Cycled the Shimanami Kaido, and Yamaguchi, Saga, Nagasaki etc.

[rbjhan]

Taxi driver arrived on time, there were two people for the 14.20 share taxi.
The other guy actually booked it on the spot, so it's possible (but risky) not to prebook.
What he didn't realise was that he needed to pay the taxi driver in cash...there were quite some confusions (since I've paid online already) and they quickly found out I was not Japanese

Ha this was when I brought out the メルボルンを知っていますか？do you know Melbourne?
And what is it with Japanese people and their fascination with the Olympics??
Almost every time I asked someone if they know Melb (or Australia in general) they will say the Olympics! Damn it was before my time

Anyways we reached the Fuigo Pass car park fairly quick. Time to start hiking....


Half way there! Keep going!
No actually it says to rest a bit




This was a decent hike. Not recommended if you have mobility issues.

There were multiple circles of defense you need to go through to reach the main keep.
Who wants to be a feudal time warrior?!

 

[rbjhan]

Finally reached the Ni no Maru.


Typically montaintop castles are not very big.


Inside there were 2 stories.
You know what that means? Only one flight of stairs to climb!! Damn I still have PTSD from the stairs in Himeji...


Honmaru is also very modest.


This part was not opened to the public.

 

[rbjhan]

Back to Kurashiki and made it to TSL before their closing time
Picked up my new TN cover!


Inside left is a pocket


Inside right is a wallet


Back


Oh I'm so happy

 

[rbjhan]

Time to finally head to my hotel for the night.

Royal Park Kurashiki
About 5 mins walk from JR Kurashiki Station.

Many business hotels have introduced self storage room for your luggage now.


Booked a single room for 9600 Yen. For a Saturday night this was unbelievably cheap.


Bathroom


Lounge


Business hotel lounges are not like the fancy hotels, generally there are only some non alcoholic drinks.

 

[rbjhan]

I was so tired, decided to have a soak before dinner.

During check in they gave me both English and Japanese leaflets.
On the front they were exactly the same.


The back though...


Make of it what you will I guess....

This was dinner time, so I had the bath all to myself.


Not bad for a business hotel!

 

[rbjhan]

Most visitors to Kurashiki are day trippers. So the shops in Bikan area generally close by 6, 7pm.
Near the station there were some Izakayas but I didn't feel like it that day...
Now where to have dinner, that was a problem

Luckily I remembered there's a shopping mall to the opposite side of Kurashiki station, with a food court!
So I had a bibimbap


Evening stroll in Kurashiki


There were very few people around....it had a very different feel.


Then something happened, I've never seen in Japan before!


So a man (probably in his 60s) was sitting by this bridge.
As I was walking past I heard him saying こんばんわ、お世話になります
It was dark and I was busy taking pictures, thought he was on the phone, didn't think too much of it.

Then I heard him saying the same thing to other people, several times.
Finally it clicked: he was asking for money!

To my defence, first of all he didn't look homeless.
Secondly I just do not associate begging with Japan.

I was not sure how to react to it honestly, best to pretend to be a clueless foreigner and didn't understand Japanese....

What a strange experience!