In which Sid and Doris visit Properly Old Japan.
From Kyoto we are pressing onwards and westwards, via the North coast on the Sea of Japan towards the South coast and Shikoku (the third of our islands).
LONG POST ALERT. The organisers have found us some opportunities to see Properly Old Japan, with the right crowd (apart from the aforementioned bunch of Stinky Old Cars) and no crowding.
Kayabukino-Sato is a living village who have turned themselves into a walk-through trip through old houses.
The pointy shape of the roof is used on more modern buildings as well, all the way along this section.
We drive past some unexplained but definitely old aircraft…
… and have a tea stop at the Oeyama Nickel Mine’s old station.
We stay by the Amanohashidate, or the Bridge To Heaven, which is said to be one of Japan’s three most beautiful sites. Looking at it from sea level we struggle to understand why, but a thoughtfully-placed information board next to the toilet roll holder in the ladies’ shows that you should really look at it from above.
Next day onwards to Himeji Castle, where the organisers have persuaded a local shrine that we can use their car park. Yes, Teal really did drive through that big red gate. The main shrine is dedicated to improving couples’ relationships which is extremely useful after more than three weeks in a Stinky Old Car.
The castle itself has reviews like “the view is worth the long climb up” (hmm), and with posters round the gate saying that it will be very crowded this weekend so please buy tickets online, most of the rally decide that it is #bestviewedfrombelow (thank you Anna, you have some more fans) and carry on to Kurashiki.
The Kurashiki town elders had a flash of inspiration when they decided to turn their town into an Old Japan Experience, and they buried their power lines. Sky string is so ubiquitous here it is quite unexpectedly peaceful when it disappears.
Houses are open for visits and the “12th generation” of his family explains how all the storage areas are carefully hidden so that the rooms are open and serene. Little views of the garden are engineered from many rooms. It is really great fun in a quiet and thoughtful way.
And so to bed.