Day 16: Ritsurin Garden & The Ogre Island

Takamatsu is famous for a very large Japanese strolling garden called Ritsurin Garden. This morning, my mom and I took a one-car local train (they call them "one man" trains) to Ritsurin Garden. There was a cool breeze at Takamatsu station, but when we stepped off the one man, the humidity really smacked into us. We paid entrance to the garden and received very pretty admission tickets. I saved them in a ziploc bag where I've been collecting cool papers and receipts to bring home. :) Anyway, there were quite a few people at the garden, but it is large enough that it didn't feel crowded. The garden has a few main features. One is the use of a large mountain behind it as "borrowed scenery," one of the important asthetics of Japanese gardens. The second is seasonal flowers. Right now, the flowers in bloom are Indian lilacs, which were a beautiful shade of hot pink; water lilies; and Indian lotus, which has light pink flowers instead of white and HUGE leaves! The many ponds in the garden had tons of koi and smaller fish, as well. Another feature is the garden's main teahouse. When we reached it, there was a performance of some koto music (Japanese harp) going on, but later the teahouse was full of people drinking green tea. We didn't stop to join them, instead continuing on our way. I really enjoyed the garden, although the one we went to in Tokyo was really good, too. They both had things which made them unique. Oh yeah, and this time we came prepared with umbrellas to use as parasols, which we've discovered is the cool thing to do. :P

Returning on the one man train, we stopped in Takamatsu station and had lunch at a fast food chain called Lotteria. We tried their shrimp burger and I peronally found it better than McDonald's. It had tartar sauce & cabbage inside- any of you fried fish people would have loved it!

At 3 we walked to the ferry port and boarded a ferry bound for Megijima, a small island a mere 15 minute ride away. Megijima is famously known in Japan as the ogre island from the folk legend, Momotaro (Peachboy). The island and the sea were so beautiful. We walked along the island's beach for a few minutes before reaching a shrine with a large crowd. Curious to know what was happening, we joined the throng. It was some kind of festival, we think... About fifteen people carried a portable shrine (see picture) over the heads of a bunch of people, then some guys who were bound to the top of a wooden thing were "dunked" to the ground over and over. It was very weird... But interesting, haha. After that we walked back toward the pier to catch the next ferry. Only problem was, there was a giant line!! I asked the security guy if it was for Takamatsu, and he laughed heartily as he said yes. -_- The next ferry came and filled with people, but we didn't make it, so we sat on the concrete pier and enjoyed the sea breeze... for about forty minutes. Oh well, it was an experience, and that's what this trip has been about. ^_^