VVR-Port-112-YokohamaTokyo-Japan

August 11-14, 2025

Marti Eicholz

Japan is a string of four main islands, on the eastern edge of Asia and 4,000 smaller islands! Japan's nearest mainland neighbors are the Siberian region of Russia in the north, Korea and China farther south.

The Odyssey arrives in Yokohama (Tokyo).

Yokohama, part of the Tokyo metropolitan area, has a mild, humid subtropical climate with warm summers and cool winters. The city sits on a coastal plain bordered by hills and Tokyo Bay, offering a mix of urban and natural landscapes. Yokohama is currently experiencing light rain with a high of 87.8 F. It is overcast, misty, hot, humid and muggy. Yes, humid and muggy!

Yokohama's Shinko Pier Cruise Port/Terminal with the sea on three sides, offers a unique experience, offering modern amenities like restaurants an interactive factory-like gourmet shopping mall and within walking distance of major attractions like the Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown, and Minato Mirai, a seaside urban area with many large high-rises in central Yokohama whose name means "harbor of the future".

Excellent public transportation options, including trains and buses, provide easy access to the rest of Yokohama and beyond, including day trips to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and Kamakura. Many of my shipmates are scattering around the area, taking day trips or multi-days away from the ship for exploration on their own. Tokyo is one of those desired destinations. A trip to Tokyo from Yokohama can easily be achieved with a relatively short train ride.

For my shipmates seeking a traditional Disney experience, Tokyo Disneyland, known for its classic Disney theme park atmosphere, featuring seven themed lands, each offering unique attractions and entertainment, is easily accessible by an hour bus ride from Yokohama.

Tokyo, the largest city in the world by population (37.4 million), is located on Tokyo Bay, making the city a hub for international trade, surrounded by mountains on three sides, providing a barrier against fierce winds and typhoons. The Tokyo Skytree offers a spectacular experience with its two observation decks providing panoramic views of Tokyo from breathtaking perspectives.

Tokyo's unique culture is reflected in its traditional arts like flower arranging, origami (making objects by folding paper), and woodblock printing. Crafts such as dolls, lacquer ware, and pottery reflect the culture. Performances of complex dramas in elaborate costumes known as kabuki and the noh theaters are part of the culture.

Noh theaters are dedicated to the performance of Nohgaku, a traditional Japanese theater art form that includes Noh and Kyogen. These theaters feature a distinctive stage design, no curtain separating the stage from the audience, creating an atmosphere that immerses the audience in the world of Nohgaku, featuring a raised stage, a "hashigakari" (bridge) used for entrances and exits, and a "kagami-ita" (a painted pine tree) on the back wall of the stage. Noh plays, evolved from ancient dance dramas and courtly entertainment, are traditionally categorized into five types: plays about gods, warriors, women, mad characters, and supernatural beings, exploring themes of dreams, ghosts and spirits, drawing inspiration from legends, history, and literature.

Tokyo welcomes with a maze of bright lights, vendors selling an assortment of oddly colored food, restaurants, sights and smells, seas of people passing by, and everything else imaginative that fills the cracks.

Tokyo is known for its luxury fashion and trendy shopping districts. Tokyo’s thriving business district, a mix of gleaming skyscrapers, atmospheric back streets with tiny bars, small coffee shops tucked in lush corners, and shops specializing in hilarious cartoon characters, make the city weird and yet wonderful.

Anthony Bourdain said it well: “Tokyo may well be the most amazing food city in the world, with a nearly unimaginable variety of places stacked one on top of the other, tucked away on every level on densely packed streets.”

Tokyo is full of energy and life, a melting pot of cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, modern technology and contemporary architecture, and rich in history with ancient temples and shrines.

The city is large, easily traversed by foot or bus, but a smart and efficient network of underground rail connects it all together. Daunting, but unfamiliar orderliness makes Tokyo work. It’s clean, it’s organized, and somehow it blends beautifully. There’s no sense of urgency. Each person has a task to do, and through a quiet and peaceful lining up, you spot glimpses of graceful movement.

Tokyo, the vibrant capital of Japan, leads Japan and the world. An attraction of Tokyo is that people from various regions and countries gather with each other, interact, merge and create new things.

I find Tokyo mesmerizing. It’s hard to absorb the sheer vibrancy of it all.

Some shipmates took a day and headed out to Kamakura, a small city full of history and charm.

Kamakura is an ancient capital nestled amidst verdant mountains and bordered by the sea, which thrived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), housing the first samurai government. This coastal city southwest of Tokyo that offers beautiful beaches and scenic coastal views makes a popular day trip destination, offering a laid-back atmosphere for relaxation and exploration, dotted with numerous stunning temples and shrines, highlighting Zen Buddhist architecture and serene gardens. The iconic Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple offers a glimpse into the city’s religious history. It’s a place to engage in activities like meditation, tea ceremonies, and savoring fresh seafood while experiencing historical sites, natural beauty, and a different pace of life.

Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city with a population of over 3.7 million, located south of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. It's a major port city and a key hub in the Greater Tokyo Area, known for its blend of Japanese tradition and international influence. Historically, Yokohama was one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in 1859, significantly impacting its development. While close to Tokyo, Yokohama has a distinct vibe, offering a blend of Japanese charm and Western flair.

Being the large city that it is, Yokohama offers a lot of different attractions, and many choices. You can choose from such as stylish shopping malls, a stroll around the many parks, museums, delicious food from one of the world’s largest Chinatowns, zoo, aquarium, watch a baseball game in the stadium, landmarks, port, historical sites and a Ferris wheel. Perfect places for the senses, places to see, feel, taste, smell, and touch.

Cup Noodle Museum, a popular interactive museum, a hands-on experience, which its concept is ‘creative thinking.’ Learn the history of cup noodles and then make your own customized cup noodle. Design your cup, choose your soup flavor, add your favorite toppings, and your noodles will be truly unique with thousands of flavored combinations to choose from.

Yamashita Park, a seaside park located along the waterfront, is where you can watch the large ships and see breathtaking views of Yokohama Bay Bridge, a half a mile long cable-stayed bridge linking two key areas in Yokohama and Osanbashi Pier. A perfect place for a relaxing stroll.

Yokohama Chinatown, a bustling neighborhood, is where you can experience the food culture, events, and history of China while you are in Japan. There are temples and more than five hundred shops in the area, so you can shop, eat, pray and enjoy the atmosphere in Yokohama Chinatown.

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a landmark built during the Meiji era, has a strong historical background. Today, it’s a hub for shops, restaurants, and events.

Minato Mirai brings old history and modern facilities together. It’s a central business district in Yokohama where you can enjoy everything from food, shopping, art, culture, and an amusement park.

Landmark Tower Sky Garden is the second tallest building in Japan. Enjoy the incredible night view from The Sky Garden, located on the 69th floor. Selected as one of the Top 100 city views.

Sankeien Garden is a beautiful, traditional Japanese-style garden where you can enjoy the beauty of Japanese architecture and the harmony of nature. A gem.

Cosmo World is home to the amazing Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, also the world’s largest clock. It is worth a ride, seeing the time displayed on its frame as you enjoy gorgeous city views.

If you love noodles, visit the Ramen Museum, not your typical museum, more like a food-themed amusement park. Inside, there are ramen shops from all over Japan, so you can taste many styles of ramen in one place.

Nogeyama Zoo, a fantastic spot to visit, has over 1,500 animals from one hundred species like adorable red pandas, a variety of birds, and a petting zoo.

Visit the Sky Garden at Landmark Tower on the 69^th floor. It’s a thrill getting there! Sky Garden offers a 360-degree view, amazing to see how vast Yokohama is up there. On a sunny day, you can spot Mr. Fuji in the distance. The night view, with all the city lights, is amazing.

The Yokohama Doll Museum displays feature over 1,300 rare dolls from 140 countries. You can observe how the dolls are made and even touch the materials used.

Yokohama Museum of Art has a stunning collection of modern art and famous works by artists like Dali, Picasso, and Magritte.

For beer fans, visit Kirin Beer Village, tour the brewery, learn about the beer-making process and see the brewing in action. Tasting one of Japan’s favorite beers is okay too.

Shipmates wanting to get from Yokohama to Mount Fuji have a few options. Go by bus, car, train, or taxi.

Mount Fuji is popular, not only to enjoy the views from the surrounding area, or experience its cultural and natural beauty, but to hike its trails. Mount Fuji is not only a stunning sight to admire, but also a challenging and rewarding adventure to experience. Many consider climbing Mount Fuji a rite of passage and a spiritual journey.

Mount Fuji is not just a single volcano, but a composite of three volcanoes stacked on top of each other. Although dormant since 1707, it remains as an active volcano, adding to its mystique and appeal.

Mount Fuji is famous for its iconic, symmetrical volcanic cone shape, its status as Japan's highest peak (12,388 feet) makes it a prominent landmark and a source of national pride, and its deep cultural and spiritual significance, being a sacred mountain in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions, an object of worship for centuries, and appearing in countless works of art, literature, and religious practices.

Mount Fuji is not only a majestic sight to behold, but also a rich and diverse ecosystem that supports a variety of flora and fauna. One prominent feature of Mount Fuji’s environment is the five lakes, each with its own charm, surrounding the northern base.

Mount Fuji is not only a magnificent mountain, but also a home to a mysterious and intriguing forest, a “sea of trees” with unique and eerie characteristics like dense darkness, lava caves, moss-covered trees, and profound silence.

Mount Fuji is a source of inspiration for countless artists, poets, and writers, most famously in Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji is widely recognized as a symbol of Japan, representing its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and spiritual values.

The Odyssey is ready to sail, so it is time to say farewell to Yokohama. After four days, I realize four days is too short of a visit. As we leave, I wave with a “See you later.”

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