19 July
On to the next island - Shikoku - and Takamatsu, the largest city on the island at just over 400,000 people.
On to the next island - Shikoku - and Takamatsu, the largest city on the island at just over 400,000 people.
We ride the bullet train or Shinkansen most of the way.
 |  |
We find a woman-run isakaya for dinner - a couple of fishy's and watermelon.
 |  |
20 July
It's off to the garden to begin our tour today...
"Ritsurin Garden is a large, historic garden completed in 1745 as a private strolling garden and villa for the local feudal lords, and opened to the public in 1875. Ritsurin is one of the largest strolling gardens in Japan, and a major tourist attraction for Kagawa Prefecture. Ritsurin Garden lies in a former river bed on the east side of Mt. Shiun. Numerous ponds and small artificial hills dot the garden. The southern portion is in traditional Japanese style, with historic teahouses and numerous shaped pine trees. After becoming a public garden in 1875, the north portion underwent Western-style redesigns."
 |  |
 |  These works of art are on display in one of the mini-museums in the garden. |
It's not raining, but that Sun sure is hot.
 |  |
It's nice to meet you, and nice to meet you too!
 |  |
Koi-pond fish mugshots - "where were you on the night of Jun 25?" - "Uh, out in the far corner of muh pond digesting all the cheetos the tourists fed me today."
The fish on the right is real, yeah, it has golden scales, but it's real I tell you.
 |  |
"Covid induced supply issues, just couldn't get those curved planks, so we deviated from the plan."
Yeah, there's a snake in the under growth - we let it go about its day, or vice versa?
This turtle is looking for some petting on the noggin - won't you volunteer?
 |  |
Zen garden...
 |  |
A tea house...
One last high view...
Looks like three-generations - taking care of the older generations is seen everywhere we go.
Gotta go see the castle...
 |  |
Takamatsu Castle is also called Tamamo Castle, literally "seaweed castle," for its seawater moats. The castle was headquarters of the Takamatsu Domain, which ruled eastern Sanuki Province (modern-day Kagawa) from 1588 to 1869. This castle, now a park, is one of three in Japan to use seawater moats, along with Imabari Castle in Ehime Prefecture, and Nakatsu Castle in Ōita Prefecture.
 |  |
 |  |
"I sea you, you may enter, but stay out of muh moats, they're seawater."
This gate was actually destroyed in WWII air raids, and was actually rebuilt and completed just last year.
Castles of Commerce looming just beyond the old foundations.
The city is slowly restoring parts of the castle over time, this covered bridge is also one of the more recent projects.
Nearby is the seaport, we stroll out along the boardwalks...
Back at the hotel for the included evening "snacks" - what you're offered and what you get, the same, huh.
 |  |
RSS Feed
