🍁 Okayama-Fukuyama-Onomichi-Himeji-Kurashiki-Hiroshima 6-Day Tour 🍁

🌄 Day1: Shanghai - Hiroshima Airport - Fukuyama - Onomichi - Mihara Bought a bus ticket at the airport to transfer in Fukuyama, visited Fukuyama Castle, Hachimangu Shrine (said to be the first for fortune in 2022), and Genjin Shrine, all in over an hour, had lunch at the JR station. Headed to Onomichi, not far by JR, visited Senkoji Temple, took the cable car, and strolled down Nekomata Road. In Mihara, we prepared to take a ferry to Ikuchi Island, had dinner at an izakaya with handwritten menus, the owner didn't speak English, it was like opening a blind box, and a kind uncle next door even gave us a serving of their signature chicken. 🚢 Day2: Mihara - Ikuchi Island - Mihara - Okayama Took the morning ferry to Ikuchi Island, visited the Yukio Mishima Museum, Kozo-ji Temple, Mirai no Kokoro Hill, and cycled around. Walked from the shopping street near the Ikuchi Island ferry terminal to the attractions, rented a bike on the street (cheaper to rent for three hours than a whole day from the information center), rode to the Tatara Ohashi and back in over an hour. Had lunch at the entrance of Kozo-ji Temple with a lemon octopus hotpot. In the afternoon, took the ferry back to Mihara, then the JR to Okayama, checked into the hotel and took the tram to visit Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. There are many Momotaro elements in Okayama, bought discounted sashimi and Harumatsu grapes at Aeon supermarket, similar to Shine Muscat. 🏝️ Day3: One-Day Tour of Shodoshima (Okayama-Shodoshima-Takamatsu-Okayama) Took the bus to Shin-Okayama Port in the morning, then a ferry to Shodoshima's Tonosho Port, the ferry had a unique design, with a lower deck for cars. In Shodoshima, took the bus and bought a one-day pass, visited the farthest Shijoji Film Village first, then the soy sauce museum, olive park, Angel Road, and back to Tonosho Port. Had lunch at the film village with lemon and olive udon noodles. Changed plans and took a ferry from Tonosho Port to Takamatsu to visit Ritsurin Garden, but it closed at 5:30 on October 1st. Had dinner at Ran'maru with Tebasaki chicken, and took the JR back to Okayama. 🏰 Day4: Okayama-Himeji-Okayama-Kurashiki-Okayama-Hiroshima Took the Shinkansen to Himeji, visited Himeji Castle and Koku-en Garden, Himeji Castle was great, Koku-en Garden was average. Visited the Ohara Museum in Kurashiki, no photos allowed inside, Kurashiki is small, had ice cream there, also went to the outlet mall next to the JR station. Had lunch at Kurashiki Shouka Ramen, a small shop, it was pretty good. Checked into the Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, there's a hotel bus from the JR station, took about forty minutes to get to the hotel. 🦌 Day5: Miyajima-Hiroshima Castle-Atomic Bomb Dome-Shopping In the morning, took a ferry from the hotel's dock to Miyajima, visited Itsukushima Shrine, ate oysters, and pet the deer. At noon, took a ferry plus JR to Hiroshima Castle and the Atomic Bomb Dome, encountered a beer festival at GATEPARK on the way. 🏠 Day6: Heading Home Notes: Stored luggage in the JR station's coin lockers, 800 yen large locker fits two suitcases of 26 and 20 inches. Bought JR tickets, bus tickets, and ferry tickets mostly from machines, most have simplified Chinese. Relied on GOOGLE Maps for travel routes, very accurate timing, can also set a departure time. There weren't many people throughout the trip, only Himeji Castle and Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Memorial were a bit more crowded. Suica card is very convenient for buses and JR, add it to iPhone Wallet, deposit 2-3 thousand yen, just tap on when getting on and off the bus. #Okayama#Fukuyama#Onomichi#Kurashiki#Hiroshima