第二日 岡山 － 倉敷

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天気予報は殆ど当たり！幸い雨と言っても小雨で、ザーザー降りじゃないので大助かり。
昨日書いたように、今日は瀬戸内海の直島巡りの予定がお目当ての美術館が月曜休館で急遽、岡山城＋後楽園を目指すことになった。お城脇に車を停めたら、となりの人は千葉県の成田からレンタカーでやってきたイタリア人カップルだった。

後楽園

と、こんな具合に、あらゆる所に外国人観光客で、これもグーグルマップで目指すところへ簡単にたどり着ける技術が進んだこと、日本円が超安い通貨になり、安価な旅行先になったからか？って思う。まだ傘をさして歩いた後楽園だか、お城見学後はすっかり雨が上がり、お日様が照りだして暑いくらいに。

後楽園は日本の三大公園の名に恥じない、（造園の際の）計算も日々の手入れも隅々まで行き届いた公園だった。岡山に来て、これだけしか見ないのでは勿体ない、ということで吉備津神社と最上（さいじょう）稲荷も見てきた。吉備津神社は一見の価値あり。

倉敷に戻りアイビースクエアの中にあるクラボウの歴史館を興味深く見た。広大な工場を日本各地に数多く持っていた全盛期のクラボウの前身。今ではすっかり多角経営を余儀なくされているが、当時は繊維一筋で膨大な富を手に入れることができたとみえる。従業員の教育や生活にも気を配れる賢人の経営者が続いた様子もうかがえた。

吉備津神社

明日からの天気予報はどうやら私達に味方してくれる様子。とにかく明後日からの歩きの日にはあまり濡れたくはないのです・・・。

Kurabo 倉紡

Today we actually wanted to go to the island of Naoshima. But Yumiko forgot in her “travel planning” that all the museums are closed on Monday and there's no point in going there. So we'll just go to Okayama. It's not far away, but it takes a while if you take the “By-Pass”. It's a traffic jam in the morning.

後楽園　Korakuen

While it's still drizzling, we visit the famous Korakuen Park, which has supposedly remained unchanged for 400 years. There must be an army of gardeners taking care for this large area. But you don't see them. Do they work at night?

I was here with Maja a few years ago, but didn't visit the inside of the castle. Today was a good opportunity to do so because not so many tourists had “invaded” the castle shortly after it opened. Unfortunately, the old castle was badly damaged during the last months of the war and partly burnt down. Today's castle is made of concrete and has an elevator. Only the former form has been preserved. 

岡山城　Okayama Castle

Inside there are now some very interesting exhibitions on the history of the castle.

It is too early to go back to Kurashiki. We therefore visit two famous places nearby, the Kibizu Shrine and the Saijo Temple.

吉備津神社　Kibizu Shrine

The shrine has thousands of motif boards for a successful university entrance examination. The temple is said to be visited by tens of thousands of people on New Year's Day. Today we were alone.

Back in Kurashiki, we visit what was once the largest and most important weaving mill in Japan. From 1880, the best fabrics were produced here under the management of the Ohara family. The founder's son, Ohara Magosaburo, is said to have introduced “humane” working conditions for the first time in Japan and built schools and hospitals for his workers. Does that still exist today?

I don't think so! Because there will be no more caregivers in humane old people's homes in the future, I will probably have to look after my wife on my own!

Walter & 由美子　2035