Kurashiki City borders the Seto Inland Sea in the Chugoku region and is located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, west of Okayama City. It is designated as a core city and boasts the third largest total population in the Chugoku region.
Kurashiki City is formed by diverse areas with different characteristics, including the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area with its beautiful white-painted walls along the Kurashiki River, Kojima, a mecca for clothing production, school uniforms, and jeans, Mizushima, where you can visit one of Japan's leading factory complexes and enjoy night views of factories, and Tamashima, where foreign trade and a bullet train station are located. Tamashima is home to overseas trade and a Shinkansen station.
The Kurashiki area is the center of tourism. In the Edo period (1603-1867), the town flourished as a territory directly under the control of the shogunate. The Bikan Historical Quarter, with its beautiful white-walled streets, includes the Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki Folk Art Museum, Kurashiki Ivy Square, and the Kurashiki Archaeology Museum. Hommachi Street and Higashimachi Street offer a serene atmosphere where visitors can enjoy the scenery as it was in the past.
There are also other hot spots such as the Yumiko Igarashi Museum of Art and Mushibunko, making Kurashiki a sightseeing spot where you will discover something new every time you come.
Kojima is known as the birthplace of domestic jeans. Kojima developed as a textile town during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Kojima Jeans Street has many stores selling jeans, and you can experience making your own original jeans.
The former Nozaki Family Residence, located at the entrance of Jeans Street, is a nationally designated important cultural asset where visitors can learn about Takezaemon Nozaki, who once prospered as a salt producer. Visitors can also try their hand at salt making, and it is recommended to visit the area in conjunction with the salt making experience.
A little further away, at the foot of the Seto-ohashi Bridge, is the Shimotsui area where Washuzan Observatory is located, and the Shimotsui octopus is a must-try local delicacy. It is also a good idea to go see the dried octopus that has become a winter tradition in this area.
The Mizushima area, which has developed as an industrial town, is one of the leading waterfront industrial areas in Japan, known as the Mizushima Industrial Complex. The recommended way to enjoy the area is, of course, to experience industrial tourism. You can tour the factories of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation, JFE Steel Corporation, and others.
The night view of factories from Washuzan Skyline, which has been selected as one of the 100 best night views, is also worth seeing.
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is renowned for its picturesque streets, traditional Japanese architecture, and rich cultural heritage. Graceful willow trees line the banks of the Kurashiki River, their branches swaying gently in the breeze and casting reflections across the water. The contrast between white-plastered walls and distinctive black-and-white namako walls creates a striking lan...»
Kurashiki Burger is a distinctive local hamburger that brings together carefully selected ingredients from Okayama Prefecture. Loved by people of all ages, it has grown from a regional specialty into a popular food recognized well beyond the area....»
A Taste of the Seto Inland Sea Okayama Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading octopus-producing regions. The octopus caught off Shimotsui, in Kurashiki City, is particularly prized for its firm texture and rich flavor. The Seto Inland Sea currents around Shimotsui are especially strong, helping give the octopus its distinctive, pleasantly chewy bite....»
Experience the Delicate Flavor of Fresh Mantis Shrimp Mantis shrimp sashimi is a distinctive seafood delicacy made with fresh mantis shrimp caught in the Seto Inland Sea. The key to enjoying this dish is freshness. After the shrimp dies, enzymes in its body begin breaking down its own flesh, causing the meat to deteriorate and shrink. Serving mantis shrimp raw is therefore a sign that it has been...»
A Food Project to Put Soja on the Map Soja Dog was created in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, with the aim of revitalizing the local community and promoting the area's agricultural produce. To qualify as an official Soja Dog, a hot dog must contain at least two ingredients produced in Soja City. Only products recognized by the Soja Dog Promotion and Research Association can be sold under this name...»
Kasaoka Ramen is a local specialty from Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture, known for its soy sauce broth made from chicken bones and its distinctive topping of niwatori-niku, or simmered chicken, in place of the more common pork chashu. This simple yet deeply satisfying bowl offers a rich chicken flavor that reflects the area's culinary traditions....»
Shino udon is a distinctive local noodle dish from the Tamashima area of Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Its most striking feature is its unusually wide, long noodles, measuring approximately 2 cm across and around 1 meter in length. The noodles have a satisfyingly chewy texture, making this a hearty dish that offers plenty to enjoy with every bite....»
