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[Okayama ]A lot of places to enjoy! 7 recommended sightseeing spots in Okayama

[Okayama ]A lot of places to enjoy! 7 recommended sightseeing spots in Okayama

2022-01-12 Management office

Okayama, where the Shinkansen bullet train stops, has everything. However, if you come to Okayama for sightseeing, we recommend that you see things that can only be seen in Okayama. You can also enjoy delicious gourmet meals, such as oyster yaki, ramen, hormone yakisoba (fried noodles with hormone), and other specialties. We will introduce such attractive sightseeing spots in Okayama. Please refer to them as reference for sightseeing in Okayama.
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Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter



This is a beautiful sightseeing area where visitors can enjoy quaint buildings with white walls along the river.
It is a perfect place for strolling, as all of the buildings are full of emotion and go on forever. There are also many denim stores, a specialty of Okayama, stylish cafes, fashionable general stores, etc., as well as crepes and ice cream stores where you can eat and drink. The Kurashiki River can also be sighted by taking a ride on the Kurashiki River Boat Float Ride. The Ohara Museum of Art and Ivy Square are also located in the Bikan Historical Quarter, making it a street where you can satisfy all your food and sightseeing needs.

Each of the stores is stylish!



The buildings and stores in the Bikan Historical Quarter are very well matched, and the streets are so full of attention to detail that it is a very time consuming and tasteful district to see each one.
The shop offers souvenirs, but it is also a place where you will want to carefully select the items you want to buy especially for yourself.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area
Address: Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 710-0054
Phone number: 086-421-0224
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This district enjoys quaint buildings with white walls along the river. To ensure that the beauty of the area is protected, the old buildings stand side by side and contain many fashionable stores.
URL:https://www.city.kurashiki.okayama.jp/6219.htm

Seto-ohashi Bridge Memorial Park



This is a long railroad-road bridge connecting Shikoku and Okayama. The JR line runs under the bridge and the upper part is accessible by car. With a length of 12,300 m, it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest road-rail bridge. The bridge became famous as an epoch-making bridge because until the construction of the Seto-ohashi Bridge, the only connection between Shikoku and Honshu was by ferry. The JR line that runs under the bridge is still in service as the Marine Liner (double-decker train).

The view directly below can be seen from the Hayashima side!

From the Hayashima side, you can see directly under the Seto Ohashi Bridge, and the area directly under the bridge is famous as an Instagram spot. There is a small park and a corner for taking commemorative photos. The area around the bridge is famous for octopus, and visitors can enjoy eating octopus and other delicious seafood. Washuzan is also close to the Seto-ohashi Bridge Commemorative Park, so it is recommended to drop by Washuzan Highland and Washuzan Observatory.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Seto-ohashi Bridge Memorial Park
Address: 2-369-2, Fukiage, Shimotsui, Kurashiki, Okayama 711-0926
Tel: 086-473-1116 (Construction Division, Kojima Branch Office, Kurashiki City)
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: The bridge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest combined railway-road bridge, connecting Shikoku and Honshu. There is a park directly under the bridge.
URL:https://www.city.kurashiki.okayama.jp/4712.htm

Yoshibetsu Shrine



This is the Kibitsu Shrine where the legend of Momotaro remains. You can see the stage of the legend related to the extermination of ogres.
The 360-meter long corridor is slightly sloping and is a must-see spot that is rarely seen. The main shrine is a national treasure and is a large shrine with very extensive grounds.
The Narukama ritual is also famous for divining good or bad by the sound of the kettle, which is free of charge for those who receive prayers. The fee for the Narukama ritual alone is 3,000 yen. The sound of the kettle is said to be heard in different ways by different people.

It can also be used for marriage, marital bliss, and increased cash income!



Kibitsu Shrine is said to bring good luck for match-making, marital bliss, safe childbirth and child-rearing, longevity, and increased cash income, making it a sightseeing spot to visit at every milestone, even from afar.
There are about 1,500 hydrangea plants in the garden, and in early summer, the hydrangeas are in full bloom, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
In fact, it is said that visiting only Kibitsu Shrine is a one-sided visit, while visiting the nearby Kibitsuhiko Shrine is a double visit, so please visit both.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Kibitsu Shrine (Kibitsu Jinja)
Address: 〒701-1341 931 Yoshibetsu, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama
Phone number: 086-287-4111
Hours: 5:00 - 17:30 (subject to seasonal changes)
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This is the Kibitsu Shrine where the legend of Momotaro remains. It is famous for the Narukama ritual, in which good and bad fortune are divined by the sound of the kettle's clanging.
URL:https://kibitujinja.com/

Garlic Hill Plateau



Hiruzen Plateau, with its ski slopes in winter, fresh greenery in spring, sunflower plateau in summer, and endless cosmos fields in autumn, is located on the border of Okayama Prefecture, and is a popular tourist spot for its wonderful endless plateau scenery. Hiruzen Kogen is also home to an amusement park and delicious local dairy products, making it a sightseeing spot where visitors can enjoy themselves all day long. Hiruzen Yakisoba, a recent winner of the B-class gourmet food competition, is also available, as well as a variety of lodging facilities, including hot springs. Of course, camping is also available.

