Kojima District (児島郡) in Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture is Japan’s denim mecca. As soon as you step out of the JR train, you will be surprised by the amount of jeans-related decoration throughout the district. But Kojima is more than just Kojima Jeans Street. The sunset from Mt. Washu (鷲羽山) was chosen to be one of the 100 Best Sunsets in Japan.
The 6.3 km promenade with a starting point close to JR Kojima Station is another attraction that cyclists and hikers come to Kojima for. And if you love Japanese student uniforms, have a free cosplay session at the Kojima Student Uniform Museum! So read on to find out what else you can do other than denim shopping in this part of Okayama Prefecture (=゚ω゚)ノ.
However, since denim is practically the symbol of Kojima, we will still start with the most fascinating jeans decoration on Kojima Jeans Street (≧▽≦).
Table of Contents
- Kojima Jeans Street
- Kojima Jeans Bus (児島ジーンズバス)
- Seto Ōhashi Bridge Sightseeing Cruise (瀬戸大橋周遊観光船)
- Old Nozaki Family Residence (旧野崎家住宅)
- Shōshūhō – The Summit of Mt. Washu
- Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland (ブラジリアンパーク 鷲羽山ハイランド)
- Washu Highland Resort Kasago (WASHU BLUE RESORT 風籠かさご)
- Anaba Inari-Jinja Shrine (穴場稲荷神社)
- Shimotsui Shipping Agent Museum (むかし下津井回船問屋)
- Kaze-no Michi (風の道)
- Kojima Stduent Uniform Museum (児島学生服資料館)
- Yugasan Rendai Temple (蓮臺寺) And Yuga Shrine (由加神社本宮)
If you want in Kojima District, Setouchi Kojima Hotel is a nice accommodation in the area.
Kojima Jeans Street
Around a 15-minute walk from JR Kojima Station (児島駅), there is an area formed by four streets littered with shops selling denim-related products. What will definitely catch your attention is pairs of jeans hung above you between the buildings throughout and occasionally one or two gigantic jeans icons attached to the wall.
The Kojima Jeans Street is perfect for those who want to take their time and enjoy shopping. It is quiet and not as packed, which helps to cut queuing time if you want to try out those denim products!
You may find that hard to believe, but what we found the most fascinating spot is the public toilet! That toilet (image above) probably won’t be utilized too often as others might find it awkward or think it is too fashionable for people to do their private business there (´▽`*).
The design is probably just second to the public toilet they built opposite the Faithful Dog Hachiko’s Birthplace in Akita Prefecture. If you are wondering who Hachiko is, it is the dog statue in front of Shibuya Station.
Kojima Jeans Bus (児島ジーンズバス)
The denim decorations don’t just stop at the vending machines, the coin-operated lockers, or the ticket gates at the station. It continues all the way to the bus departing from JR Kojima Station (児島駅)!
It isn’t just the exterior of the bus that is advertising the denim in Kojima. The curtains, seat cushions, and basically everywhere you can think of, contain denim elements.
For more information, refer to our article on Kojima Jeans Bus!
Seto Ōhashi Bridge Sightseeing Cruise (瀬戸大橋周遊観光船)
Whilst the view of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge and its surrounding islands is magnificent from Mt. Washu, wouldn’t you also want to admire them from a boat?
The sightseeing boats from the Kojima Tourist Port will cruise through the islands, large or small, of the Seto Inland Sea, allowing you to appreciate the greatness of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge from various angles and up close!
The 45 minutes cruise will cost 1,600 yen for adults (800 yen for elementary school students). Reservation is not required, but please note the below cruise departure time as only 4 or 5 services are available a day.
Seto Ōhashi Bridge Sightseeing Cruise’s Departure Time and How to Get to Kojima Tourist Port
- From the 20th of March to November, the cruise departs daily at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm.
- From December to the 19th of March, the cruise only departs on weekends and public holidays and from the 1st to the 3rd of January at the above time.
- In August, there is an extra service at 3 pm.
- The Kojima Tourist Port (児島観光港) is only a 5-minute walk from JR Kojima Station (児島駅)
Nighttime Seto Ōhashi Bridge Sightseeing Cruise
From the beginning of April to late November, there is also a nighttime cruise for those who would love to capture the view of the sunset and the lit-up Seto Ōhashi Bridge, and the Mizushima Complex Factory (水島コンビナート)!
With just a bit more than what you will be paying for the daytime cruise (1,800 yen for adults and 900 yen for elementary school students), your time on the boat doubles to 90 minutes (*’▽’).
The cruise’s departure time and dates can be found on the official website HERE. You can translate the webpage using Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar.
Important:
☛ Please note that the Seto Ohashi Bridge’s light-up only takes place on Saturdays and public holidays.
☛ Please note that booking is essential for the nighttime cruise. To reserve a spot, please give Ōhashi BridgeTourism Ship Society a call at +81-86-473-6777.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Old Nozaki Family Residence (旧野崎家住宅)
Very close to Kojima Jeans Street is this 10,000 square meters old residence that was then transformed into a Salt Industry History Museum. It is a perfect spot for anyone interested in Japanese gardens and architecture.
