Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 - Bitchu Takahashi JR Station 備中高梁駅, Takahashi City Library 高梁市図書館

Bitchu Takahashi JR Station 備中高梁駅, located in Okayama Prefecture, is a train station on Hakubi line (伯備線). The most symbolic landmark of Takahashi city is undoubtedly Bicchu Matsuyama Castle 備中松山城, one of the rare mountain castles in Japan. Having said that, the initial pulling factor for me to visit this city located northwest of Okayama city, was not the historic castle but its train station!

Limited express trains serving this train station include:
(1) Ltd Exp Yakumo やくも, commutes along Hakubin line and San'in main line, between Okayama and Izumo. The train ride takes slightly over 30 minutes from Okayama to Bitchu Takahashi.
(2) Ltd Exp Sunrise Izumo サンライズ出雲, an overnight sleeper train which commutes between Tokyo and Izumo.

What's nearby?

(1) Takahashi City Library 高梁市図書館, located within the train station.
Opening hrs: 0900 - 2100 hrs

Objective achieved! The library building was the aim of my visit to Takahashi city. Caught sight of this modern looking building which stood out in the suburb while I was on board Limited Express Yakumo. Started to research on the name of this train station and eventually made up my mind to pay this place a visit just before heading back to Singapore. The library spans over three storey and is connected seamlessly to the train station. Upon entering the library, you will first see the tourist information center on the left and Starbucks on the right. Love the overall outlook of the library - the spacious concept creates a conducive environment for spending an entire day here reading a favourite book. For those who have been to Takeo City Library 武雄市図書館 in Saga Prefecture, this place will breed familiarity. In fact, Takahashi City Library was a collaboration between Takahashi City and Culture Convenience Club Company (known as CCC in short), the same company behind the successful revamp of Takeo City Library.
https://takahashi.city-library.jp/library/

(2) Tsutaya 蔦屋 and Starbucks スターバックス, located within the train station.
A section of the library is dedicated to Tsutaya, a local bookstore chain managed by CCC, and Starbucks. What I like most about the overall design of the library, bookstore, cafe and tourist information center is its open concept in which the various sections are not separated by dividers/walls, therefore promoting collaboration. One of the most appealing design which has become the center of attraction in this building is the towering wall bookshelves in the dining area - you cannot help but want to take a photo of this spot before heading further into the library!
https://www.starbucks.co.jp/store/search/detail.php?id=2086

(3) Tourist Information Center 高梁市観光案内所, located within the train station.
https://takahashi.city-library.jp/library/access#kanko_annai
Opening hrs: 0900 - 1700 hrs

Group taxi. There is an affordable and convenient group taxi service which tourists can make use to visit Bitchu Matsuyama Castle. For a one way fee of 500 yen, the taxi departs from the train station to Fuigo toge ふいご峠 and it takes another 25 minutes walk to reach the Tenshukaku (keep tower) of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle. However, a prior reservation via phone call is required/recommended to secure this service. I tried my luck to make a reservation on the spot and fortunately was able to get the earliest 0950 hrs slot. Similarly, I utilised the same taxi service which departed at 1140 hrs from Fuigotoke to return to the train station.

• Bitchu Takahashi JR Station > Fuigo toge: 0950, 1120, 1250, 1420 hrs
• Fuigo toge > Bitchu Takahashi JR Station: 1140, 1310, 1440, 1610 hrs

Another popular activity here is Unkai 雲海 (or sea of clouds) viewing of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle. A similar group taxi service is available between October and March to ferry visitors from the train station to Unkai Observatory 雲海展望台. Cost 1,500 yen for a round trip, there are two available timing per day (0730 and 0800 hrs) during its operational period and prior reservation is also required to utilise this service.

(4) Raikyuji 頼久寺, about 15 mins walk from the train station.

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 - Raikuji 頼久寺

Visited 20.11.2017 (Mon)

Origin. After visiting Bicchu Matauyama Castle, I requested to be dropped off at Raikyuji on the return journey back to Bicchu Takahashi Station 備中高梁駅. The origin of Raikyuji traces all the way back to the 14th century. Though the exact date when Raikyuji was built is not particularly clear, it was known to belong to Eigenji, one of 14 autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism. It was rebuilt in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji 足利尊氏, the first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate (1336–1573) and the temple was named Ankokuji 安国寺. In 1504, Ueno Yorihisa (Raikyu), the lord of Bicchu Matsuyama Castle, renewed the exterior of the temple. After his death, the temple was renamed Ankoku Raikyuji in honour of him.