Bukkake udon is a popular noodle dish made with freshly boiled udon topped with a generous selection of ingredients and seasonings, then finished with a small amount of flavorful broth. In Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, this local specialty is known for its wide variety of toppings and its distinctive, richly flavored sauce. It can be enjoyed either hot or cold, making it a satisfying choice in ev...»
A delicious local burger featuring a purple sweet potato bun and a flavorful flounder patty. Tamageta Burger is a regional specialty from Tamano City in Okayama Prefecture. Its playful name combines “Tama,” a reference to Tamano, with “geta,” the local name for tongue sole, a type of flatfish prized as a regional delicacy....»
A local favorite combining savory sea eel with a rich, silky soft-cooked egg for an irresistible harmony of flavors. Tamano Ontama Meshi is a specialty from Tamano City in Okayama Prefecture. It is made by stir-frying plump, locally prized sea eel (anago), adding rice blended with assorted grains, and seasoning everything with a sweet-and-savory kabayaki sauce traditionally used for grilled eel....»
Among Okayama's white peaches, renowned throughout Japan for their exceptional flavor, fragrance, and beauty, Shimizu Hakuto stands at the very top. Often regarded as the finest of all white peach varieties, it is treasured for its sweet, captivating aroma and exquisitely pale skin that appears almost translucent. Known affectionately as the “Queen of Peaches,” Shimizu Hakuto embodies elegance an...»
Okayama is Japan’s leading producer of Muscat of Alexandria, accounting for approximately 90% of the nation’s total production. This prestigious grape has become one of the prefecture’s signature specialties. Okayama is celebrated as a fruit-growing paradise, and Muscat of Alexandria is one of its finest treasures. Its beautiful emerald-green skin and rich, fragrant flavor make it truly deserving...»
Located in southwestern Okayama Prefecture along the Seto Inland Sea, the former town of Yorishima, now part of Asakuchi City, is well known for its abundant seafood. Among its local specialties is gazami, a type of swimming crab prized for its rich flavor and succulent meat....»
Yoikigen is one of Okayama Prefecture’s long-established sake breweries. Its history dates back to 1907, when its founder, Watanabe Sutekichi, began brewing sake in Shimotsumichi Hoida Village, now part of Kurashiki City. Among the brewery’s offerings, its most popular product is Junmai Omachi Hekiten, a sake that showcases the distinctive character of Omachi rice. The brewery uses groundwater fi...»
Since its founding in 1877, Kikkodo Confectionery has been preserving the tradition of murasuzume, one of Kurashiki’s best-known local sweets. This distinctive confection is made by filling a thin, round, crepe-like wrapper with a generous portion of chunky sweet red bean paste prepared from carefully selected azuki beans grown in Hokkaido....»
Momotaro tomatoes are among Japan’s best-known tomato varieties. They are prized for their refreshing balance of sweetness and acidity, substantial weight, and firm skin and flesh that hold their shape even when fully ripe. These qualities also help them keep well. Dessert Tomato takes this popular tomato and transforms it into a unique sweet treat, using the fruit whole. The tomatoes are grown b...»
Fujito Manju is a traditional Japanese confection sold by Fujito Manju Honpo, a long-established sweet shop with its main store in Fujito Town, Kurashiki City. Alongside Murasuzume, it is one of Kurashiki’s best-known historic sweets and remains a popular favorite among local residents. The manju is said to have originally been sold at a teahouse within the grounds of Fujito-ji Temple, continuing...»
Ryokan Temari is a refined Japanese sweet made by Kashidokoro Hirai, a long-established confectionery founded in 1912. This traditional steamed bun, known as jōyo manjū, is inspired by the gentle spirit of Ryokan, a beloved Buddhist monk known for his kindness toward children. Ryokan believed that the innocent hearts of children reflected the true heart of the Buddha. According to stories passed ...»
Gokei Gorge is a beautiful ravine along the upper reaches of the Makidani River, a tributary of the Takahashi River. It stretches across the northern edge of Soja City and into Kibi-Chuo Town in Kaga District, Okayama Prefecture. Renowned for its dramatic rock formations and striking natural scenery, Gokei is counted among Japan’s five great scenic gorges and is one of the region’s most celebrated...»
The Ohara Museum of Art, located in the historic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, is Japan’s first private museum dedicated to Western art. Operated by the Ohara Museum of Art Foundation, it has become one of the region’s most important cultural landmarks. In 2003, its Annex was selected by DOCOMOMO Japan as one of the country’s outstanding examples of mode...»
