Ponant L'Austral cruise of southern Japan review: More to explore

By Brian Johnston
October 3 2015 - 12:15am
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
L'Austral sailing into Kagoshima. Photo: Latreille
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston
The floating tori gate of Miyajima Island near Hiroshima. Photo: Brian Johnston

I've never heard of Sakaiminato. I'd never have thought of coming here, but now my ship L'Austral is sailing into port and here I am. The docks are lined with used cars for export to Russia, beside fragrant piles of logs that the Russians send back to Japan. Birds of prey wheel in the sky over the fish market, waiting for an easy score. Across the bay, Mount Daisen volcano is a snow-drizzled pyramid.

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