Japan in Photos - Nagoya and Kochi

No amount of words will ever express the wonder and amazement I felt during my time in Japan. One lovely female friend invited my husband and me to join she, her husband, and four other couples on a tour of Japan aboard Oceania Cruises Riviera. Over a year before the trip took place we said yes, resulting in an amazing adventure and several new friends.

For me, travelling opens doors to new experiences and skills. On this trip I learned how to navigate selecting day trips on a big cruise ship, trying new foods that I normally wouldn't have considered and meeting people from different walks of life who all shared a love of travel and exploration.

Please enjoy this first selection of photos from the trip. These pictures were taken in Nagoya and Kochi. I had no idea what to expect when we landed in Japan and these photos will give you a taste of what to expect if and when you go.

The main staircase on the Riviera

Nagoya

Haritsuna Jinja Shrine ansd Inuyama Castle

Haritsuna Jinja Shrine and Inuyama Castle in Nagoya

Sitting atop a hill, Inuyama Castle, built in 1537, is one of the oldest castles in Japan. It is also one of the few castles that was not bombed or burned during WWII. Primarily used for defensive protection, the narrow ladders linking the floors together made for a challenging climb.

Young Japanese girls buying prayer cards they will hang after writing their personal prayers.

Don't plan on visiting this castle and the connected shrine if you cannot navigate hills and stairs. The views from the top are the reward for all the effort. Inuyama is set in a small town, so the views from above look out on low buildings and the Kiso river.

Kochi

When touring a country by boat, you can only select a limited number of things to see in each port. The choices I made for each day were good ones, but I wished we could have seen more.

Kochi has many interesting things to see, and I was really torn on which tour to choose. Kochi is one of the few places left in Japan with an active geisha culture. Sadly, we didn't get to see any of the geisha because we chose to visit two different sights.

Makino Botanical Gardens

The Makino Botanical Gardens were originally designed by the late Tomitaro Makino. It opened in April 1955. The gardens were wild and natural, with a diverse array of flora that captivated my senses. Set up on a hill, we climbed up and down, exploring and photographing the trees and flowers in bloom. There is a good green house to visit here as well with many orchids and plants I was seeing for the first time.

Chikuren-ji Temple

I can see why Chikuren-Ji is considered the most beautiful temple on the Shikoju Pilgrimage. Standing like a small red lacquer jewel among verdant foliage, it is a wonder to behold. With few tourists visiting it, we had ample opportunities to absorb the details.

Stone lanterns were set against a backdrop of beautiful green moss. The camellia bushes and trees were in full bloom adding to the beauty.

During our visit, I saw a mother and her little girl dressed in kimonos. Our tour guide explained that it is common to bring children to the temple when they turn 3 to receive a blessing. This precious little girl posed for the photographer with her mom, and then did an impromptu smile for me as well.

Chikuren-Ji Temple