Something I was keen to accomplish on my extended journey across Japan was to escape the well-trodden tourist trail, get away from the big urban centres and see some of the lesser known sites the country has to offer. Japan is well set up for domestic tourism so there’s plenty worth seeing and usually a convenient method of getting there, but because the sites begin to become a little more sparse, international tourists rarely visit them. It’s understandable of course. Once I left Kobe, the amount of foreign tourists I encountered, especially western ones, dropped off almost completely. I found this to be oddly thrilling, although it did also lead to an uptick in people frequently staring at me with naked curiosity. Which is fine but a little disconcerting sometimes. Just smile and wave…

After Kobe, Shikoku was where I was headed; Japan’s fourth largest and least visited island. Before arriving there though I wanted to stop by a few other places in Okayama prefecture that were on the way. The city of Okayama is home to a famous garden and a unique castle, conveniently located next to one another, so it merited a quick visit. The day I spent there it rained non-stop, which while on one hand is a bit of a pain, it also created an impossibly atmospheric moment in the Korakuen where I was sheltered in a rest house as rain fell all around me. I won’t soon forget it. The castle has earned the moniker “the crow’s nest” as the walls are painted black (unusual for Japan apparently) which definitely brings the drama.

The following morning I took the train down to Kurashiki, famous for its beautiful and traditional old town. Souvenir shops selling local handicrafts proliferate along the picturesque stone canal. I enjoyed a leisurely few hours strolling the streets and window shopping; the region is most well known for producing denim. I would have gladly bought a denim shirt here had it not cost over £100. So… I didn’t.

Unsurprisingly, to get to the island of Shikoku, I have to cross a bridge. Well, three bridges to be precise. Before I did that however, I wanted to get a good look at them as I knew that the view was supposed to be spectacular. Let’s skip the convoluted story of how I got myself to this obscure location and instead talk about the views. I spent an amazing couple of hours walking the trail between the 6 viewpoints at the Washuzan Observation Deck. The views were so good!! I was grinning ear to ear like a lunatic. I’ve never seen scenery like this, and it’s somewhere I’ve been looking forward to visiting for years. To actually be here felt like a triumph of all my planning and dedication.

After walking back to the train station, there was nothing to do but jump on and head to my next destination; Takamatsu, on Shikoku. Which, of course, is the subject of my next post. またね！