2geonomads

Day 7 – 2nd April 2017
Takamatsu
An ideal day to take the JR train from Okayama across the inland sea from Honshu to the island of Shikoku.
The trip across the water is an adventure in itself and the Seto Ohashi Bridge, the world’s longest two- tiered bridge system at 13.1 kms, is a miracle of modern engineering.
However, we are reminded of our lowly status in life when the announcement comes over the on- board public address system that there are two classes of reserved seats. Upstairs in the domed roof section are the ‘superior’ classes who get a much better view of the water below and the surrounding scenery and then downstairs in the basement are the ordinary class( that’s our group)! We arrive safely at Takamatsu with our self-esteem suitably damaged and take a small local train to the beautiful Ritsurin Gardens.
A local guide is on hand to take us through the gardens although her English does leave something to be desired.

Once again we are left to imagine how stunning these gardens might be with the cherry blossom in full bloom. Chiaki tells us that in all the years she has been visiting these gardens she can never remember such a late start to the Spring Cherry Blossom season.
Whilst we do manage to locate a few corners where the blossom is evident it still falls short of expectations.

  
Having said that the gardens are set against a magnificent backdrop of surrounding hills and the many ornamental ponds make it an enchanting place to visit, especially when we manage to view a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, albeit at a distance. Moreover, the later-than-usual start to the cherry blossom season in no way deters the many visitors from enjoying a picnic with family/friends in various locations throughout the park.

 

 

 

We return to Okayama by the same route and as we have some time to spare we use the rest of the afternoon to visit the splendid Korakuen Gardens and the striking black Okayama Castle, otherwise known as Crow Castle for obvious reasons.

Chiaki travels with us in the taxi to the gardens and we have just entered when she see two lovely young ladies dressed in the most exquisite kimonos which we are told they are wearing as part of a Kimono festival.

A short time afterwards we meet another beautiful girl in a very decorative kimono together her two sisters and a very proud father. This celebration is apparently to mark her ‘ coming of age at the grand old age of 20.
Chiaki has found a typical Japanese ‘pub’ for our evening meal and 9 of us take the short walk from the hotel to the venue. What follows is a fine meal in a great atmosphere with some of the guys( including yours truly) knocking back some very large glasses of beer and the ladies not far behind with their sake. The food is similar to that served when a small group of us dined out at another small restaurant a couple of days earlier but without anyone smoking in the room.
We are required to take off our shoes on entering the pub and when Gail later needs to go to the toilet she has a fit of the giggles when she sees the lime green sandals that she puts on for the purpose. I suspect that the sake has a part to play in this performance.

Cheers
The Obese Ferret