Kuashiki

I chose Kurashiki over Okayama as our next stop as there was an enticing article on it in the web somewhere which made it sound like a quiet quaint stop over after Kyoto. So off to another Ryokan experience we went. A Ryokan is a traditional inn with shared baths, full meals included and usually futons on the floor. They often also have pillows made of buckwheat which is like little plastic macaroni shapes - occasionally comfortable, but definitely something to get used to.

The old town was incedibly cute and had some eager tourism operators who seemed excited to have non-domestic travellers around. There was a canal and lots of cute shops and an art gallery with Monet`s and Cezanne`s. But overall a very quiet, but atmospheric place to spend a night.