Achi Shrine
After lunch, we walked the quieter lanes at the back of the Bikan quarter, then climbed up to Achi Shrine on the hill behind it. It’s the town’s guardian shrine, and from the top there’s a view over Kurashiki’s rooftops.
Ivy Square
In the late afternoon, we went to Ivy Square. It’s a red-brick cotton mill from 1889, covered in ivy, now turned into a hotel and shops. There was an art installation in one of the passages, thousands of coloured threads hanging from the ceiling.
Wagyu Yakiniku
Dinner was another round of wagyu yakiniku, at a place near the station. Okayama has its own wagyu, and the restaurant had a wall full of awards. Thick cubes, a charcoal grill at the table, and once again we went quiet for a while.
The Canal at Night
After dinner, we walked back down to the canal. The day crowds had gone, the lamps were on, and the whole quarter was quiet. The best time to see it.
Tomorrow: north across the mountains to Matsue Castle.
Information About Ivy Square
A red-brick cotton mill from 1889, covered in ivy, now a hotel, shops and museums, right at the end of the Bikan quarter.