If you are after some hidden gems in the Chūgoku region, come to Sōja City (総社市) in Okayama Prefecture for the beautiful natural wonders that the non-locals might not be aware of. Apart from the scenic places, you will also find a castle that used to house demons. And on the other side of the […]
Sōja City and the Scenic Hidden Gems that Many Don’t Know Read More »
Hōfukuji Temple (井山宝福寺) is a sub-temple of the Tōfukuji Temple (東福寺) school of the Rinzai sect (臨済宗). It is also the leading Zen Buddhist temple in the region. When you explore this temple, you will find a couple of tied-up monks’ statues. However, there is no need to be afraid of or weirded out.
Hōfukuji Temple and the Interesting Monk and Mouse Statues Read More »
Gōkei (豪渓) was designated as one of Japan’s National Site of Scenery Beauty in 1923. It is a beautiful valley located upstream of the Makidani River (槙谷川), a tributary of the Takahashi River (高梁川). The valley is still considered a hidden gem as most of the tourists who come to the valley are locals. With
Gōkei Valley – One of the Most Picturesque Valley in Okayama Read More »
Mt. Ōjigatake (王子が岳) is a mountain with various oddly shaped rocks on the border between the two cities, Tamano (玉野) and Kurashiki (倉敷) in Okayama Prefecture. The view of the Seto Inland Sea along the hiking trail and from the summit is what makes the mountain a popular spot among the locals. This is especially
Mt. Ōjigatake and the Weird Smiley Rock at the Summit Read More »
Tamano City (玉野市) in Okayama Prefecture is a great place to visit for outdoor activity enthusiasts as well as any art connoisseurs. From the gigantic “smiley rock” at the top of the mountain to the large fish sculpture made of items washed ashore, the artistic spirits of the Tamano citizens can be observed throughout the city! Bouldering
Tamano – An Artistic Port City Filled With Stunning Nature Read More »
Miyama Park (みやま公園) in Tamano City is an enormous park that boasts a size of more than 200 hectares. It hosts 150,000 trees spanning more than 300 species, including plums, camellias, azaleas, maples, and about 7,000 cherry trees that bloom one after another throughout the year!
Miyama Park – The Best Park in Tamano City Read More »
If you enjoy strolling along the beach as the sun slowly disappears from the horizon, be sure to stop by Setouchi City (瀬戸内市) in Okayama Prefecture. The sunset you will be seeing was chosen to be one of the Top 100 Sunsets in Japan! If you decide to book a “sunset kayaking course”, you can
Setouchi City and the Amazing Scenery of the Seto Inland Sea Read More »
We all know the beauty of the Aegean Sea is breathtaking. The part of the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海) in the Ushimado area is said to be Japan’s Aegean Sea. And if you are wondering where you can get the best view of the Seto Inland Sea from the Ushimado area, we recommend the Ushimado Olive
Ushimado Olive Garden: One of the Best Hidden Spots in Okayama Read More »
If you enjoy walking along a beach, don’t miss out on Kuroshima Venus Road (黒島ヴィーナスロード), which connects Kuroshima Island (黒島) with Nakanoko Island (中ノ小島) and the Hashinokojima Island (端ノ小島) in Okayama Prefecture. When the tide is low, a romantic sandy road will appear that connects the three islands located in the Ushimadoseto Strait (牛窓瀬戸). And
Kuroshima Venus Road – The Romantic Road in the Sea Read More »
If you admire pottery, you will definitely want Bizen City (備前市) in Okayama Prefecture to be on your itinerary. You can easily spend a whole day strolling through all the pottery shops scattered around JR Imbe Station. We are sure that you will find some exquisite pieces of artwork that you would like to own.
Bizen – The City Famed for Pottery and the Stunning Scenery Read More »
