A much nicer day today so with a free morning went to kofukiji temple. It was reasonably quiet at 9am but it was getting busier at 930am with longer queues at the ticket machines.
the treasure museums were interesting. Then walked to ukimido pavilion on a small lake which was nice and quiet.
beside it I saw a sign for yugayama garden (free of charge) which was beautiful with a small bamboo forest trail. I think it us part of the fufu nara hotel as saw some people in yakatas. There were some lanterns on the path and the garden is open to 10pm so the bamboo might look nice at night
went back to the hotel and was surprised by how busy the shopping street was at 11am compared to 9am
went to shin osaka to collect my jr setouchi area pass.
​osaka.
45mins to okayama on the nozomi
after checking in at the ana crowne plaza I saw the korakuen garden was open till 6pm ( last entry at 535pm) so went.
garden was beautiful with some great views of okayama castle. Park was quiet

Kofukuji temple nara


Ukimido pond nara


The pavillion


Bamboo forest trail at yugayama garden.so quiet compared to the kyoto bamboo forest



Okayama korakuen garden


At the furthest away point of the okayama korakuen there is what looks like a grassy field but if you go yo the centre where the wooden sitting area is and turn right you get this view of okayama castle ( closest view of the castle from the park i think ) and this area was deserted


It is interesting (staying in hotels beside nara and okayama) to walk around the stations and their shopping/eating places later on in the evening as the shops and trains begin to close down for the evening
Regards

Tbs