2015 Golden Week travel from Miyajima to Awaji④

2015/05/03 - 2015/05/06

After leaving Konpirasan, we headed to Kurashiki. I chose this place because of it on the way to Himeji and nice old town. We stayed there a night and went to the final destination Awaji after Himeji castle.

エリア 岡山

• 同行者: カップル・夫婦
• 交通手段: レンタカー
• 旅行の手配内容: 個別手配

We went through the highway and took Seto Bridge. For my job, I attended the Uzushio (whirling waves) cruise for customers and saw this big bridge from on the sea. It is a bit different impression from there.

We stayed in the Kurashiki Ivy square. I had only choice for the accommodation in Kurashiki with reasonable price when I tried to find the hotel there in April. I did not know that I booked the room without shower! Sorry, my hus! He is Swiss and a bit uncomfortable to take public bath... But tant pis! Room was a little bit old style. I could stand it to think of Westin Hotel Awaji tomorrow... Anyway only for sleep.

They restored the old houses and use for souvenir shops and cafes. We had a impression of amusement park a bit (for tourist), but still see nice view a lot.

The view with refined taste with nice evening light.

They offered the little boat trip too, but at that day, it was already sold out.

The evening view with Nakabashi, built in 1887.

There were many nice buildings along the Kurashiki river.

We thought that the boat might go under the small bridge (or expected) but it just turned and back. A bit disappointing:P

It is not Morizo (you know the character from Nagoya expo?), but the cafe "EL GRECO", the next to the famous Ohara Museum. Ivy sway with the wind and it makes funny looks.

Ohara Museum looks like greek style building, heavy impression. We did not have time to see it. I did not know anything and first I should check what they have maybe.

We bought souvenirs in "Setouchian", nice stylish shop for the food from this area. We got bottles of Oyster miso (beans paste) and Oyster senbei (savory cookies). Yes, we love the oyster!

It is Kaki miso dip (beans paste with oyster taste), they have 2 sizes and small one is only 420yen. We bought for ourselves too, and I am looking forward to taste it.

I like to take photo of stained glass and there was a nice one on the bank building, Chugoku Bank. My husband thought Chugoku was China, no no no, I explained, also this area was called as Chugoku area in Japan.

We tried to find the place for dinner but many restaurants were already full... we walked a little bit close to Ivy Square and found an Izakaya , "Tosen", available at last.

First, they served an appetizer (Otoshi), it was scallop and jerry fish tasted with sea weed. My husband did not want to believe jerry fish as food, and struggled to eat them. I asked the chef what it is recommendation here, and he laughed and said Sawara (spanish mackerel) or Tako (Octopus), well, octopus was not our favorite and chose Sawara sashimi. It was a rich and oily, taste was excellent!

I found dried "Mamakari" fish in some souvenir shop and thought that it might be their speciality. They have marinated Mamakari and surely I ordered. It taste like herring and good with Japanese sake.

Super dry! Not Asahi beer. It is made in Kurashiki, good combination with Japanese food.

The front of Tosen. I notice now, even shop curtain with fish drawing!

In front of Yumiko Igarashi Museum (comic writer). Who?? Sorry, my a bit drunken husband... not cute as Candy Candy.

I could not chose the staying plan with breakfast, and we checked out after 8am and had breakfast in Saint Marc Bakery. I chose Egg Benedict with soup and salad. Yammy!