The early spring walk in Kurashiki - Japan 3 -

Kurashiki turned out to be a great choice for us. It’s not too far from my hometown, yet there’s plenty to see and do. What’s more, our hotel had a large hot spring bath, which I had been really looking forward to enjoying.

This short trip actually came from a conversation about where we could go to relax in a hot spring. My partner was keen on visiting somewhere surrounded by nature, but those places tend to be deep in the mountains and not very accessible, so it was a bit difficult for us to make that happen. In the end, we decided that exploring historical spots along with a bit of time in a hot bath—well, mainly for me—would be essential for our plan, and it worked out perfectly.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is stunning, almost like a film set, and it never fails to amaze me no matter how many times I visit. These days, there are heaps of cool, unique shops and cafés. We even came across clothing stores featuring cross-cultural designs, such as T-shirts with wide sleeves inspired by kimono, and suits made from Kurashiki denim.

I was really glad to see that the local culture and specialties are being preserved and passed on to the next generation.

Did you know about that antique shop? I did—there are tons of dog figures displayed on the roof! How weird is that? I still remember the first time I saw them about eight years ago; it was so memorable that I couldn’t forget it. I reckon they’ve added even more items since then…

I truly believe in the possibilities of a single piece of paper. Just look at these origami works—they can become animals, or almost anything you can imagine.

Seeing them reminded me of the time I used to make origami with my coworker during work hours. It brought back such fun memories, so I sent her this photo to share that moment with her again.

Kawazu-zakura is a different variety of cherry blossom in Japan, and it blooms a little earlier than Somei Yoshino, the well-known type that usually flowers toward the end of March. I was so happy we got to see them, as I had almost given up hope of catching any blossoms before leaving Japan.

Walking along the river, lined with cherry trees, was incredibly relaxing and felt so fulfilling—especially knowing how fleeting this season is.