Kō Hachimangu Shrine is located in the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Dedicated to the Hachiman deities, it has long served as the principal guardian shrine of the former Kotoura district, with deep ties to the communities of Shimonochō, Kaminomachi, Tanokuchi, and Karakoto. The shrine formerly held the rank of a prefectural shrine, reflecting its historical importance and long...»
Kumano Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the Gōnai area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It is also known as “Nihon Daiichi Kumano Junisha Gongen-gu,” reflecting its long-standing connection with the religious traditions of the Kumano region. The shrine enshrines four deities: Izanami, Izanagi, Ketsumiko, and Hayatama no O, and its arrangement of sanctuary buildings follows a sty...»
Mount Yuga, located in Kojima-Yuga, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, refers to a mountain, a group of religious sites, and the surrounding area. The name is also commonly used to describe the entire district, which is often simply called Yuga. The mountain's formal name is Yugasan, written with the characters 瑜伽山, while Yuga-san (由加山) is the more familiar everyday name. The area forms part of t...»
Yuga Shrine Hongu is located on Mount Yuga in the Kojima area of southern Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Formerly classified as a prefectural shrine, it is an independent religious corporation that operates outside the jurisdiction of the Association of Shinto Shrines. With a long history and distinctive religious traditions, the shrine continues to attract worshippers from the local communit...»
Yuga-san Rendai-ji is a prominent Shingon Buddhist temple of the Omuro school, located in the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It holds the status of a special head temple and takes Mount Yuga as its mountain name. Its principal objects of worship are the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva and Yuga Daigongen. The temple is also the sixth pilgrimage site on the Chūgoku Thirty-Three ...»
Kurashiki Yuga Onsen is a historic hot spring located in Yuga, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. The area is best known for Kurashiki Yuga Onsen Hotel Mitomo, a secluded hot spring inn nestled on the slopes of Mount Yuga. Visitors can enjoy both day-use bathing and overnight stays. Nearby stand Yuga-san Rendai-ji Temple and Yuga Shrine Hongu, two important religious sites that have long ...»
Gion Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It is also known locally as Shimotsui Gion Shrine and has long been revered as a guardian deity of the community. With its strong ties to the area's maritime heritage, the shrine has played an important role in local religious life for generations....»
Shimotsui Castle was a Japanese hilltop castle located in Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It was built at a strategically important point overlooking the Bisan Seto Strait, a key maritime passage that has played an important role in military affairs and shipping since ancient times. Today, the ruins are designated a Historic Site by Okayama Prefecture and offer visitors an opportuni...»
Washuzan Highland, officially known as Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland, is an amusement park located in Shimotsui Fukiage, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Famous for its breathtaking views of the Seto Inland Sea and the Seto Ohashi Bridge, the park combines exhilarating rides with lively entertainment and events. Visitors can enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery while experiencing everything fr...»
Washuzan Fukiage Onsen is a hot spring resort in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, renowned for its magnificent views of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea. Located within Washu Blue Resort Kasago, the hot spring offers visitors a relaxing retreat where they can enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding coastline while unwinding in soothing mineral waters....»
Mount Washuzan is a mountain located in Tanoura, Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, near the southern tip of the Kojima Peninsula. It is one of the best-known scenic destinations in Setonaikai National Park, which was designated Japan's first national park. The mountain takes its name from its resemblance to an eagle spreading its wings when viewed from the northeast....»
The Former Nozaki Residence and Nozaki Family Salt Industry Museum are located in the Ajino district of Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. This historic residence and museum preserve the legacy of the Nozaki family, who prospered through salt production and land reclamation during the late Edo period (1603–1868). Built by Buzaemon Nozaki, a successful salt producer and entrepreneur, the r...»
The Ohashi Residence is a traditional townhouse located in Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, it is one of the city's finest examples of historic merchant architecture. The residence was built in 1796, during the Edo period, by the prosperous Ohashi family, who accumulated considerable wealth through land reclamation and agricultural devel...»
The former Ohara Family Residence is a historic property in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Located in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, this distinguished residence preserves the legacy of one of the families that played a major role in the city's commercial, cultural, and industrial development. Today, it welcomes visitors as Kataraiz...»
Kurashiki Ivy Square is a hotel-centered complex in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, located within the historic Kurashiki Bikan District. Its striking red-brick buildings covered in green ivy create one of the area's most distinctive sights. The complex preserves the legacy of Japan's industrial modernization during the Meiji period (1868–1912), offering visitors a unique blend of history, arc...»
