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!

 

[rbjhan]

Sunday

Going to Yamaguchi for the very first time, how exciting!

I booked the Hello Kitty Shinkansen

There's no mistaken the train!


Car 1 was the shop and some public space.






Re Hello Kitty Shinkansen
This is in fact just a normal service Kodama Shinkansen runs between Hakata and Shin Osaka one round trip per day. So as long as your timing works, you can book it like any other Shinkansen.
Kodama service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line has 8 cars, compared to Nozomi's 16. As it stops at every station it's not in high demand.
The Hello Kitty one uses a Series 500 train which is pretty old by Shinkansen standards.

This train will stop service 17 May! So glad I managed to catch it just in time.

https://www.jr-hellokittyshinkansen.jp/en/

 

[rbjhan]

Car 2 is the Hello Kitty! special non reserved seating car.


Luggage rack




TBH all the pink was a bit sensory overload
So I went back to my normal seats after 30 mins


Oh yes, there's no green car on the Kodama service now. So the old green car is being used as reserved seats, highly recommend!

I bought a crab ekiben.


Souvenirs

 

[rbjhan]

The reason I chose the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, well mainly because of the Kitty , but also I was going to Shin Iwakuni. This is a very small station and only Kodama stops here once per hour.

Generally local buses time their schedule to work with Shinkansen arrival/departures, not so in Shin Iwakuni!

Well, technically it still works but how? Let me tell you.
For Kodama 949, there's a 4 min gap between Shinkansen arrival and bus departure (this being Japan they will depart on time!) So if you REALLY hurry, like grab the luggage and run, and of course don't make any wrong turns...then you might catch the bus. Otherwise next one is in 30 mins time. Taxi? I saw some people queueing but no taxi....

Me being only one person and with a duffle bag, and more importantly knew beforehand about the 4 mins thingy, I made it. But as the bus was pulling away I saw people coming out of the station with their suitcases...

 

[rbjhan]

So why did I come to Shin Iwakuni?
To see Kintaikyo!
**Kyo is already bridge in Japanese, so don't say Kintaikyo Bridge... Or if you must, Kintai Bridge.

錦帯橋 Kintaikyo is a local landmark, commissioned by the Daimyo of Iwakuni in the 1600s. It stood till 1950 when a violent typhoon hit, as the bridge had not been maintained during the war. A precise reconstruction was completed in 1953.

The bridge is composed of five wooden arches on four stone piers, giving a rather unique look.




You must pay a fee of 310 Yen to walk across the bridge.


The surrounding area is also a famous Sakura spot. But I was one week too late.

 

[rbjhan]

Iwakuni Castle


There's a ropeway to go up.



The castle itself was not very interesting...it was a rebuilt.

But wonderful views on the top!



You can see the Seto Inland Sea in the distance.

 

[rbjhan]

Most visitors to Kintaikyo are day trippers.
I decided to stay here overnight, because I could??

The ryokan is maybe 2 mins away, this was taken on Kintaikyo.


Booked a single room, got upgraded to a twin.
**Mattresses here were like the extra extra firm variety
I know many Asians believe hard beds are good for your back, but is there any actual scientific proof of that??


With a balcony


And views of Kintaikyo!!

 

[rbjhan]

Lots of artwork on the walls, and they were all impressionism, not what I would expect to find in the Inaka!

 

[rbjhan]

Onsen was one of the main reasons I picked this ryokan.

Pictures all from their website ofc.
So there are two bath houses. Left one with views towards Kintaikyo! The one on the right can see Iwakuni Castle.


In the afternoon and evening, right side one is women's bath.




Next morning women's bath is the left side.


**Only problem is, when you are actually in the bath, views will be blocked by the bush

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner time!

Menu, Japanese only. I don't think they get many foreigners...


Starter


Soup was very tasty!


The menu just said Sashimi, oh boy was this the deluxe version or what!


Stew Mebaru.
Mebaru is a typicall fish in Spring.


Local Takamori Wagyu steak.


Fried Abalone


Rice dish was Kamameshi with clams.


Miso soup


Dessert.


10/10 for dinner!

 

[rbjhan]

Before retiring for the night, there's one more thing to do...

Ah you see, the Japanese love some fancy lighting, they call it ライトアップ Light Up (Don't get me start on Wasei-eigo or it would be a long rant...)

Kintaikyo being an important landmark, ofc there had to be some ライトアップ





Even the tickets use this angle! They must be so proud...


Can't say I'm a fan though

 

[Noah Count]

@rbjhan good to see you have ticked another of the 12 off. I have managed to get to them all however I may go back to Hirosaki at some point as when I went there it was in the temporary location while the foundations were being restored. I understand it will be moved back to its correct location later this year with further works in plan until around 2032.

Not a hijack but it seems like we have similar photos, I only added a few not all the ones I have.

 

[rbjhan]

@rbjhan good to see you have ticked another of the 12 off. I have managed to get to them all however I may go back to Hirosaki at some point as when I went there it was in the temporary location while the foundations were being restored. I understand it will be moved back to its correct location later this year with further works in plan until around 2032.

Not a hijack but it seems like we have similar photos, I only added a few not all the ones I have.

View attachment 505421View attachment 505425View attachment 505424View attachment 505422View attachment 505423

Lovely to see people have similar interest! This is niche I know

Yeah I have Maruoka in my Nov 26 plans as we will be in Hokuriku for a few days. Right now the plan is to stay one night in Fukui so I can visit the castle and eat some crab!

April 27 I want to go back to Shimanami Kaido, this time doing it from Imabari. And a whole loop of Shikoku afterwards, so the other 3 can be done.

Hirosaki I'm waiting for it to be moved back, as you know.

 

[Noah Count]

Lovely to see people have similar interest! This is niche I know

Yeah I have Maruoka in my Nov 26 plans as we will be in Hokuriku for a few days. Right now the plan is to stay one night in Fukui so I can visit the castle and eat some crab!

April 27 I want to go back to Shimanami Kaido, this time doing it from Imabari. And a whole loop of Shikoku afterwards, so the other 3 can be done.

Hirosaki I'm waiting for it to be moved back, as you know.

For Maruoka, IMO this was most likely the one that is most out of the way. There is a bus that runs between Fukui and Maruoka, due to time I used a cab to get from Fukui to Maruoka and caught the bus back. Not a spoiler but if you do not like step stairs Maruoka was is in another league but there are not a lot of them, from memory 2 sets to get to the top.

 

[rbjhan]

For Maruoka, IMO this was most likely the one that is most out of the way. There is a bus that runs between Fukui and Maruoka, due to time I used a cab to get from Fukui to Maruoka and caught the bus back. Not a spoiler but if you do not like step stairs Maruoka was is in another league but there are not a lot of them, from memory 2 sets to get to the top.

View attachment 505435View attachment 505434

There's a train station called Maruoka - I think it's the local private rail company.
From there a cab (or the bus if timing works) will probably do.

Looks like one per hour except peak time...