Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

This is the first time we have caught the Shinkansen north from Tokyo and we weren't ready for the differences.First no where to leave luggage.I managed to get one of our cases up on the overhead rack along with our carryons but the second case wasn't going to fit.Certainly left little leg room.The other difference was the seating was 3-2 and we had the B and C seats so no window.It certainly made up our minds that we were using the Takuhaibin service from Sendai to the Sheraton Shin Sapporo as that will be all day on trains with 3 changes of trains.
There is one stop between Tokyo and Sendai and the seats over the aisle were vacant so I got a few shots from the train.Unfortunately the Omiya stop is only a short distance from Tokyo station.

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On arriving at Sendai we took a taxi the short distance to the Westin as neither of us are that fit this year.The taxis are always immaculate,drivers courteous and don't rip you off.Really a pleasure.So we checked in to the Westin at midday.Review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....eriences-and-reviews/westin-sendai-62922.html

Good views of the trains from our room.Here is a JR east one-

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The first thing that we did though was have a nice long soak in the bath and then had a nap.It was now 30 hours after we had left home travelling in 2 planes,2 trains,2 cars and a bus to get here.We did wake in time for happy hour though.
Next-our first day in Sendai.

 

[RB]

Which camera did you buy? What happened to the previous one-seemed to take great photos?

 

[Major]

As usual, another ripper TR

 

[drron]

Which camera did you buy? What happened to the previous one-seemed to take great photos?

A Sony TX30 for underwater shots as I hope to be doing a bit of snorkelling on the cruise.The old camera is along for the ride plus an older Sony point and shoot for in the pocket on the planes.

 

[drron]

So first a few more pictures from our room and the lounge.Have noticed that the Shinkansen often has other carriages attached.Here to a limited express-

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No space is unused.Here a tennis court on the roof top-

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Views to Sendai port-

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And the night lights-

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And a Japanese classic-the wedding chapel-

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Sendai also has an undercover shopping street-

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But unlike most it is upmarket-

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[drron]

The exec lounge is only open for brekkie on the weekend.So again it is brekkie in the restaurant.An interesting system here-you just have to show your SPG plat key wallet and automatic entry to lounge or the complimentary brekkie.There is not a great western selection.Few fruits,fried eggs,scrambled or omelettes and boiled sausages.But a great variety of Japanese dishes and salads.They have a smorked salmon and persimmon salad that we both like.And yes the sign says smorked.Also a very nice Aomori apple juice.The Sendai miso with mushrooms became a favourite of mine.
After brekkie we walked to the Loople bus-a hop on hop off bus.200 yen per ride or 600 yen for a day ticket.Fortunately you only pay when you get off.We decided to first do a loop.The first Loople bus was absolutely full.We could not fit.So we went to the shopping street first.Lovely flower shops-

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We then went back to the Loople stop.The next bus was full so we got on.Fortunately after a few stops several got off so we got a seat.The Hirose river snakes through Sendai so you often cross it-

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Many buildings are well camouflaged.Sendai calls itself the city of trees-

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School excursion time-

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Because of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake there were many landslips.You still have to take a long detour to get to the site of Sendai Castle-it actually doesn't exist anymore so we stayed on.This marks the entrance-

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You go through the new University campus-

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Then back to the river which is still used-

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Several cemeteries-

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[drron]

One stop is the Osaki Hachimangu Shrine which is a national treasure.However it was starting to rain so we stayed on the bus-

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More from the bus-

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When we got to Jozenji-dori avenue one of the major tourist sites it had stopped raining so we got off just paying our 200 yen.So the park-

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[drron]

So more of the park-

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It then started to pour.Fortunately there was refuge just over the road-

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It seemed to be taken over by cartoon characters-

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[drron]

One place you should always visit in a Japanese department store is the basement food hall.Presentation is amazing-

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Whilst I was admiring the mushroom selection an older gentleman came up who had perfect English.He told me about each mushroom,what the Japanese stories about them are and their uses.They are very friendly.One of the reasons we come here so often.So here are the mushrooms-

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The staff were also friendly.Got to taste a lot of different things.There was one though with no English but he still got me to understand that he wanted me to taste bear bile.I declined.They do love their melons-

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Mitzuikoshi was at one end of the shopping street that led back to the Westin.As it was still raining we decided to walk it.Came across a sushi restaurant so had lunch.Not the greatest sushi but cheap.Across the road was this hotel-

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It was then back to the hotel and happy hour.We had bought some delicious black grapes which became dessert.
I also had to download,sign and send back some papers for a job in November.The business centre is part of the exec lounge so complimentary for SPG plats.A nice bonus.

 

[drron]

Friday and a change in the weather.A beautiful fine morning,cloudy in the afternoon but no rain until the night.Just as well as our plan today was to cruise on Matsushima Bay.Taking the advice of the Concierge we took the train to Shiogama.Just outside the railway station-

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However first we went to the Shiogama shrine.To walk you have got to climb 200 stairs so we got a taxi to the top parking lot.A magnificent area with 3 shrines,a couple of museums,typical Japanese gardens,surrounded by forest and with great views down to Shiogama port-

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[amaroo]

Enjoying another TR

Watch out for Dengue Fever.....

 

[drron]

More from the shrines-

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[drron]

Enjoying another TR

Watch out for Dengue Fever.....

Dengue is in Tokyo and mainly in Yoyogi park.Quite safe in the north.
So back to the shrine-

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[drron]

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And here are those steps-

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[drron]

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Alternate stairs with not as severe a gradient-

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The old road to the shrine-

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[drron]

Shiogama is one of Japan's busiest fishing ports.In the past it was a centre for whaling and this is shown here-

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Back to the gardens-

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[drron]

So the last of the gardens-

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So back in a taxi and down to the ferry terminal.Shiogama has the highest number of sushi restaurants per head of population in the whole of Japan.A couple at the terminal looked good but it was a little early so just an ice cream and the midday ferry to Matsushima-

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Our ferry comes in-

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[RooFlyer]

Cripes drron, you are pick'n up the posting pace.

Watching in, in-flight DFW-YYC on the AA go-go inflight wi-fi

 

[drron]

I did mention that the wifi in our room was very slow.A little while later a fellow came up with a router for the room.Much faster now!

The cruise is a 50 minute ride to Matsushima.The bay is ranked as one of Japan's best natural attractions.It certainly is beautiful.however leaving Shiogama port is not the most attractive.It was affected by the 2011 tsunami.It was not as badly damaged as many surrounding towns.One of the fishermen who felt the quake immediately went out to sea.After the tsunami receded he was able to collect many of the ports fishing vessels washed out to sea therefore lessening the economic impact.The port is the largest supplier of tuna to Tokyo.You can see evidence of new protective barriers-

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[drron]

I took some 400 shots on this cruise.Have tried to cut down the numbers but still a lot.Hope not too boring.

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