Lets say you find out that there are only 3 or 4 taxis on Naoshima, and the bus system is helpful but too complicated for perfect timing, and you are too lazy to pedal a bike uphill. What do you do? You work with the super creative staff at Hanajukai to charter a taxi on the mainland and take it across on the ferry. A Japanese-speaking chaufer for the win.
We med Tadyoshi at 7:20 on the dot, starting out quiet and formal on our rids to the ferry terminal. Yoshi procured the tickets while I figured out how to make a matcha machine with over 300 buttons do something delicious. (Close, but no cigar.)
We were soon on the water.
And after a brief coffee stop at Mikazukishoten—one where the taxi just parked and waited for us to fuel up—we headed to Go’o shrine just outside of town. When we finished our wanderings, there was our ride!
Next up was Chichu, where we pondered high architecture and its reflection in art. Or was it the other way around? Who knows. We had an early lunch before the line formed.
Look through the window up to the left…
And then it was back in our taxi for a skippable visit to Lee Ufon. Yeah, no.
The Yellow Yayoi pumpkin visit was particularly fun. By this time, Yoshi had become a friend.
We decided to have some coffee before our visit to Minamidera and asked Yoshi to join us.
On the way back to get the battery pack. Yoshi discovered a ringo kakigori stand setting up for the evening’s Fall festival. This was something we had to try.
And then it was back to the port for a visit to the Red Pumpkin and a cocktail or two at Queen’s-Q (which opened on time to the second).
We made it to the car just in time to board the ferry.
The sunset saw us out.
Gorgeous day. And who knew that our driver was such a train fan?