Cosmos that goes on forever!



The nature is just beautiful in this highland. Cows from Hiruzen Jersey Land can be seen here and there, and visitors can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Hiruzen is a summer resort that is also known as the Karuizawa of the Chugoku region. Recently, the GREENable HIRUZEN building, designed by Kengo Kuma, has been constructed and houses a visitor center, Hiruzen Museum, experience programs, etc., as well as bicycle rental services. It is open to the public, so please feel free to enter.

"Facility Information "
Name of facility: Hiruzenkogen Plateau
Address: Kawakami and Yatsuka, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture 719-3100
Phone number: 0867-66-3611
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This is a summer resort, also known as Karuizawa in the Chugoku region. It can be enjoyed all year round with ski slopes in winter, fresh greenery in spring, sunflower plateau in summer, and cosmos fields in autumn.
URL:https://www.maniwa.or.jp/hiruzen/

Available in Matsuyama City



It is the highest mountain castle in Japan, and depending on the season and time of day, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle can be seen floating in a sea of clouds from the opposite mountain. The castle itself is very unusual in that it is located on top of Gagyu Mountain at an elevation of 430 meters, making it one of Okayama's most popular tourist attractions.
The castle itself is also a spot of great interest, with its large stone walls made from bedrock, earthen walls designated as a National Important Cultural Property, and double turrets.

From the 8th station, you will be on foot!



You can drive to the 8th station of the Fuigo Pass where Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is located, but from there you will have to walk along the stairs and boardwalk. There are many places of interest along the trail, so it should not be too difficult to walk there.
Please note that there is the Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Cloud Sea Observation Deck on the mountain across the street, and the route is slightly different from that one.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Bicchu Matsuyama Castle
Address: 1 Yamashita, Takahashi City, Okayama 716-0004
Phone number: 0866-22-1487
Hours: 9:00 - 17:30 October - March 9:00 - 16:30
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays
I give the calculation: adults 500 yen / elementary and middle school students 200 yen
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This is the highest mountain castle in Japan. Depending on the season and time of day, you can see Bicchu Matsuyama Castle floating in the sea of clouds from the opposite mountain.
URL:http://www.city.takahashi.lg.jp/soshiki/9/shiro4240131.html

Yubara Onsen



This hot spring resort is located downstream from the Yubara Dam. There are many classical ryokan (Japanese-style inns), and one hot spring is said to have been modeled after the one in the Spirited Away movie.
The hot spring resort stands along the river, and there is a mixed bathing open-air bath just below the dam. 24-hour access makes it a popular tourist attraction. Since the hot spring resort is considered a secluded spot deep in the forest, it is a secluded spot with many motorcycles and bicycles.

Day-trip bathing also available!



Since day-trip bathing is available at all hotels and inns, including the open-air bath Sunayu, we recommend that you use the baths to take a bath while driving home.
The Hiruzen Kogen Plateau is located nearby, so it is also a good place for sightseeing in combination with the Hiruzen Kogen Plateau.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Yubara Onsen
Address: 〒717-0402 Yubara Onsen, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture
Phone number: 0867-62-2526 (Yubara Onsen Sunayu)
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This hot spring resort is located downstream from the Yubara Dam, which is considered an unexplored region. There is a free mixed bathing open-air bath, and the town is full of emotion.
URL:https://www.maniwa.or.jp/yubara/


Ushimado Olive Garden



Ushimado Olive Garden, located overlooking the sea in Ushimado, which is called the Aegean Sea of Japan, has 2,000 olive trees on its 10 hectares of land, making it the largest olive grove in Japan, the same size as the Shodoshima Olive Garden. Every year on the fourth Saturday of October, a festival is held to celebrate the harvesting of olives, oil pressing demonstrations, and paella cooked in a large pot.
The park is home to the Amidasan Tomb, a store, café, and lodging facilities. Of course, visitors can also take a stroll through the olive grove.

Aegean Sea of Japan



You can have the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea and its chain of small islands, which is so beautiful that it is called the Aegean Sea of Japan, all to yourself.
There is also an olive store in the olive grove and an observation deck. There are also original goods that can only be purchased here.
Surrounded by a yacht harbor, excellent gelato stores, and many gourmet restaurants, all of Ushimado, with the olive grove at its center, is a sightseeing spot.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Ushimado Olive Garden
Address: 412-1 Ushimado, Ushimado Town, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, 701-4302
Phone number: 0869-34-2370
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This olive grove is located overlooking the sea in Ushimado, which is called the Aegean Sea of Japan. It is the main tourist attraction in Ushimado.
URL:http://nippon-olive.info/

summary

Okayama is actually a large city. The main roads are concentrated in the south, and there are many conveniences and things to shop on that side, while many unexplored areas with magnificent nature remain in the north.
Even in the same Okayama, the image will change depending on where you go, so we recommend that you take the time to tour around. We hope you will enjoy sightseeing in Okayama.

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