Okayama

We went to Okayama in April 2011.

Population 700,000.

We flew Jetstar International into Kansai.  Stayed the first night in Osaka, then took a quick bullet train trip to Okayama.

Okayama was to cherry blossom that Morioka was to autumn leaves.

We went to Okayama as a quick replacement for Sendai after the tsunami. As Okayama is not on anyone's must go to, we weren't expecting much, but, oh well, there was sushi and sake.

The first day was spitting.  We went to the tourist bureau and got lots of maps and suggestions.

Then we went for a stroll.  Just across the road from the station was a canal / park in the middle of the street that was not on the tourist maps.  Enchanting. Blossom, flowers, bridges, statues, sculptures.

The next day, we went to the river bank for the Sakura Picnic Fair.  Families and offices had sent a scout out early to put down a piece of canvas and reserve an area.

There was a footpath under the branches on the right of the picture.  Walking under the blossom is magical.  And it is amazing one doesn't walk into others, who for wont of dreaming, also have their eyes looking upwards.

After a couple of hours dawdling under the cherry blossom, and being invited to drink a sake a handful of times, we moved to the nearby castle gardens (Korakuen).

Big black castle !

It is not unusual to see a young couple having wedding photos taken in a park. 

A bit of free theatre in the park.

A shrine (Sogenji)  in eastern Okayama.  The smell from the pine trees was so refreshing, why did someone decide to put a dozen "DONT LET YOUR DOG POO HERE" signs up along the entry road ?

BITCHU TAKAHASHI

Bitchu Takahashi is about 40 minutes north of Okayama by train. There is a beautiful old castle on top of a hill on the outskirts of town. A Taxi costs about $10 to take you there.  Our taxi driver could speak a little English.  As we got out of the cab, he smiled and pointed up, and said "700 metres".  Ah, and so it was !  Ah, that's enough exercise for the wicked in one day !  But the castle, and the views, and the stone walls made it all worthwhile.

The view from the top.

The reward for the effort.

MATSUYAMA

Matsuyama is a long almost three hour train trip from Okayama. Why do it ? Well, as a lover of trains, it was fun.  As an oldie, it was a good break after walking up to Bitchu-Takahashi castle.  Lastly, the train runs along north west Shikoku for some distance, and the scenery is pretty.

To get to the base of Matsuyama castle from the train station, there was a tram that looked like an old steam engine.

Then, to get to the castle, which was high up, thank goodness there was a chair lift.

KURASHIKI

Kurashiki is about a 20 minute train trip from Okayama.  What a gem of a town.  And so many museums and  art galleries, mostly on the right of the canal, one after another.

Last Morning in Okayama

On the last morning in Okayama, we were sitting in the breakfast restaurant on the 20th floor, and I could see a massive patch of cherry blossoms on the side of a hill in the distance.  I asked a waiter where they were, and he said "The Botanical Gardens" .  That's funny, they were not mentioned in the tourist brochures. 

We decided to catch a bus out and have a look. Really, what words ?  Not just cherry blossom but all varieties of spring flowers, in a massive park !  Shame we could only stay an hour, as we had to return to Australia.

Okayama is a stunning Japan stay, and really 10 days, two weeks probably could easily be spent there !

Oh, and finally, another amazing and nice story about the trip.  One morning, we were in a shopping mall and I was too lazy to go back to the Tourist Info Centre, so I popped into a shop to ask directions.  The lovely lady quickly understood me, and indicated that I should follow her.  She went on to lead us out of her shop (thus leaving it unattended), around a couple of corners until she felt that her outstretched hand would indicate where we should go.  

AND THEN, WAFFLES

On the concourse above the rail lines, there is a small waffle shop. 

Now, the Japanese seem to make Euro pastries etc better that the Euros, true !

These waffles would simply not allow you to walk past them ! 

Daily, ah, waffles, what a life.