Bounded by the same national identity, these enchanting gems shed a different on Japan
I personally really love Japan. So much so, it has been five times since I have visited the country and lived to tell the tale here and here.
One may assume I'm talking about the more familiar tourist-y places of Tokyo, Kyoto and Hokkaido, but instead, I found myself gravitating to the lesser-known-and-treaded gems in the Western part of Japan. Breathtaking, enthralling and brimming with a myriad of fun activities, here are five vacation spots in Westen Japan for an alternative experience of the Land of the Rising Sun.
3. Okayama
Visit: Okayama Korakuen Garden
In Okayama, drop by Okayama Korakuen Garden which is one of the three largest courtyards in Japan. In 1687, the Feudal Lord of Ikeda Gang began construction of the backyard to serve as an entertainment space for its VIPs. It was completed in 1700. However, in the years of 1934 and 1945, floods and the air raids of World War II respectively caused the structure great damage. Repairs were then made according to the drawings of the Edo period, before its complete rebuilt in 1966. The back garden adopts a cloister-like structure of the Japanese rivers and lakes, centering on Yanyang Pavilion. In the distance, you can spot the Okayama Castle; in fact, the back garden is like a garden within a garden as its vicinity is a landscape of creeks, waterfalls, rockeries, flowers and plants that changes during the four seasons. The area is also one of the many go-to places for the cherry blossom season.
While the Itsukushima Shrine has deer, Okayama Korakuen Garden is rampant with long-legged cranes. So remember to take as many selfies, but don’t get too close – your eyes may be pecked out by the birds’ sharp beaks!
Getting there
Always start a vacation on a good note. And so we did, thanks to SilkAir that offered a comfortable six-hour flight in its business class. Aside from cushiony seats and top-notch service, I have to say that the food and drinks on the plane are amazing.
The myriad of drink options make you feel like you're at a sky bar. The in-house entertainment offerings will also leave you spoiled for choice!
A Chinese version of the article appeared here.
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