The Kurabo Memorial Hall is a corporate museum located within Kurashiki Ivy Square in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It tells the story of Kurabo Industries and the development of Japan's textile industry. The building was originally constructed in 1888, when Kurashiki Spinning Mill was founded, to store raw cotton. Today, this historic structure is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property ...»
Senkōji Temple, officially known as Iōzan Senkōji, is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in Okada, Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. With a long history and deep ties to the local community, this peaceful temple is one of the area's important religious and cultural landmarks. Its quiet grounds offer visitors a chance to experience the traditions of Japanese Zen Buddhism and discover a...»
Kurashiki City Mabi Furusato History Museum is located in Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, within Ōike Furusato Park. The museum preserves and shares the area's history and cultural heritage, helping ensure that the stories of the region and its people are passed on to future generations....»
Seishi Yokomizo's Evacuation Residence is a historic house in Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. The celebrated mystery novelist lived here with his family for approximately four years, from 1945, during the final stages of World War II, until July 1948, after the war had ended. Today, the house is open to the public in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Yokomizo's birth, welcom...»
Makibi Park is located in Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Designed with the atmosphere of an ancient Chinese garden, it offers visitors a distinctive landscape of traditional architectural features, flowing water, ponds, and carefully selected trees. The park was created to commemorate the erection of a monument to Kibi no Makibi in Xi'an, China. As you stroll through its grounds, y...»
Okada Ōike Pond is a historic irrigation pond located in Okada, Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It lies within Ōike Furusato Park, northwest of the Kurashiki City Mabi Furusato History Museum. A bridge on the eastern shore connects the pond to Benten Island, where a small shrine stands amid the tranquil surroundings. With its calm waters, wildlife, and connections to local history ...»
Kibiji Temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple of the Omuro school located in Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Kyōrinzan, and its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine and Healing. The statue is traditionally attributed to the renowned Buddhist priest Gyōki, although it is kept as a hidden Buddha and is not ordinarily displayed to the public....»
Sami Coast is a seaside park located in Tamashima-Kurosaki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It is widely known as the site of Japan's first designated swimming beach. Along with Shibukawa Beach in Tamano City, it is one of Okayama Prefecture's best-known seaside destinations. The coast features a beautiful sandy shoreline selected for the “100 Best Beaches in Japan,” attracting visitors from a...»
Fudarakuzan Entsūji is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple in Tamashima, in the western part of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Its principal deity is Shō Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The temple is an important pilgrimage site, serving as No. 7 on the Chūgoku Thirty-Three Kannon Temple Pilgrimage, No. 17 on the Sanyō Twenty-Four Flower Temples Pilgrimage, No. 1 on the Bitchū Asakuchi Thirty-T...»
Kikuchi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a sake producer and retailer located in Tamashima Agasaki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Its signature brand is Sanzen, a Japanese sake known for its smooth flavor and clean finish. The brewery is particularly distinctive because its president and master brewer, Azuma Kikuchi, is also a musician. During the brewing process, Mozart's music plays throughout th...»
The Tamashima Historic Townscape Preservation District is located in the Tamashima area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It was designated as a prefectural townscape preservation district by Okayama Prefecture in 1995. The district consists of two types of preservation areas: a priority townscape improvement area and a surrounding landscape preservation area. It encompasses three historic n...»
Fujitoji Temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple belonging to the Kōyasan tradition, located in Fujito, Fujito-chō, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Fudarakusan, and its principal image is the Thousand-Armed Kannon. The temple is widely known as “Fujito no Odaishi-sama” and as a place of memorial worship for those who died in the Genpei War....»
The Kurashiki City Museum of Natural History is located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, next to the historic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. It stands alongside the Kurashiki City Library and Kurashiki City Art Museum. Opened on November 3, 1983, the museum presents a wide range of exhibits devoted to natural history. The three-story building contains four permanent exhibition rooms an...»
Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki is a large outlet shopping mall in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It is part of the Mitsui Outlet Park chain operated by the Mitsui Fudosan Group. The complex was developed on the former site of an urban theme park near the north exit of JR Kurashiki Station and opened in 2011....»
The Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft is located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. This registered museum preserves and displays folkcraft objects associated with everyday life from Japan and around the world. Operated by the Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft Foundation, it introduces visitors to the beauty of traditional craftsmanship while helping safeguard cultural heritage for future generations....»
