Traveled from Tokushika to Takamatsu for a half day before heading to Airport for to get back to ship. Found out on the way that Royal screwed up the trip authorizations again and I had to make more last minute changes to the itinerary. Beautiful day in Takamatsu nonetheless.
- Train to Takamatsu
- Shido-ji
- Yashima-ji Temple
- Transit
- Ritsurin Garden
- Friends!
- Trip, Interrupted
- Takamatsu Airport
- Haneda Airport
- Vibe Check
- Feedback
Photo Gallery: https://pics.mattichan.com/-uwc121
Train to Takamatsu
Took the train in the morning to Takamatsu and grabbed some food at the 7-Eleven on the way. The soy sauce egg was SO good.
Shido-ji
Main Entrance
We made it to Shido-ji, the last temple on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. A little different, lots of gardens and they kind of just grew everywhere, not super organized which was nice in a way, felt more natural.
Garden Flora
Lots of flora all over the place.
Buildings and Views
Some really nice buildings and views in the garden as well with not a ton of people around, so very peaceful and calm walking around.
Stone Garden
In the back, a little hidden from the main path, we found a nice rock / stone garden in the back and just relaxed for a bit.
Yashima-ji Temple
Main Gate
After Shido-ji we headed on to Yashima-ji by taxi and saw a second temple. Big Red gate welcoming us to the temple.
Grounds
Walked around the grounds a bunch, this temple had lots of wide open spaces and walkways between buildings. Quite a few more people then the more remote temples, but still lots of room to walk around and avoid people.
Yashima Badger
Really unique badger things here in a corner of the grounds. Lots of badger statues all over.
Mountain Views
From the temple, we walked up a path for a bit to some great views of the city. Quick 10-15 minute walk, and well worth the views.
Transit
After the temple, we headed back to the city after riding the train for a bit.
Ritsurin Garden
At Takamatsu, we headed to Ritsurin Garden and spent a lovely couple hours there before needing to get to the airport.
Fields of Flowers
As we rounded a corner, came upon a small field of purple flowers which were really quite beautiful.
Wildlife
Lots of turtles, fish and birds all around the garden.
Beautiful Flowers
Flowers everywhere, with some cherry blossoms, but mostly hanging on from the rain.
Garden Views
Lots of scenic views all over including some smaller gardens and a really fun waterfall.
Bridge
One of the highlights was the bridge with a ton of people around the bridge, but very calm and peaceful there.
Friends!
Very thankful for Marty who provided a roof, food and good times all around.
Trip, Interrupted
Was on my way to the airport already when I got an email from the ship telling me that even though my two side trips were approved, that I actually wasn’t allowed to get back on the ship in Japan and then leave again in Japan without first leaving Japanese waters. It didn’t seem like it was a new immigration rule, rather that Royal Caribbean didn’t do their due diligence when they “approved” travel to begin with, and were only approving trips in a vacuum and not in totality (even though I submitted both trips at the same time on the same form).
What makes this even worse, is that I specifically checked with the ship a couple weeks ago to make sure everything was good before I booked my flights and hotels. I could have easily just stayed a couple extra days or booked a different flight, but because they waited till the last moment to tell me, I had to book EXTRA flights and hotels to accommodate their mistake.
In addition, I had tickets from Kagoshima to Tokyo on the Shinkansen (bullet train), but had to pick them up in Kagoshima, but now I’ll just be in Tokyo, and no reason to fly from Tokyo to Kagoshima just to get on the train back to Tokyo — other than to pick up the tickets. Sent a message to the customer service to see if Nate and mom can pick up the tickets at the post office instead of me.
Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. What’s the point of approval forms, when they CONSTANTLY keep messing up their approved side trips, and don’t tell us about the issues until its too late?
Takamatsu Airport
The Airport shuttle from Takamatsu didn’t come for another hour, so I ended up just taking an Uber to the airport. Really nice little viewing area up on top of the roof of the Airport to view the sunset and some planes coming in as we waited for our flight to take off. Pretty small airport, so easy to get in and onto the plane.
Haneda Airport
Landed at Haneda and booked a quick stay at the hotel located next to the Airport. Walked through the Airport Garden to get to the hotel and found a really nice space.
Views
Hotel views were really cool. Particularly liked watching the ubers and taxis very neatly lining up after each other and playing very nice with one another.
Humans. The Worst.
In the Airport Garden mall area, there was a nice display there. As I was walking by and watching, I noticed a family (speaking loudly in mandarin — so I assume they’re from the mainland) blatantly ignoring the take your shoes off sign, and they were just being super disrespectful. They kicked up the red carpet, then just left, which was ridiculous.
I went over after them and (shoeless) fixed the carpet. Why are people just the absolute worst.
Food
Wandered around for food, but it was so late, just settled for the Watsons downstairs from the hotel and got a bunch of food, capped off by some delicious mango.
Vibe Check
3 parts joy
2 parts anger – Royal messing up YET ANOTHER *approved* side trip, which is resulting in additional expenses that could have been completely avoided.
Feedback
Leave a comment or question if you have any thoughts! Anything you want to know about as we go around the world? Any things you want to share as feedback, or any images that particularly spoke to you. I’ll try to read all of them as time permits!
Matti 
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