A Market Town of Many Charms, Day 10 in Japan

Today was a quiet day in Kurashiki. The Frommer Guide book, in addition to calling it a "market town of many charms", says "If I were to select the most pictureque town in Japan, Kurashiki would certainly be a top contender". There is a willow-fringed canal that runs through the historic district. In the 17th century, Kurashiki prospered as a market town, in particular in the rice industry. Large granaries/warehouses were built, using a black and white design. Today many of these old buildings house museums, galleries, restaurants, and shops.

We visited the Ohara Museum of Art which includes both western and Japanese art. Ohara Magosabutto, a successful businessman, founded the museum in 1930. He provided the funding for a Japanese artist to go to Europe and purchase beautiful examples of art. Although we couldn't take photos in the museum itself, you'll see in and around it (including the pond of water lilies). In addition to the Western art work (Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, Chagall, etc., etc.) there were folk crafts, and also ancient Chinese art from prehistoric (the neolithic) times to around the Tang Dynasty (600 to 900 AD). Amazing to think of works of art that are that old.

We purchased mats and coasters made of igusa (rush grass), a local specialty, textile items, and other fun things. One shop was everything cats (and dogs), including having two real cats. The CD playing was cats & dogs doing Christmas Carols -- even worse than Alvin & the Chipmunks. Lunch was at the Kiyutel, where they grill steak and seafood (see the photo). After more wandering through various arcades, we went back to the hotel for a rest. Early evening we went back to wander by the canal and find a place to eat. We wound up at a restaurant out of the historic district, down a flight of stairs. It featured sushi, sashimi, and "sets" -- lots of small dishes of various seafood related things. We both got the Kurashiki Gosen, which you will see from the photos had lots of things, some of them strange. There was a pond and fish tanks in the center of the restaurant, which is where dinner came from (we think if we had ordered the octopus-themed Gosen, they would have taken one of the octopus from its tank).

We couldn't find any World Cup highlights on tv but did watch some interesting cooking shows. This morning (I'm writing this Friday morning) the country is deliriousl6y happy as Japan won their game and advanced. At breakfast this morning we met a man from Winnipeg (Canada) who's here with a tour group. We're going to stroll a little bit more in Kurashiki and then take the local train to Okayama where we'll get the shinkansen back to Mishima. Jeff and the boys will pick us up on the way home from school.

Here are the day 10 photos.