Author: Linda

Castle Act 1 –  April 12, 2025 

  • Location:  Himeji – Day 1
  • Walk:  Himeji Castle
  • Weather:  50-60°/ mix of clouds and sun becoming cloudy, winds  10-15 mph 

OVERVIEW

WALK: 5m from Minshuku Marcuse to bus stop

BUS: 1h @ 7:55 on bus #3 arriving at Fukuyama Port @ 8:58 

FERRY: 2h @ 9:30 on Fukuyama Ferry to Himeji Port @11:00

BUS: 15m from Himeji Port to JR Himeji Train Station 

WALK: 10m from JR Himeji Train Station to Natural Hot Spring Dormy Inn Himeji

Himeji Castle is also known as “White Heron Castle” because it resembles a white heron taking off. I’m bouncing between places with swarms of foreigners and places with the random foreigners. I’m getting a more balanced view of Japan. Flashing news…Namiyo, Saburo, and I will rendezvous in Kyoto❤️.

Swarms of visitors.
Himeji Castle.
Himeji Castle at Cherry Blossom.
Linda in her travel uniform.

Niche –  April 11, 2025 

  • Location:  Shodo-shima Island – Day 2
  • Walk:  Kankakei Gorge & Olive Grove
  • Weather:  50-60°/ breaks of sun, light rain, winds  5-10 mph 

Olive production is a niche in Japan. A 6 1/2 ounce bottle of extra virgin olive oil costs $38. I’ll stick with Italian, Spanish or Portuguese.

Olive trees.
Olive trees and the Seto Island Sea.
So, which one is 100 years old?
Greek windmill as part of the olive grove. Go figure.

Gorge Downward –  April 11, 2025

  • Location:  Shodo-shima Island – Day 2
  • Walk:  Kankakei Gorge & Olive Grove
  • Weather:  50-60°/ breaks of sun, light rain, winds  5-10 mph 

The trail downward from Kankakei Gorge nicely balanced the breathtaking upward ride. Less show. More serenity.

Cherry Blossoms.
Walking the ridge.
Concrete switchbacks all the way down.
Camellia covered path.

24 Eyes –  April 10, 2025 

  • Location:  Shodo-shima Island – Day 1
  • Walk:  24 Eyes Movie Set
  • Weather:  55-65°/ chance of rain 5-10 mph 

Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village is an island attraction for cult film aficionados. A nice buzz about the village with equal number of period dwellings and trinkets shops. 

Street scene on movie set.
Retro movie theater admission counter.
Classroom set.
Canadian Ania helped pass the hours on the bus rides. We both had contemplated getting about the island more independently. She on a bike and me by foot. We realized what folly that was once we encountered the traffic.

Bus Schedule –  April 10, 2025 

  • Location:  Shodo-shima Island – Day 1
  • Walk:  24 Eyes Movie Set
  • Weather:  55-65°/ chance of rain 5-10 mph 

A true test of my travel skills was deciphering the Japanese island bus schedule. Perhaps the real test of my travel skills was riding the local bus 1 hour for 8 miles. 

Come fly with me. Ferry ride.
Only option if you don’t have a ferry ticket.
Lady in kimono paying bus fare
Namiyo turns the “dough” in the bowl and Saburo hammers it with similar mallet. This dish is annually prepared around New Year’s Day.

Kirashiki Streets –  April 9, 2025 

  • Location:  Okayama – Day 2
  • Walk:  Kirashiki
  • Weather:  50-70°/ partly cloudy, wind 15-25 mph

OVERVIEW

WALK: 10m from Hotel Best Grande Okayama to Okayama Station 

TRAIN: 30m from Okayama Station to Kirashiki 

WALK: 10m from Kirashiki Station to Historic Kirashiki District

TRAIN: 30m from Kirashiki Station to Okayama Station

WALK: 10m from Kirashiki Station to Hotel Best Grande Okayama 

Thirty minutes by train from Okayama is Kirashiki, a historic district that flourished from rice trade from 1600-1850’s. Canals were constructed between large warehouses to float rice to the port. Today the warehouses have become shops and eateries with a small peppering of period residents. 

Kirashiki.
View from a Kirashiki’s period residence.
Today’s lady in kimono.
Swarming tourists with phone or food in hand.