Zen. When I first saw the photos depicting the garden in Raikyuji online, I knew I have to pay this place a visit. Even though the garden only occupies a small section of the entire compound, it is a true gem of the temple. For me, I spent most of my stay here sitting at the edge of the porch, admiring this immaculate landscape while sorting out my thoughts and reviving the inner balance in me. In fact, the therapeutic effect derived from viewing at such harmonised scenery has always been recognised by people of the past. Such landscape of the garden is known as "Horai" style which means spiritual peacefulness and harmony is derived when viewing it. This elegantly composed rock garden comprised of two low hills of stones protruding out from the beautifully raked sand covered ground which represent the water ripples. The well pruned bushes of azalea on the left side represents the undulating waves in the sea. The time of my visit was also just right as the garden was already decorated by some autumn foliage, a scene that is unique to this season. All in all, Raikyuji is definitely an attractive place worthy of a visit in Takahashi city.

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Raikuji 頼久寺
〒716-0016 岡山県高梁市頼久寺町18
Operating hours: 0900 - 1700 hrs
Entrance fee = 300 yen
http://raikyuji.com/

How to get there?

(1) By foot. About 15 minutes walk from Bicchu Takahashi JR Station 備中高梁駅.

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Okayama 岡山県 - Day 15: Takahashi-shi 高梁市, Okayama-shi 岡山市

Day 15: 20.11.2017 (Mon)

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Okayama Eki Nishi-guchi Hiroba 東横INN岡山駅西口広場

Okayama JR 岡山駅 (0804 hrs) > Bitchu Takahashi JR 備中高梁駅 (0839 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Yakumo やくも 3. [1,560 yen]

Bitchu Takahashi JR 備中高梁駅 (0950 hrs) > Fuigo Touge ふいご峠
🚖 by shared taxi. [500 yen]

Visited Bicchu Matsuyama Castle 備中松山城. [300 yen]
http://www.city.takahashi.okayama.jp/soshiki/9/shiro4240131.html

Fuigo Touge ふいご峠 (1140 hrs) > Raikyuji 頼久寺
🚖 by shared taxi. [500 yen]

Visited Raikyuji 頼久寺. [300 yen]
http://raikyuji.com/

Visited Takahashi City Library 高梁市図書館.
https://takahashi.city-library.jp/library/

Bitchu Takahashi JR 備中高梁駅 (1301 hrs) > Okayama JR 岡山駅 (1338 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Yakumo やくも 14. [1,560 yen]

Lunch: Cafe Honmachi 喫茶 ほんまち

Okayama JR Station West Exit Bus Stop 21 (1540 hrs) > Okayama Airport 岡山空港 (1610 hrs)
🚍 by bus. [760 yen]
https://www.okayama-airport.org/access/bus

Okayama Airport 岡山空港 (1830 hrs) > Haneda Airport Terminal 1 羽田空港第１ビル (1940 hrs)
✈ by JL242.

Haneda International Airport 羽田空港 (0005 hrs) > Singapore Changi Airport シンガポール・チャンギ国際空港 (0645 hrs)
✈ by JL35.

- End of Japan Nov 2017 trip - 

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Day 7 Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park 鳥取花回廊, Adachi Museum of Art 足立美術館

Day 7: 22.04.2015 (Wed)
* Day 7 of 7 Days Sanyo & San'in Area Pass

Tottori Hanakairo. Background: Mt Daisen.

Breakfast: Kai Izumo 界 出雲

Kai Izumo > Tamatsukuri Onsen JR 玉造温泉駅
by taxi. [850 yen]

Tamatsukuri Onsen JR 玉造温泉駅 (0851 hrs) > Yonago JR 米子駅 (0921 hrs)
by Yakumo 10.

Yonago JR Station Bus Stop (0930 hrs) > Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park 鳥取花回廊 (0955 hrs)
by free shuttle bus.

Visited Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park 鳥取花回廊. [500 yen, discounted price for foreigners]
http://www.tottorihanakairou.or.jp/

Lunch: Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park 鳥取花回廊.

Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park 鳥取花回廊 (1230 hrs) > Yonago JR Station Bus Stop (1255 hrs)
by free shuttle bus.

Yonago JR Station Bus Stop (1315 hrs) > Adachi Museum of Art 足立美術館 (1352 hrs)
by free shuttle bus. *16.04.2017 update: Free shuttle bus departing from Yonago JR Station to Adachi Museum of Art has ceased. Free shuttle bus departing from Yasugi JR Station is still in operation.

