We’re moving on to the next stop: Okayama. The city itself doesn’t have much of interest to offer, apart from the famous Kōraku-en garden, which we already know anyway. Right nearby is the town of Kurashiki with its picturesque old merchant houses along a canal. You can also see the Achi Shrine there - after a tough climb up the stairs.

We bought a couple of little tea bowls in a small shop, from a Turkish guy who had never even been to Germany, but spoke brilliant German and raved about Cologne.