The main house is surrounded by six storehouses. Instead of salt, there are historical materials related to salt making and folk instruments from the Edo period (1603 – 1867) on display.
Outside of the historical buildings, tea ceremony rooms are scattered in the well-maintained garden. It is not surprising that the accumulated wealth brought in by its salt business had led people in the late Edo period referring the place as the Salt Kingdom!
You may also stumble across some special exhibitions in the main house. The Hina Dolls exhibition that was held around the Hinamatsuri (girl’s day or doll’s day) was such a big hit that the local news on TV broadcasted it.
Old Nozaki Family Residence’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily from Tuesday to Sunday except from the 25th of December to the 1st of January.
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm
- If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will close on the next business day.
- The admission fee is
- 500 yen for adults
- 300 yen for elementary and junior school students
- Free for elementary and high school students on weekends and public holidays
- The museum is a 25-minute walk from JR Kojima Station (児島駅).
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Shōshūhō – The Summit of Mt. Washu
At Shōshūhō (鐘秀峰), the summit of Mt. Washu or Washuzan (鷲羽山) in the Seto Island Inland Sea National Park, will get you a panoramic view of 50 islands of different sizes, together with the famous Seto Ōhashi Bridge!
Also, the sunset from Mt. Washu was chosen to be one of the 100 Best Sunsets in Japan. This is why it is a spot that you shouldn’t miss!
To find out more on how to get there as well as the best time to be there, please refer to our Shōshūhō article (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland (ブラジリアンパーク 鷲羽山ハイランド)
If you don’t live in Japan, you probably won’t be thinking about going to an amusement park other than the Disney Resort in Tokyo or the Universal Studio in Osaka. But think twice when it comes to the Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland! Not only has it got several rollercoasters, but the scenery from its rides are magnificent!
For more information, refer to our Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland article!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Washu Blue Highland Resort Kasago (WASHU BLUE RESORT 風籠かさご)
If you are looking for accommodations that provide a complete view of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea, then you may want to consider the Washu Blue Resort Kasago. Not only is it the only resort in Mt. Washu with a natural hot spring source, but folklores also say that the onsen house a dragon god!
On the rooftop, there is an open-air onsen bath where you can soak yourself in the hot springs as you overlook the beautiful Seto Inland Sea and the Seto Ōhashi Bridge. It is literally the best spot to relax if you aren’t too embarrassed to share this moment with strangers of the same gender (=゚ω゚)ノ.
For more information, refer to our article on Washu Blue Highland Resort Kasago!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Anaba Inari-Jinja Shrine (穴場稲荷神社)
Anaba Inari-Jinja Shrine is a branch of the Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) in Kyoto.
Whilst it doesn’t have as many vermillion torii gates lined up to the worship hall, it does have its own awesomeness that makes people want to visit it anyway.
If you have clicked through the photos from the Instagram post, you will know what we are referring to (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Yes, it is the view of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge that people would come for apart from worshipping the god of the shrine – Anaba Inari Daimyōjin (穴場稲荷大明神)!
There are a couple of worship halls at the top of the staircase in the first photo of the Instagram post. However, your visit to the shrine shouldn’t just stop there. At the back of the main worship hall, there should be stone staircases that you can climb further up.
As the staircases are steep, please hold onto the handrail whenever you can (=゚ω゚)ノ.
As you mind your step, don’t forget to turn around for a close-up view of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge! The view from there is even better than what you saw from the shrine’s torii gate!
At the other end of the staircases, the rear shrine that sits quietly inside a huge stone cave is really the must-see when you visit the Anaba Inari-Jinja Shrine (*’▽’).
How to Get to Anaba Inari-Jinja Shrine
From JR Kojima Station’s (児島駅) bus stop no. 4, take the Tokohai-Gō (とこはい号) and get off at Tadzuchinōra Kōen Mae (田土浦公園前). The timetable for each service can be found HERE. As the timetable is in Japanese, please read it by referencing back to the Japanese characters.
After you get off the bus, assuming you are coming from JR Kojima Station, please follow the direction that the bus is traveling until you reach a junction. At the junction, please turn left, and you should see the shrine’s torii gate soon.
It should only take 5 minutes from the bus stop to the shrine.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Shimotsui Shipping Agent Museum (むかし下津井回船問屋)
This museum was restored from the building of the shipping agent that was in business near the Shimotsui fishing port (下津井漁港) during the Meiji period (1868 – 1912).
The interior of the main building is almost exactly the same as what it was back then, making the museum the perfect place for history lovers! Materials related to the Shimotsui area are also on display.
There is also a restaurant and a shop selling local specialties. Although there probably won’t be much for vegetarians to eat or buy.
For more photos of the museum, please visit their website HERE!
Shimotsui Shipping Agent Museum’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Wednesday to Monday
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, the museum will close on the next business day instead.
- The museum is also closed from the 29th of December to the 3rd of January.