Adachi Museum of Art

Visited Adachi Museum of Art 足立美術館. [1,150 yen; discounted price for foreigners]
https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/

Adachi Museum of Art 足立美術館 (1550 hrs) > Yasugi JR Bus Stop (1610 hrs)
by free shuttle bus.

Yasugi JR 安来駅 (1618 hrs) > Okayama JR 岡山駅 (1838 hrs)
by Yakumo やくも 24.

Collected luggage from Toyoko Inn Okayama Eki Nishi Guchi Hiroba 東横イン岡山駅西口広場.

Okayama JR 岡山駅 (1912 hrs) > Hiroshima JR 広島駅 (1952 hrs)
by Sakura さくら 571.

Dinner: Ekiben on board train.

Checked in: Hotel Flex ホテルフレック
http://www.hotel-flex.co.jp/english/

Dessert: Cafe 43

- End of Day 7 -

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Cafe Honmachi 喫茶ほんまち

Visited 17.04.2015

Right: Cafe Honmachi is loacted on the second floor.

Was flipping through this local magazine featuring the sights, sounds and food in Okayama when I was in Cafe Antenna on Day 1. A picture of an adorable latte art from one cafe caught my attention and sparked my interest to pay this cafe a visit if time permits on the next 3 days. The cafe is not remotely located, in fact just nearby Okayama JR Station.

Managed to fork out some time on Day 2 night to visit this cafe after a day trip to Kurashiki. With the help of GPS, we came to a row of shop houses but could not spot any prominent sign board from the cafe. After walking up and down that same row of shop houses at least once, my eye finally caught sight of this small board supported on a stool. This board was placed just in front of the flight of stairs leading to the second floor of a shop house unit - and yes, that was Cafe Honmachi's. For a moment, I hesitated whether I should go up because it fell short of my expectation in terms of appearance. Crossed my fingers and made my way up in the end.

Place was small with only one person attending to the entire cafe. Cafe could only occupy less than 15 diners - 2 to 3 small tables, some seats faced the window and wall and a few counter seats. The cafe allows diners to smoke, therefore the lingering tobacco smell in the enclosure could be uncomfortable for non-smokers (including us). With the thought that we would only just stay here for a short while and happened that there was a table (facing the wall) available, we decided to settle down and put up with the smell.

Delicious club sandwiches!

Cafe serves light snacks, drinks and desserts. Ordered two different types of club sandwiches and drinks to go with the food. Took some time for the food and drinks to come as he had to take on multiple roles - the waiter, barista, cook and cashier, yet still maintains his composure and control food quality as he completes the orders in a comfortable way. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes, tender chicken and moist scrambled eggs stuffed between fragrant black sesame toasts - loved how the various flavours came together harmoniously and this is definitely one of the best sandwiches I have eaten in my life. The BLT was equally good, with that pinch of heat (black pepper) emerged in the mouth as you take a bite into the sandwich.

Coffee was the main reason that brought me here and I must say it did not disappoint at all. Mocha, served in delicate English cups and saucer, came with a very nice latte art depicting a rabbit holding a heart, which will definitely bring a smile to any diner who receives the drink. Not only the cup of mocha looked nice, it tasted very good as well - very smooth and well-balanced in all aspects.

My cup of cafe mocha.

All the positive critics that I have gathered on the food and drinks diverted my attention away from the disturbing tobacco smell lingering in my surrounding. Glad to have come to this place after all! 

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Cafe Honmachi 喫茶 ほんまち
岡山県 岡山市北区 本町 2-22 錦ビル 2F
Opening hrs: 1100 - 2400 hrs (Last order: 2300 hrs)
Approx 3 mins walk from Okayama JR Station

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Momotaro no Karakuri Museum 桃太郎のからくり博物館

Visited 17.04.2015 (Fri)

Story of Momotaro. The story of Momotaro, a famous Japanese folktale, is said to have originated from Okayama. I actually do recall watching cartoons (and even movie) adapted from the story of Momotaro when I was a child. It was about a kid who was born out of a gigantic peach and therefore named Momotaro and his heroic act to save villagers from ogres that were plaguing their homeland. In Okayama Prefecture, you can find Momotaro represented in various forms of media; the most prominent one being the statue located just in front of Okayama JR Station. A museum dedicated to this legendary folktale resides in Kurashiki city, within the Bikan district. Made our way here after the canal boat ride to relive our childhood memories of Momotaro.

