Cruise ship Nippon Maru calls at port for the first time

Welcoming the "Nippon Maru

In the early morning of Saturday, June 9, the cruise ship Nippon Maru made its first port call off Senzaki Port. Although the scenery was hazy, many people gathered at Senza Kitchen, a roadside station, to catch a glimpse of the large ship.

The Nippon Maru departed from Kobe yesterday, calling at Senzaki Port on the second day of the four-night, five-day "Cruise to 'God's Island' Okinoshima, Munakata and Gunkanjima, Nagato Senzaki and the Amakusa Islands". Then, a toll boat carrying passengers arrived at the sightseeing boat pier of the Aomi Island Tourist Steamship Company on several separate occasions.

A total of approximately 370 passengers arrived at Senzaki and were greeted by children from the Misuzu Nursery School holding handmade flags.

The cheerful greetings from the school children were met with smiles from the passengers.

After leaving the sightseeing boat terminal, everyone enjoyed their time in Nagato City, taking the optional cruise bus tour to Motonosumi Shrine and Senjojiki, or shopping and dining at Senza Kitchen.

Yakitori were served on the Senza Kitchen premises, and a footbath at the Tawarayama Onsen hot spring was also popular. The hot yakitori was especially popular, with passengers and crew members saying the yakitori was "delicious.

As a welcome attraction in the morning, "Aonami," a group that fosters Misuzu Ondo, performed two Japanese drum performances. Many people enjoyed the performance along with yakitori and footbath.

At the tourist information center "YUKUTE," a gara-pon (lottery) was held for this day only. More than 200 people tried their hand at the gara-pon, which offered prizes such as "Torie Neko Plushie" featuring the torii gate of Motonosumi Shrine, Tawarayama's local sake "Horebore," "Yuzukichi Jelly," and "Senza Kitchen Kintaro Ame".

The first prize, a stuffed toy Torii Neko, was awarded after 1:00 pm. The Senza Kitchen was very busy until the evening, and many people, not only passengers, enjoyed the gara-pon.

At 19:30, the Nippon Maru departed Senzaki Port for its next port of call. As the ship departed, 75 fireworks were shot into the sky to see off the Nippon Maru.