Toba on Saturday 24 August

Had no great expectations of Toba, it was a tender only situation, a relatively short stop - and the forecast was 100% probability of rain. Woke early to the sounds of the tenders being launched and had a comfortable early morning to let the hordes disembark. When we went to get our tender tickets, we were told, it could be a wait of 1 hour, "or maybe a little more".
It turned out to be a whisker under 30", then onto a tender and on then to the dock. Toba is the smallest place we have been to, but a very nice harbour, filled with small islands (many with villages) and surrounded by green hills. The harbour is a hive of activity with fishing boats, ferries, yachts and small craft crisscrossing it constantly.
Despite the forecast, not a drop of rain, plenty of sunshine and mid 20'sC temperature. Other ports have had a great focus on our arrival, but this one has outdone them all so far with just so many volunteers (mainly students) to assist. A welcome green tea and sour plum before Pat put her hand to making a Japanese ink print.
Then off to Mikimoto Pearl Island, which I had anticipated to be a tourist trap. How wrong I was!!! It was just off the mainland and accessed by a short walkway and about 600m in circumference with stunning gardens and many, many shaped pine trees. First stop was a small cafe for a coffee - beautiful Japanese crockery. Then around to the modern Pearl Museum, which, across its two levels, told a comprehensive story of the industry around the world - but particularly of Mikimoto and Mikimoto Pearls. Lots of hands on and photo stops. While the industry is now so technologically advanced, it continues to employ more than 3000 Ama divers. These are women who free dive to collect wild oysters to ensure stock diversity and hardiness. Three of them put on an exhibition which was most enjoyable. We had got to the viewing area a little early and one of the guides told us we needed to go to the English language area (a beautiful sit down, air conditioned lounge where we had front row seats). Loved that show.
On then to the Pearl Plaza which featured numerous stunning pieces of Mikimoto' s artistic works, including regal crowns, tiaras, a model pagoda act, etc, etc as well as stunning jewellery. Last stop was the retail outlet - divided into three galleries: up to about 100,000 yen (about $A1500), then to about 2,000,000 yen (about $A30,000), and then up to multi millions of yen. The Princess was gifted some ear rings (from the bottom end of which gallery????).
Back then to the tender, a reasonably short time queue, and then to the Diamond Princess for another late, light lunch and early afternoon departure.
Toba had proven to be wonderful stop, people so friendly, town so full of volunteers, and so keen to receive feedback (we participated in 3 different surveys). The send off was another highlight, with water cannons and pleasure boats etc carrying singing, waving passengers (even a trumpeter) and surrounding us as we headed out of the harbour.
Good food, good company and good wine kept us at the dìnner table until after 9.30pm, and then it was off to Club Fusion for a musical end to the day.