Side notes:
- Found out later that the movie I watched when I was a kid was a Mandarin movie named "The Child of Peach" produced in Taiwan and was first screened in 1987.
- An excellent pictorial representation of the folktale: https://www.okayama-japan.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/momotaro_en.pdf

Trick eye. Occupying a two storey traditional storehouse, Momotaro no Karakuri Museum actually appeals more to the younger audience. Upon entering the museum, a staff led us through the game facilities set up at various corners of the room, explaining/demonstrating to us how the games should be played. To me, the place felt like a mini trick eye museum, where most of them are visual illusion games. Apart from that, the museum also displayed an extensive collection of books, pictures, videos, toys featuring Momotaro that were published/produced over the years. Here, you can find books translated into numerous languages which are and can be enjoyed by/passed down to future generations. There is a mini theatre where visitors can sit down to enjoy nostalgic cartoons on the adventures of Momotaro and his comrades.

Regardless of age, I am pretty sure you will be amused by the visual illusion games played here!

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Momotaro no Karakuri Museum 桃太郎のからくり博物館
倉敷市本町5-11
Operating hours: 1000 - 1700 hrs
Entrance fee = 600 yen
https://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/see/193/

How to get there? 

(1) By foot. Museum is located within Kurashiki Bikan district 倉敷美観地区; approximately 10 minutes walk from Kurashiki JR Station.

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Miyake Shouten 三宅商店

Visited 17.04.2015 (Fri)

Sense of nostalgia. Located in Kurashiki Bikan District (倉敷美観地区), Miyake Shouten was built in the later years of Edo period and was once a sundry shop. Now it has been converted into a cafe with most of its original features retained/preserved. Upon stepping into Miyake Shouten, you will be greeted by a strong nostalgic ambience within the cafe. Aged wooden structures and furnishing, elevated platform with low tables and cushions as seats, these are some features are typically seen in traditional Japanese houses. Also noticed that there was a table located at the end of the house which looked outwards to a small garden compound - a good hideout to hang out with friends over a meal or drink.

Curry rice & parfait paradise. For lunch, Miyake Shouten serves only curry rice as their main course. The set comprises of curry, cooked using seasonal ingredients, served with brown rice, tsukemono (pickles) and soup. Curry gravy was very flavourful and moderately spicy, accompanied with greens, slices of potato and fried lotus root and all of us like it a lot. We ordered the curry set (available on weekdays) which came with a small dessert and drink (coffee/tea). Dessert served on the day of my visit was chiffon cake and a scoop of ice-cream, which was an extremely satisfying way to wrap up the entire lunch course. If you are a parfait lover, you will not want to miss their exciting line-up of flavours offered all year round! Okayama Prefecture being a kingdom of fruits, the parfaits in Miyake Shouten are created using seasonal fruits and will definitely satisfy any sweet tooth.

Washi tape fever! Anyone here is a fan of scrapbooking? If you are, MT washi tape will surely be found in your toolkit. During my spare time, I do some simple scrap booking and washi tape has always been such an easy-to-use material for any of my scrap booking project. In fact, Kurashiki is where MT washi tape originated from! In Miyake Shouten, there is a corner dedicated to these washi tape and the collection which is put up for sale here will make any washi tape lovers spoilt for choice. Having said that, there are actually many other shops in Kurashiki Bikan District which carry this brand of washi tape, so do keep a lookout for them as well while spending a leisure afternoon strolling in this area.

Look at the collection of MT washi tape!

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Miyake Shouten 三宅商店
岡山県倉敷市本町3-11
Opening hrs: http://www.miyakeshouten.com/access/index.html
About 10 mins walk from Kurashiki JR Station.
http://www.miyakeshouten.com/

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Kurashiki Bikan Chiku 倉敷美観地区, Kurashiki River Boat Ride くらしき川舟流し

Visited 17.04.2015 (Fri)

Nostalgia. Kurashiki Bikan Chiku or Historical Quarter 倉敷美観地区 is a national historical preservation district and a sense of nostalgia hits you instantaneously upon stepping foot into this well preserved town. During the Edo Period (300 years ago), this area flourished as a merchant's quarter where goods/commodities trading took place. The town is made up a narrow canal with distinct white walls warehouses and merchants' houses lined up on both sides. Though the bustling scene of river boats crowding on the canal, merchants engaging in their trade and workers transferring goods from one place to another is no longer in existence, the restored shop houses and warehouses are now occupied by ryokans, shops, cafes, restaurants, bank and tourist information center, and continue to play an essential role to showcase how life has been in the past for many future generations to come. Spent an afternoon here; strolling along the sides of the waterway, stopped by the specialty shops housed in the charming refurbished houses every now and then, and eventually joined a river boat tour to wrap up my fruitful expedition of the historical quarter.

