Running at Velocity

So we have been tracking Typhoon 19 (Hagibis) on Japanese media, watching to see if our plans needed to change, and they did unfortunately. Our plan had included our most daring journey to date; Matsuyama to Okayama via limited express, then a shinkansen up to Nagoya, followed by another limited express out to Nakatsugawa where we would pick up a car and drive our way to Nagiso. When however, we saw so many warnings east of Okayama we decided to camp out there until we could move on. And by camp out, i mean we found a lovely hotel in nearby Kurashiki, right next to a historic district.

First order of business was to grab some lunch where we found a family run restaurant in the historic district, with some lovely katsu.

A wander around town and we can feel the wind getting a bit stronger. That doesn’t stop mum picking up a sake bottle and cups!

Dinner is a fancy affair, I’m not entirely sure whats going on culturally, the building is supposed to be an old cotton store house, and the whole thing looks quite western. All the waiters and waitresses are wearing old maid and Butler outfits, but its really posh Japanese cooking that’s on the menu? Still, quite an exploration in cuisine for all of us. Downstairs to the pub to play some cards, then off to bed, unsure as to where we were going to be, watching the TV as storms battered Japan.

As I write this now though, we are on a train bound for Nakatsugawa, where the host at our next destination has agreed to meet us. As we’re out in the middle of nowhere, it might be another couple of days until I can post again.