My Japan: Kobe & Osaka

We left Okayama by shinkasen to Shin-Kobe, where SH's good friend Kumiko came to fetch us in her car at the eki. Kumiko and SH were university mates in the 70's when SH was in Japan on a Mombusho scholarship.

In Kobe, Kumiko first took us to the oldest mosque in Japan, for our prayers. This mosque was built in1935, in the traditional Turkish style by a Czech architect Jan Josef Svagr. It is located in the Kitano-cho foreign district of Kobe.

The Kobe Mosque (CNB 2012)

Interior of the Kobe Mosque (CNB 2012)

With Kumiko in front of the Kobe Mosque (SH 2012)

We had lunch at the Naan Inn nearby, where we had mutton curry with (Japanese) rice and naan, plus salad and samosas. International cuisine is available in all the cities of Japan and so one can indulge in any, apart from local Japanese food. (But I think that one should partake of the local cuisine at every opportunity - food is always more oishii in its own/home country).

We have lunch at the Naan Inn (2012)

'Peace' from the waitress at Naan Inn (CNB 2012)

Kumiko then drove us to Kobe Daigaku (university) where she and SH had studied before. It was nice to see them both happy to reminisce about their alma mater and Kobe, and how it was then, especially before the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 (I do remember seeing pictures in the papers, particularly of the elevated expressway that toppled over).

Kobe Daigaku is a national university and located beside the foothills of Mt. Rokko. From the campus, this port city of Kobe is visible from a distance. Today Kobe is home to 18 public and private universities. The city is associated with cosmopolitanism and fashion. I read somewhere that there is a Japanese phrase, 'If you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe'! Ooh la la!

The main building of Kobe Daigaku (CNB 2012)

Kumiko & SH  (CNB 2012)

A distant view of Kobe from the campus grounds (CNB 2012)

Kumiko, who used to do show jumping, then invited us to feed some horses at the campus stables. While doing this, I realised what huge, beautiful eyes horses have. But all too soon we had to leave them because Kumiko wanted us to see a bit of Osaka before we took the train (JR Sakura Super Express) again to Kyoto in the evening from Osaka-eki.

My... what big eyes you have! (CNB 2012)

Kumiko feeds the horses (CNB 2012)

Posing with a horse and a Kobe Daigaku student
(KT 2012)

From Kobe to Osaka, it was a half hour drive away. We managed to be in Osaka just before the sunset, and so caught passing glimpses of the Osaka skyline in the dusk. I remember we crossed many bridges to get there.

Crossing one of many bridges on our way to Osaka (CNB 2012)

Osaka thoroughfare in the evening (CNB 2012)

Osaka is Japan's third largest city with many attractions, but we were too late to visit any, though we did get an inkling of its shopping malls. Kumiko took us into the Q's Mall, Abeno Market Mall and The Loft. I did note that some of the outlets in these malls had 'curious' names - 'Soup' for a clothes boutique? There was also Ciaopanic Typy, LuLuLuniy, Discoat, Aimerfeel. Huh?

'Soup' boutique at Q's Mall (CNB 2012)

Flowers for Mother's Day start early in an Osaka depato
(CNB 2012)

Here in Osaka (at Q's mall), Kumiko also introduced us to 'shadow art', a craft she is skilled at. She showed us some exquisite pieces she had made, and later we were guided into making our very own 'masterpieces'. Below is mine! Arigato, Kumiko san!

My shadow art piece - sorry though, this photo does
not really do justice to the artwork (CNB 2012)

3-12 April 2012

My Japan: Kurashiki

Kurashiki is a city in the Okayama Prefecture and only 15 minutes from the JR Okayama station. Kurashiki has an arts district/historical quarter that bring international art and Japanese traditional crafts in a beautiful setting.

A bicycle park building at the Kurashiki train station (CNB 2012)

Kurashiki's floral clock (CNB 2012)

Kurashiki Museum Street (CNB 2012)

A side street off Museum Street (CNB 2012)

Historically during feudal times, Kurashiki's affairs were administrated directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo (present-day Tokyo). During this Edo period Kurashiki was a central collection and storage site for the shogun's taxes and tribute - in rice. Many stone rice warehouses (kura) were clustered around willow-lined canals, hence the town's name. Today the 17th century granaries/rice warehouses, with their distinct white walls set with dark black tiles and capped with black tile roofs have been preserved/restored. Together with Meiji-era factories, homes of samurai and wealthy merchants, these have been converted into museums, craft shops, and art galleries.

The traditional buildings and pedestrianised streets (CNB 2012)

A bride in traditional setting (CNB 2012)

A kimono-clad lady in Kurashiki (CNB 2012)

Kurashiki's preservation has been attributed to Ohara, whose family's textile mills were the main source of employment in the town during the Meiji period when rice taxes were replaced by cash and so rendering the rice warehouses redundant. (If I have sounded like a brochure on Kurashiki, I have actually gleaned some for the information here.)