Kurashiki River.

One distinct feature of the buildings here in Kurashiki is the white coloured walls. Bottom right: Beautiful stained glass windows of Chugoku Bank.

Top right: Ohara Museum of Art; Bottom right: The wooden, western style building was originally Kurashiki Town Hall. Now it has been converted into a tourist information center. 

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Highlights

(1) Kurashiki River Boat Tour くらしき川舟流し
Operating hrs: 0930 - 1700 hrs, one river boat setting off every 30 minutes.
Boat fee = 500 yen
Disembarkation / embarkation point: Nakabashi 中橋, near Kurashiki-kan 倉敷館
https://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/see/3598/

One of the best way to walk down the memory lane in Kurashiki is to hop onto a leisure boat tour of Kurashiki River, which was once packed with incoming and outgoing boats ferrying goods in the olden days. The boat transverses between Takasagobashi 高砂橋 and Imabashi 今橋, and the entire tour takes approx 20 minutes. The last time when I embarked on a similar river boat ride was the river punting along the canal of Yanagawa city in Fukuoka Prefecture. Kurashiki's version is less than half of the distance covered in Yanagawa, and the boat only goes beneath one bridge (Nakabashi) during the journey. As the boat gradually moved through the calm waters, passengers can admire the white walls houses neatly lined up on the sides of the canal, imagining how lively and busy the town had been in the past.

(2) Kurashiki Ivy Square 倉敷アイビースクエア
https://www.ivysquare.co.jp/

One instagram worthy spot not to be missed is hidden within this compound. Do keep a look out for the picturesque, ivy covered red brick walls in this former cotton mill, which has been converted into a multi purpose public space comprising of hotel, restaurants and souvenir shops. During autumn, the creepers transform into various shades of red, further elevating its allure and attractiveness.



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Kurashiki Bikan Chiku / Bikan Historical Quarter 倉敷美観地区



How to get there? 

(1) By foot. It takes approx 15 minutes walk from Kurashiki JR Station.

Commemorative stamp: 

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Kurashiki JR Station 倉敷駅

Kurashiki JR Station, on Sanyo main line served by both local and limited express trains. From Okayama, it takes about 18 mins to travel by local train to Kurashiki, which is most well known for its Bikan Historical Quarter (倉敷美観地区).

Top right: South Exit; Bottom right: North Exit.

Do take note that Shin Kurashiki and Kurashiki are two different train stations. Shin Kurashiki JR Station, which was formerly called Tamashima, is served by both Sanyo Shinkansen and Sanyo main line, and is two stops away from Kurashiki JR Station on Sanyo main line. Alight at Shin Kurashiki JR Station for places of interest in Tamashima area such as Entsuji Temple (円通寺) and Nakagai-cho (仲買町). Visitors making their way to Bikan Historical Quarter should alight at Kurashiki JR Station.

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What's nearby?

(1) Ario Shopping Mall and Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki, about 1 - 3 mins walk from the North Exit of train station. 

Decided to see what the West Exit has to offer after returning to the train station since it was still early. There are two shopping malls; Ario is connected to Kurashiki Station by an overhead pedestrian bridge and houses a good variety of tenants such as ABC Mart, Beams, LOFT, Tower Records, etc. 

I was once a fan of factory outlet  because of the occasional attractive bargains for off-season items. On my maiden trip to Japan in 2011, I went to both Gotemba Premium Outlets and Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari and I was extremely exhausted by my ambitious shopping itinerary (and I made a mental note not to do it again). Dropped by Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki since it was just in the vicinity. Similar concept like other conventional outlet parks where familiar names such as Gap, Beams, Nike, Adidas. Puma, etc are found here. However, Kurashiki's version lacks luxury brands tenants (like Coach, Agnes b, Burberry, Kate Spade, etc) which I have come across and may make here a less attractive place for shoppers to visit.
- Ario Kurashiki アリオ倉敷: http://www.ario-kurashiki.jp/web/index.html
- Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki 三井アウトレットパーク 倉敷: http://www.31op.com/kurashiki/english/

(2) Kurashiki Ekimae Tourist Information Office 倉敷駅前観光案内所
The tourist information office is located on the second floor of Kurashiki City Plaza West Building (倉敷市役所), which come into sight on the right upon exit from the South Exit.

(3) Sun Station Terrace Kurashiki さんすて倉敷, a small scale shopping mall housed within the train station.
http://kurashikieki-sc.jp/

Entrance to Bikan Historical Quarter.

(4) Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 倉敷美観地区, about 10 mins walk from the South Exit of train station.