Ginkgo trees in Hiroshima

Two ginkgo trees from two different places in Hiroshima: one in SHUKKEIEN Japanese garden and the other in Miyajima. Both are from the fall of 2014. The one in the garden is a survivor of the atomic bombing, slanting toward GZ. The gorgeous yellow stands next to Senjokaku on a hill in Miyajima.

 Old ginkgo tree in the garden

 Reflection on the floor was gorgeous

Takamatsu and Kinashi make a good day tour

Udon diner in Takamatsu

Here's what my guests and I recently did:

Start the tour from Okayama Station;
Take a JR train to Takamatsu;

Ritsurin Garden black pines

Take a taxi to Kagawa Prefectural Gov. building designed by TANGE Kenzo who also did the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum & Park;
Look at the details of the building;
Walk to one of the most popular Udon noodle shops and have Udon for lunch;
Walk to Ritsurin Garden - spacious and grand, one of the most famed Daimyo feudal lord gardens dating from the Edo period (1603-1868);
Fully appreciate the garden and the cottage standing by one of the ponds in the garden;
Take a taxi to Kinashi and visit two Bonsai places that I contacted in advance;
Walk to JR Kinashi Station, take a local train, transfer at Sakaide, and go back to Okayama Station;
End of tour.

This makes a very fun full day tour. It was a fantastic day focusing on Japanese gardening, local cuisine, and Bonsai techniques. 

Tending a black pine in Kinashi

Kagawa Prefectural Gov. building