Achi Shrine stands at the summit of Mount Tsurugata in Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Revered for centuries as the city's guardian shrine, it offers sweeping views over the historic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. The grounds feature a traditional Noh stage, an ancient garden inspired by the mythical island of immortality, and the celebrated Achi Wisteria, a tree estimated to be...»
Mount Tsurugata is a 40-meter-high hill in central Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Long cherished as a place of religious devotion and natural beauty, it has played an important role in the area's history and culture. The hill is also known as Myōkenzan and Achiyama, names that reflect its long-standing spiritual significance....»
Kōmorizuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound located in Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site of Japan, it is believed to be the tomb of a powerful ancient leader of the Kibi region. Its excavated artifacts have also been designated Important Tangible Cultural Properties by Sōja City. Along with two other major burial mounds, it is recognized as one of Okayama Pre...»
Yata Ōtsuka Kofun is a circular burial mound located in Yata, Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It is designated as a National Historic Site of Japan. One of its excavated artifacts, the pommel of a single-phoenix ring-pommeled sword, is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Kurashiki City. Together with Musa Ōtsuka Kofun in Okayama City and Kōmoritsuka Kofun in Sōja City, i...»
Bitchū-no-Kuni Sōja Shrine is located in Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Formerly classified as a prefectural shrine, its official name is simply Sōja. Situated near the site of the ancient provincial government, it served as a central place of worship where deities from numerous shrines throughout Bitchū Province were enshrined together....»
Hōfukuji Temple is a temple of the Tōfukuji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, located in Ijirino, Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Iyama, and its principal image is Kokūzō Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Space and Wisdom. Also known as Hōfuku Zenji, the temple is famous as the place where Sesshū, the celebrated Muromachi-period Zen monk and ink painter, practiced as a child. With its t...»
Ki-no-jō Castle is an ancient mountain fortress built near the summit of Mount Kijō in Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Classified as a type of ancient Japanese mountain castle known as a kōgoishi-style fortress, it is no longer an active castle. However, sections of its defensive walls and the West Gate have been reconstructed, allowing visitors to appreciate something of its original appearance. ...»
Bitchū Kokubunji Temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple of the Omuro school located in Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Nisshōzan, and its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine and Healing. The temple is regarded as the successor to the original provincial temple for Bitchū Province, one of the kokubunji temples established throughout Japan by imperial order dur...»
Suntopia Okayama Soja is a large private leisure and resort facility located in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture. Covering approximately 180,000 square meters, the expansive grounds offer a wide range of recreational facilities, including one of western Japan’s largest leisure pools. The resort also features comfortable accommodations, restaurants, and numerous facilities for sports and relaxation. ...»
Bisei Astronomical Observatory is a public observatory located in Bisei Town, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. Situated on elevated ground on the Kibi Plateau, it offers panoramic views in every direction, providing an expansive view of the sky. The observatory is known for its impressive 101-centimeter-aperture telescope, making it one of Japan's notable astronomical facilities. It welcomes a wide...»
Chūsei Yumegahara is a historical park located in Bisei Town, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. Affectionately known as Yumegahara, the park recreates a Japanese village from the medieval period. The wider Chūsei Yumegahara area consists of several zones and can broadly include Bisei Astronomical Observatory, while the name is also used more specifically for the historical park zone. This guide focu...»
The Sōja City Machikado Local History Museum is a local history museum in Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. It occupies the former Sōja Police Station, a building constructed in 1910 during the Meiji period (1868–1912). It is the only surviving Western-style building from the Meiji era in Sōja City and now serves as a valuable place to explore the region’s history, culture, and traditional industries...»
The Takahashi River is a major river in western Okayama Prefecture and the principal waterway of the Takahashi River system. Along with the Yoshii and Asahi rivers, it is counted among Okayama’s three major rivers and has the largest drainage basin in the prefecture. Its extensive river system reaches beyond Okayama into Hiroshima Prefecture, supporting the natural environment, history, and cultur...»
The Kasaoka Islands lie in the central Seto Inland Sea and belong to Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture. Also known collectively as the Bitchū Islands, the archipelago consists of more than 30 islands of various sizes. The islands are part of Setonaikai National Park and were recognized as a Japan Heritage site in 2019. Eight of the islands are inhabited: Sashidejima, Takashima, Shiraishijima, Ki...»
