It was fall but warm as spring. I went to Fukuyama castle.
You can visit there from Tokyo to take Shinkansen Express.
Almost 3 hours and half trip.
Just sit down and watch movie, sleep,web surfing. Do what you want to do.
In front of the Fukuyama station, you can see Fukuyama castle.
It is now part of the garden park.
Explanation of Fukuyama castle
Basically it is free to walk in.
Long stairs are waiting for you.
In front of the Fukuyama station
Castle is made of huge rocks.
I love to see the curve of the wall.
It is smooth and functional.
Even it is beautiful, kind of Art.
Huge gate of Fukuyama castle
I can not image this is for the real fight, war.
Many people died here.
Now the main building is not a real castle, it was created with modern building techniques.
You may pay few fees to get into. I do not know how much.
It is possible to go up to the top floor, Tenshukaku, and look around Fukuyama city.
Fukuyama castle
Quick lunch moving to Imabari city by Bus
Seafood restaurant at Fukuyama station
At Fukuyama station building there was a famous seafood restaurant.
It called ‘Kozakana Amochin‘.
You can eat inside from AM 11*00 but I had to move to Imabari by bus.
No time.
So i took out a famous thing.
Little squid fries(Tempura)
This restaurant is famous for little squid fries(Tempura), called ‘Chii ika’.
It is nice to do takeout from AM 10:00 I was able to purchase one.
Almost US6$, very hot. Not spicy. Crunchy tempura.
Delicious.
I ate in the bus while I see the Setonaikai sea.
Setonaikai sea
The bus goes from Fukuyama to Imabari by crossing many little islands.
They were beautiful.
You can reach to Imabari, within an hour. US25$ is the fee.
Setonaikai sea
Visited Imabari castle
Imabari castle
Imabari castle is not far from the bus station, Imabari Sambashi.
10 min walk.
Imabari castle is famous for preparing as a sea castle.
Boat can reach to the castle by sea.
Now the castle is surrounded by the land but 400 years ago there was a sea.
Imabari castle
Takatora Toudou statue
Takatora Toudou was the first lord of this castle.
During his lifetime he changed his feudal master seven times and worked for ten people, but in the end he rendered loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who became his last master.
He is also famous for excellence in castle design. He is said to have been involved in building as many as twenty castles
Imabari castle
Father of modern industry in Imabari
Father of modern industry in Imabari
This is the statue of ‘Shichi saburou Yano‘.
He is the founder of “Iyo Nell” and is called “Father of Imabari cotton industry”.
On December 24, 1889 (Meiji 22), he was murdered by a thug who broke into his home after returning home from the Christmas Eve at the church.
Lovely Sea bream Sea bream course meal
Sea bream special course
Imabari faces to Setonaikai sea that means there are many fresh seafood.
Famous one is sea bream.
Hotel Kikusui has economic course meal of the sea bream.
It starts from Sashimi, raw fish.
Sea bream and squid.
Baked shrimp and Beef shabu shabu.
Sea bream special course
This is boiled sea bream head.
It is so tender and juicy.
Good flavor.
Maybe a little difficult for foreigner, who does not familiar with chopsticks.
There are many tiny bones that you have to avoid.
Sea bream special course
This is the last dish for this course meal.
It is a sea bream rice.
The start of the course meal it was cooked in kama jar.
You can eat hot, warm sea bream rice.
So delicious.
A little oily and have a lot of good flavors.
You can eat with miso soup and pickled tsukemono.
Night in Imabari sanbashi
The night is going to sleep.
Leviticus 11:1-47
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. …