Ok, I cheated and the first was Starbucks at Osaka Station, a bitter black English Breakfast has never tasted so good!
The weather has changed and it’s been heavy rain all day, just what you need when visiting one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan.
Matt and I parted company at Okayama Station, he went off into the hills and watched some drifting. I put on a disposable poncho, over my waterproof, and braved the 2km walk to Korakuen Garden.
The garden, dating back to 1700, is beautiful and the detail is amazing, even on a wet, gloomy day. It was opened to the public in 1884, severely damaged by flooding in 1934 and bombing in 1945. Restoration was completed in 1952 and, thanks to the many paintings and images of the garden, it remains very much true to its original form.
It may be one of the top three gardens in Japan but I much preferred the intimacy of Shukkeien yesterday.
I was damp and ready for a break from the rain and stopped for fortification at the Art Cafe of the Yumeji Art Museum. Another cup of tea, this time a local black tea with a slice of Pumpkin Cafe. I felt very dishevelled in an elegant cafe.
The museum is dedicated to the art of Yumeji Takehisa who was widely regarded as the Japanese Lautrec and was the driving force behind ‘Taisho Roman’, a style that blended European Romantism with delicate Japanese Art. He spent his later years teaching in Europe and lived in Berlin when the Nazi Party rose to power. His letters and diaries record his disquiet.
I’d set my heart on cycling the Kibi Plain, today, but only a nutcase would get on a bike in this weather. Google gave me an alternative – Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. 40 minutes from Okayama and I was wandering streets of traditional buildings, housing crafts, eateries and clothing. The main attraction is the canal, lined with willow trees, with boat rides available. Not today, though, it was too wet.
It was a shame that the rain kept me out of some beautiful looking stores. I was dripping wet, still wearing a plastic poncho and felt that I could be liable to cause breakages. Dryish rather than stylish was my motto for today.
Matt and I reconvened at Okayama Station stopped off at Himeji to see its Castle. We’re not fussed about its’ history but it looks fantastic in the dark. Dinner was in a tiny Ramen bar with jazz playing in the background.
