TANKS Travel Tales - a travelogue.......

Kumamoto , Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan This article was first published on this blog in April 2024. Prior to this trip, I had already know about Kumamoto and their cute mascot, Kumamon . This day trip was a port visit when the cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas made a port call as part of the cruise from Yokohama to Singapore in August 2023. Originally not part of the itinerary, this port visit was a last minute insertion after the ship had to skip port visits to Shimizu and Osaka due to Typhoon Lan . I was not upset about the skipping of the two scheduled port visits because I understand the importance of safety for everyone onboard, both passengers and crew. I was instead thrilled about the last minute inclusion of Kumamoto (via Yatsushiro Port ) as a port stop. And thus, one of my bucket travel list item to visit Kumamoto was achieved. ****************** I visited the city of Kumamoto for the first time in August 2023 as part of a port visit by the cruise ship I was saili...

Yatsushiro Port is located on the western coast of central Kyushu , one of Japan's main islands. The port has always been an important center for international trade, such as the distribution of agriculture, forestry, and marine products.  Presently, this Port is one of the largest port in Kumamoto Prefecture . Besides handling cargo vessels, Yatsushiro port also caters to cruise ships and their passengers.    Yatsushiro Port, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan (2023) Yatsushiro Port At Yatsushiro Port, a small park has lots of Kumamon on displays. The park is great place for photo shoots with cute Kumamon.  Visitors love Kumamon, Yatsushiro Port, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan (2023) Who's hiding? Yatsushiro Port, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan (2023) Yatsushiro Port, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan (2023) From Yatsushiro Port to Shin-Yatsushiro Station It is not possible to walk from Yatsushiro Port to Shin-Yatsushiro Station. Taking a taxi from the port to the station is a good opt...

I visited the city of Kumamoto for the first time in August 2023 as part of a port visit by the cruise ship I was sailing on, Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas. The cruise's itinerary was to take passengers from Yokohama to Singapore, sailing in a south, south-easterly direction, whilst visiting some ports along the way. The original port visits in the southern parts of Japan were Shimizu and Osaka. But these 2 port visits were cancelled due to inclement weather because of a nearby typhoon. It was summer in Japan in August and the typhoon season was in town, literally and figuratively. The cruise company subsequently decided to add Kumamoto as a port visit to the itinerary to compensate for the lost of the the 2 cancelled port visits. Weather conditions are part of the forces of nature and I appreciated the cruise company's decision making discretion to ensure that all passengers had a safe and enjoyable trip. Thus, I was not upset at the lost of 2 port visits. Moreove...