki Peace Park for a chilling sense of surrealism and reflection.

I like this port because: Nagasaki reminds you how destructive mankind can be, how proud the Japanese are of their heritage and the beauty and craftsmanship the Japanese portray in their centuries old craft of ceramic work.

I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Ports of Japan; please do get in touch of you’d like me to tailor make your Japanese itinerary for you, as a qualified Master from the Japanese Tourist Office can I guarantee you the time of your life in this fascinating country.