TOBA, JAPAN

I asked Google AI what are the top things to do in Toba?

• Visit Toba Aquarium: See an impressive collection of over 30,000 creatures, including the unique dugong, which can only be found here in Japan.

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  Explore Mikimoto Pearl Island: Learn about the history of pearl cultivation and watch demonstrations by the traditional female divers known as ama.

• See the views from Toba Observatory: Located 163 meters above sea level, this is the best spot to watch the sunrise and, on clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji.

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  Tour the Toba Sea-Folk Museum: This museum is dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Toba's fishing culture and the sea-faring lifestyle.

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  Visit Ise Jingu: While technically in the nearby city of Ise, this is one of Japan's most important and sacred shrines, with the Outer Sanctuary, Toyouke Daijingu, located in Toba.

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  Stroll through Toba Marché: This market is a great place to sample and buy local specialties, including fresh seafood harvested by the ama divers.

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  Discover the Toba Castle Ruins: Explore the historical remnants of the former castle, which is a significant landmark in the city's history.

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  Experience the Ama Hut "Hachiman Kamado": Get an authentic look at the traditional lifestyle of the ama divers, who are known for their free-diving abilities to harvest seafood.

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  Take a boat trip to a nearby island: Take a ferry to one of the beautiful islands in the area, such as Kamishima Island, Toshijima Island, or Sugashima Island.
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  Visit Shinmei Shrine: This shrine is known for its distinctive dragon carvings on the main torii gate. 

Life of Doing provided 14 incredible things to do in Toba.

• #1:  take a photo of the Heart Toba sign at the Toba Castle Ruins located in Shiroyama Park.

• #2:  then wander through the castle ruins.
• #3:  see ocean animals and marine life at Toba Aquarium.

• #4  find a Pokemon manhole cover at Sadahama East Park, also called the Dolphin Park.

• Learn about pearl harvesting at Mikimoto Pearl Island.

One of my postings from the past said the following:

A few years ago, Takeo Kondo, a colleague from Nihon University, who was advising the mayor of the city of Ago in Japan, Chihiro Takeuchi, arranged for me to give a talk on colored pearls to his community. The situation was ideal, for Kokichi Mikimoto, (left) nearly a century earlier, had experimented on cultured pearls in the waters next to the hotel in Ago where I stayed. I learned that while this region was at one time the largest pearl producer, growth conditions were declining and the current owners were beginning to abandon the field. My recommendation was to bring deep ocean waters into their estuaries and initiate a new product, colored pearls.

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  You can read the rest of the 14 things here.

We were all set to tour much of the above, but Toba has no port for cruise ships, and winds were up to 50 MPH, so the ship never stopped here.  Was that a problem?  Not for me, as I must stopped through this area at least a half dozen times.  Been to all those attractions.  Read my posting of 21August2008:  RAINBOW PEARLS, INTERNATIONAL (Part 2):

• 
  Anyway, it occurred to me that, as we could regulate the growth conditions, why not try to produce colored pearls. Not only white and black, but what about Chinese Red and Kelly Green? Someday, perhaps, the Royal Hawaiian Rainbow Pearl Necklace could reach the marketplace.
• I thus formed an international team of marine biotechnologists and marketers. Grant Burgess of Heriot-Watt University, associate editor of the Journal of Marine Biotechnology (JMB), began searching for marine algae which could provide the range of colors. Next to his office was the Scotch Professor of the country and on the other side was a biologist who held membership in the Royal and Ancient Club, which supervised over the Saint Andrews golf course structure. We usually held annual meetings in late August (the only period when the weather is halfway tolerable there) when the world’s largest arts festival is held in Edinburg. Unfortunately, Grant, who grew up in Edinburg, just moved to Newcastle, where they are allowed to do human cloning, not an interest of his, but, nevertheless intriguing with respect to Chapter 2 of SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity. Aside from coal, what else is there in Newcastle?
• 
  Anyway, that's the beginning of my story about Rainbow Pearls, and why I spent so much time
  where Mikimoto first began cultivating pearls.  I stayed at a hotel in view of Ago Bay where he initially did his work in 1893.  He first began selling white pearls in 1905.

So on the Diamond Princess we had lunch, for me, a Caymus Chardonnay and Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon.

Corn chowder.  The 15 Craigside version is superior.

Cobb Salad with blue cheese.

Fried chicken.

Spaghetti aglio e olio.

Ended lunch with a cappuccino.  Tomorrow, our adventure continues, as we head for Osaka.

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