7. Sakaiminato

Overnight we sailed from South Korea back to Sakaiminato in Japan. This meant that all passengers and crew have to pass through Japanese immigration controls again and as we suspected, this takes some considerable time. So, even though we docked on time at 9am, we did not get ashore until after midday but it was really a blessing in disguise as the temperature peaked at 35C.

Unless you are willing to travel some distance, there is not a lot in Sakaiminato apart from one thing. Manga. It is the home of Mizuki Shigeru, a very famous (in Japan at least), Manga artist and his artwork appears everywhere. Along the Main Street there are over one hundred brass statues of his Manga characters and just about every shop sells souvenirs of the same. Children can buy a small book and complete it with special rubber stamps of characters at different points and several extremely unlucky students wear Manga character costumes. They must be beyond sweltering.

Because of that heat, we didn't do too much other than venture up and down Mizuki Shigeru street. However, we did our best to try one or two Japanese experiences by having a glass of sake at the local sake brewery and then bathing our tired feet alongside the locals in the hot mineral springs.

Then it was back to the ship for a well earned and much needed swim.

Oh, and we won the morning trivia too.