Kitagishima Island is an inhabited island in the Kasaoka Islands, an archipelago in the Seto Inland Sea belonging to Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture. It lies approximately 15 km south of Kasaoka Port and is renowned for its high-quality granite, known as Kitagi Stone....»
The Kasaoka City Horseshoe Crab Museum is located in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture. Known as the world's only museum dedicated specifically to horseshoe crabs, it offers visitors a fascinating introduction to these remarkable marine animals and other ancient forms of life. The building itself is an attraction: when viewed from above, its distinctive design resembles the shape of a horseshoe cra...»
Dinosaur Park, located next to the Kasaoka City Horseshoe Crab Museum in Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture, offers visitors the chance to feel as though they have stepped back into the age of dinosaurs. The park is divided into three zones—Forest, Desert, and Sea—each featuring different prehistoric creatures. All the dinosaur models are life-size, with a total of eight models representing seven species...»
The Ikasa Railway Memorial Museum is a railway heritage facility located in Yamaguchi, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture. It occupies the former Nii-yama Station on the main line of the Ikasa Railway. Established in 1981, the museum preserves and displays valuable materials related to the railway, which served local communities for approximately 60 years. Its purpose is to pass on the history and a...»
Shiraishijima Island is part of the Kasaoka Islands in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture. Covering an area of 2.86 square kilometers and rising to 169 meters at its highest point on Mount Tateishi, the island had a population of 750 in 2001. The entire island is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and forms part of Setonaikai National Park....»
The Hirakushi Denchū Art Museum, located in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, preserves and exhibits works associated with Denchū Hirakushi, one of the great sculptors of modern Japan. The museum reopened on April 18, 2023, under its current name, changing from Ibara City Tanaka Art Museum. With expanded exhibition and storage spaces, it has become a renewed cultural hub where visitors can discover ...»
Denchū-en is a beautiful Japanese garden in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, best known for its Chinese scholar tree and seasonal foliage. Named in honor of the celebrated sculptor Denchū Hirakushi, the garden is a beloved place of relaxation for local residents. Its carefully arranged landscape, flowing water, and changing colors throughout the year offer visitors a tranquil setting in which to ap...»
Hanatori Otsuka Art Museum is located in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, and is operated by the Takaya Cultural Foundation. It is a registered museum in Okayama Prefecture that opened in 1994. Its inauguration also attracted attention as a corporate cultural sponsorship initiative commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Takaya Group. The museum houses a collection of approximat...»
Tōshōji is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the southern part of Yakage Town, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Funakizan, and its principal image is Hōkan Shaka Nyorai, a crowned representation of Shakyamuni Buddha. Set in a quiet mountain landscape, the temple is known as a traditional center of Zen training in a region that once flourished as a historic post town....»
The Former Yakage Honjin, the Ishii Family Residence, is a historic property in Yakage Town, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture. It once served as the honjin, or official inn, of Yakage-juku, a post town along the Saigoku Highway. During the Edo period (1603–1868), it provided accommodation for feudal lords traveling between their domains and Edo, present-day Tokyo, under the system of alternate att...»
The Former Yakage Wakihonjin, the Takakusa Family Residence, is a historic property in Yakage Town, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture. It once served as a wakihonjin, a secondary official inn in Yakage-juku along the Saigoku Highway. The Takakusa family supported the main honjin by accommodating travelers when necessary and became prosperous through finance. The family also served as a financial ag...»
Okayama Astronomical Museum is a science museum in Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture, where visitors can explore the wonders of the universe in an engaging and accessible way. Featuring a planetarium, solar observation facilities, and interactive exhibits incorporating advanced technology, the museum offers opportunities to learn about astronomy and discover the mysteries of space. From the observ...»
Tenjin Gorge is a picturesque valley along the Oda River in Yoshii, Yoshii-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. Designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by Okayama Prefecture, it is also part of the Upper Takahashi River Prefectural Natural Park. Visitors can enjoy its beautiful natural scenery throughout the year. The gorge takes its name from Tenjin Shrine, which is enshrined within the va...»
Yomeirazu Kannon-in is an independent Shingon Buddhist temple located in Ōe-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. Its official name is Hinoshiriyama Yomeirazu Kannon-in, and it is the 21st temple on the Setouchi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. The temple is widely known for its revered Kannon, affectionately called “Yomeirazu Kannon,” or the Kannon who makes a daughter-in-law unnecessary. The name reflects ...»