The Japanese Love Their Ferris Wheels

Day 18, Grand Asia 2017

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 – Beppu, Japan

We’re more than halfway through our week of Japanese ports. Our original itinerary had five stops in Japan followed by two in Korea. But the Chinese government decided it would not admit ships that had stopped in Korea. So Holland America added two additional Japanese ports. They are smaller towns and don’t always offer lots of sightseeing opportunities.

Today we docked at noon in Beppu, one of the additional ports, and the misty rain returned. Despite the weather, a contingent of local residents in traditional Japanese garb enthusiastically welcomed us. I later learned we are one of 23 cruise ships to visit the port this year.

I spent the morning catching up on my Kyoto blog and organizing photos from the first two weeks of the cruise. After lunch I took the free shuttle to the train station in the center of the city and browsed the shops for a while. The Japanese love Kit Kat candy, and I hear it is available in a large variety of flavors found only in Japan. I have been on the hunt for beer-flavored Kit Kits for my nephews, but only saw original, green tea and strawberry varieties in the large supermarket.

Beppu is only our second Japanese port so far that doesn’t feature a huge Ferris wheel. It seems cities around the world are vying for the title of world’s largest (now held by the High Roller in Las Vegas at 550 feet, but a taller one in Dubai is on the way). I live in Dallas, where the Texas Star had long been celebrated as the largest in North America, but now at 212 feet it is just No. 3 in the United States. It seems puny (hard for a Texan to say) compared to some we have seen so far:

The Cosmo Clock in Yokohama, 369 feet.

The Redhorse Osaka Wheel in Osaka, 404 feet. (And featured in Joyce Halee’s nighttime featured photo at top of blog.)

The Daikanransha in Odaiba, (Tokyo), 377 feet.

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Thanks for all the comments you are leaving on the blog. I don’t always answer them immediately. When I find free WIFI I will try to take more time to address any questions you have. It is fun to know so many of my friends are following along.