- From JR Kojima Station’s (児島駅) bus stop no. 4, take the Tokohai-Gō (とこはい号) and get off at Mukashi Shimotsui Kaisendonya Mae (むかし下津井回船問屋 前)
- The timetable for each service can be found HERE. As the timetable is in Japanese, please read it by referencing the Japanese characters.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Kaze no Michi (風の道)
For those who love trekking and cycling, you will definitely fall in love with the Kaze-no Michi at Kojima!
The 6.3 km track that used to be the track of the Shimotsui Dentetsu train line is now a promenade that is great for trekking and cycling. The track starts from the old Shimotsui Dentetsu’s Kojima Station, just a 15-minute walk from JR Kojima Station (児島駅).
Bicycle Rental around Kojima Station
For cyclists, you have two places to grab a rental bike. Please remember to bring your ID with you.
- Kojimaeki Information Centre (児島駅観光案内所) is located right to the ticket gate of JR Kojima Station.
- A normal bike costs 300 yen for a one-day rental.
- An electric bike costs 500 yen for a one-day rental.
- The bicycle rental service is available from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Please avoid dropping by from 12 to 1 pm for bike rental as they won’t be able to serve you during lunch hours.
- The information center won’t be open from the 29th of December to the 3rd of January.
- Kurashiki Municipal Kojima Industrial Promotion Center (倉敷市児島産業振興センター) is just a 7-minute walk from JR Kojima Station.
- There are five electric bikes you can book for. One-day rental cost is also 550 yen. To book, please fill in the web form on their website HERE and translate the webpage to English using Google Chrome’s translation function. Then please scroll down towards the end and choose the date you want to reserve. If you are experiencing any issues, you can contact us HERE, and we will try to assist you.
- The center is closed on Tuesdays (or the next business day if Tuesday is a public holiday)
- You can reserve up to 6 months in advance.
- There are five electric bikes you can book for. One-day rental cost is also 550 yen. To book, please fill in the web form on their website HERE and translate the webpage to English using Google Chrome’s translation function. Then please scroll down towards the end and choose the date you want to reserve. If you are experiencing any issues, you can contact us HERE, and we will try to assist you.
Exploring the Kaze no Michi
Starting from the Old Kojima Station, you will not only be greeted by the abundant nature of Kojima, but the magnificent panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea also unfolds in front of you!
As you reach the terminal stop – old Shimotsui Station (下津井駅), the trains that used to run on the track from 1914 to 1991, will also be there for you to explore (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Kojima Gakuseifuku Museum (児島学生服資料館)
We all know that the uniforms in Japan are cute and stylish. The only problem is that not many of us have had the chance to try one on…
So when you drop by Kojima, don’t forget to come to this student uniform museum!
The museum, which is FREE to enter, is a great place to learn more about Japan’s student uniform industry’s history.
The best part of this museum is its second floor. Here, you get to try on all the different Japanese uniforms for free! The uniforms come in different sizes, so hopefully, you will find one that fits you (^_-)-☆.
Kojima Gakuseifuku Museum’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily but may close without further notice.
- The museum is also closed from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- To get to the museum by public transport, get off at JR Kaminochō Station (上の町駅), and you will be there after a 10 to 15-minute walk
- You can also catch the bus – Fureai-Gō (ふれあい号) from JR Kojima Station’s bus stop no. 4 and get off at Kotouranishi Nishishōgakkō (琴浦西小学校).
- The timetable for each service can be found HERE. As the timetable is in Japanese, please read it by referencing the Japanese characters.
- If you catch the Kojima Jeans Bus, get off at Kojima Gakuseifuku Myujiamu-Mae (児島学生服資料館前).
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Yugasan Rendai Temple (蓮臺寺) And Yuga Shrine (由加神社本宮)
For those who are interested in completing the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage (中国三十三観音霊場), make sure you drop by the Yugasan Rendai Temple to worship the eleven-faced Kannon.
The Acala in the main hall, with a height of 7.59 meters that holds a 3 meters sword, is the biggest Acala in Japan. It is believed that worshipping the Acala will protect you from any misfortunes (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Next to the Rendai Temple is the Yuga Shrine. Up until the Edo period (1603 – 1867), Shintoism and Buddhism were combined together. The Rendai Temple and Yuga Shrine have since become two different facilities after the Meiji government issued an order to separate Shintoism and Buddhism across the country.
One of the things that you may want to pay attention to is the shrine’s torii gate. Different from the other shrines in Japan that are typically made of wood or stone, this one is made of Bizen ware (備前焼) – a type of Japanese pottery that is Okayama Prefecture’s specialty. Even the lions at the two sides of the torii gate are made of Bizen ware!
And, if you visit the temple and the shrine in late March or early April, the flowers here will be gorgeous!
How to Get to Yugasan Rendai Temple and Yuga Shrine
The temple is a 15-minute drive from JR Kojima Station. Unfortunately, there aren’t any bus services that stop close to the temple at the moment…
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kojima.
Find out more Attractions in the Greater Kurashiki City
In addition to the attractions we have introduced above, there are many more places in the greater Kurashiki City that might interest you.
Refer to our article on Kurashiki City for more travel ideas!