Kurashiki architecture - what used to be a warehouse (CNB 2012)

On the bridge to more restored warehouses (SH 2012)

Walking around in the Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter was a great pleasure. The streets around the willow-lined canals look very much like they did during the town's cultural and economic zenith in the 18th century.

A tranquil setting along the canal (CNB 2012)

A bridal couple walk along a stone bridge (CNB 2012)

The photographer groom being photographed!
(CNB 2012)

Due to constraints of time, we did not have the opportunity to visit any of the art/folk museums but we did stop by a very cosy coffee house for tea/ocha and came away with some authentic 'Made in Japan' souvenirs from some of the many craft shops in the Kurashiki historical quarter.

The amiable coffee house proprietor Tazuko (CNB 2012)

My green ocha or matcha in a pretty daffodil cup (CNB 2012)

Assuredly  'Made in Japan' crafts (CNB 2012)

Cheerful pansies in a Kurashiki  Street (CNB 2012)

3-12 April 2012

My Japan: Okayama

Okayama City was formed as the castle town of Okayama Castle built some 400 years ago. Today it is the capital of the Okayama Prefecture. While here, we stayed at the Toyoko Inn, rather near the train station. In fact, from the balcony, we were able to watch the trains trundle past.

On the main street of Okayama City are many sculptures including that of the 'peach boy' Momotaro and the animals associated with him. Legend has it that a childless couple found a big peach in which was this little boy who then grew up to fight ogres. Momotaro is a symbol of the city and Momotaro festivals are held every year in Summer and Autumn.

Peach boy Momotaro on the main road of
Okayama City (CNB 2012)

'Peace' from the city of Okayama (CNB 2012)

A street car (tram) station in Okayama City (CNB 2012)

The major attractions of Okayama are the Castle, of course, and the famed Korakuen Gardens. The city has a culture zone with museums, cultural centres and halls, also the prefectural library.

The Okayama Symphony Hall (CNB 2012)

Korakuen is one of three most beautiful gardens in Japan. It was initiated by the feudal lord Ikeda Tsunamasa in 1687 and was completed in 1700. It has retained most of its original appearance till today. The Garden was open to the public in 1884 when ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture.

A view of Korakuen (CNB 2012)

Another view of Korakuen (CNB 2012)

'The Garden was designed in the Kaiyu (scenic promenade) style which presents the visitor with a new view at every turn of the path which connects the vast lawns, ponds, hills, tea houses and streams.' The Garden also incorporates groves of  ume (plum), maple, sakura (cherry) and fields of rice and tea.

'Peace' from Yoshiko, the lady manning a little souvenir stall
 at Korakuen. Behind her are the tea bushes. (CNB 2012)

Close-up of sakura at Korakuen (CNB 2012)

The sakura grove at Korakuen (CNB 2012)

Another interesting feature of Korakuen are a number of tancho, Japanese cranes (or red-crowned cranes) housed in an aviary. But they proved camera-shy and it was difficult to get a good shot of these birds, which are among the largest and rarest of cranes. I found out later that on special occasions, these revered birds, symbols of luck, longevity and fidelity, are allowed to roam free in the Garden.

The shy cranes of Korakuen (CNB 2012)

While there in the Garden, we came across a few hanami parties under the cherry trees, also a couple ... of bridal couples posing in their best wedding attire - the beautiful traditional kimono, no less! So we also took the opportunity to snap away, when they posed for their official photographers! Spring does seem to be the wedding season in Japan.

Submit, oh new husband, or else! (CNB 2012)

A more amiable pose by a second couple (CNB 2012)

The blushing bride in Spring (CNB 2012)

Okayama Castle is called the 'Crow Castle' because of the black colour of its weatherboarding. From Korakuen, we crossed the Tsukimi Bridge to approach the Castle. But we only took photos from the outside because all the walking in the garden had worn some of us out.

Sakura trees just outside Korakuen (2012)

Okayama Castle (CNB 2012)

A couple and their beautiful dog oblige for my camera as
we walk across this bridge towards the castle. Dogs and
all animals are well-loved in Japan (CNB 2012)

Mum and child under a weeping cherry tree in
a park in Okayama City - arigato for the pose!
(CNB 2012)

For dinner on the first night we were in Okayama, we walked around and found an eatery nearby. We liked the ambience, the food was oishii (delicious), and so returned to the Dang Dang Batake for dinner the next day too.

'Peace' from Chef Kinoshita (CNB 2012)

My first night dinner of seafood tempura (2012)

My second night dinner of rice with grilled fish (CNB 2012)

Plus this really 'delish' salad (CNB 2012)

We also had yellow Chinese chives - a specialty of Okayama
(CNB 2012)

Also among the specialty foods of Okayama are Kibi Dango dumplings (sticky and sweet with a variety of flavours) and are popular souvenirs because they are associated with the Momotaro legend. We sampled some and bought boxes of these to bring back home.

Pretty boxes of Kibi Dango dumplings (CNB 2012)

3-12 April 2012