A Day in Okayama

Okayama surprised me. I only decided to stay there for a day thinking there is not much to do but of course I later regretted this. First of all, I did not expect a lively and bustling city probably because I was previously exploring the quiet countryside of Japan, I thought Okayama would be the same. I also learned that the eponymous character of the folk tale Momotaro originated here. And because I was in dire need of a new suitcase, I ended up buying it in Okayama and named it Momotaro!

Kurashiki

Here are the places I was able to visit in that brief period and my thoughts on them.

Kurashiki

After a quick train ride from the city centre of Okayama, I found myself in the quaint little town of Kurashiki. I wandered around the labyrinthine streets of the Bikan Historical quarter and walked far enough until I found the canal area, lined by lush willows and old storehouses transformed into adorable little museums and souvenir shops. Though the heat violently attacked my senses, and the harsh light made taking photographs particularly hard, the awe did not escape me. I left knowing I will be back again.

Korakuen

Having only a day, I could not linger long in Kurashiki. I eventually had to head back to the city where I ended up visiting Korakuen, a garden built in 1700 by the lord of Okayama. It felt like I was in the wrong century, that I have stumbled upon something that did not belong to our time. I could almost imagine feudal lords and ladies walking leisurely along the winding paths. The green landscape was an incredible sight especially when complimented by the soft golden light offered by the closing day. It lifted away the fatigue of the last few days. The name of the garden does not lie, "grieve earlier than others, be happy later than others."

Okayama Castle

From the garden you can see a view of the castle also called Crow Castle due to its black exterior. Though it's a reconstruction, its dark facade still felt oddly mysterious as if made to lure any unsuspecting wanderers seeking adventure. This is the land of Momotarou afterall!

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