Slowboat to China

The Su Zhou Hao is loaded with containers at Osaka Port

Just the way we arrived in Japan three years ago, we also left: by boat. While to come here, we did the trans-siberian from Moscow and took a boat from Vladivostok to Toyama, we now took the ferry from Osaka to Shanghai (from where on we will unceremoniously take the plane).
Our boat, the Su Zhou Hao was of quite impressive size, but most of its big belly was filled with containers and only the three upper decks were accessible to passengers. The passengers were overwhelmingly young Chinese, then there were a few Japanese and a handful of Westerners. The trip from Osaka to Shanghai takes two full days. At first, the ship follows Honshu through the Inland Sea, then passes between Honshu and Kyushu and follows the Kyushu coast, before crossing the East China Sea (see here for the route).

The Kyushu coast in the early morning

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Osaka!

Even though we are on our way out of the country, I am excited that we managed to see yet another city we hadn’t seen before: Osaka. Our hotel is in the middle of the bustling Dotonbori entertainment quarter, only minutes on foot away from the famous crab figure and the Glico Man ad. And of course Shochikuza (松竹座), a big theater where we attended a Kabuki performance.

A city famous for its ads

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