It seems every Japanese city has a hometown hero, mascot or theme. You see it in decorations, in gifts for purchase, even in the food. The story of Momotaro, the boy who sprang from a peach with his dog and monkey to fight off demons is a well known and well loved tale. His statue is one of the first things you see outside the train station.
We spent a gorgeous, sunny afternoon in Okayama’s famous garden, Korakuen, completed on1700. It was an important spot for entertaining important guests, and for the daimyo (feudal lord) and his family and friends to enjoy. The garden was opened to the public in 1884. It’s not far from Okayama Castle which makes an impressive backdrop from some angles within the park. The castle is known as “Crow Castle” for the dark wood that covers it. The gardens were designed in the Kaiyu style, which presents a different scene and feeling around every bend. You pass through orchards, up hills to look out from, past streams, ponds, shrines, teahouses, and even an archery field and a crane aviary. The park is also known for its expansive green lawns. On one of them, we saw a couple posing for wedding photos with the castle in the background.
Okayama is a big producer of muscat grapes and white peaches, as well as delicious, delicate fish from the Inland Sea. We took advantage of both, buying some “kibidango” sweets with peach and having a sushi dinner after a walk along the Nishigawa Canal, having been able to meet up again with oír friend Miwa. We ended the evening chatting away over fancy coffees, tea and desserts. Miwa’s tea was so fancy it came with step by step instructions on how to prepare and enjoy!
