Okayama - home to Korakuen, one of the three most lovely gardens in Japan. Kurashiki - where you can take a walk along streets preserved from the Edo Period. Bizen and Osafune - repositories of ancient traditional Japanese crafting techniques. All of these can be found in this area, a crossroads of history and culture. At the same time, it serves as an actual crossroads for both train service and highways going to Shikoku and the rest of western Honshu. Warm all year round, this region is known for fruits and seafood and could be called "the Aegean of Japan".



from Okayama Airport
Okayama : About 30 min. by a connected bus
Kurashiki : About 30 min. to JR Okayama station by a connected bus
About 14 min. to JR Kurashiki station from JR Okayama station by JR Sanyo Main Line
Takahashi : About 30 min. to JR Okayama station by a connected bus.
About 48 min. to JR Bicchutakahashi station from JR Okayama station by JR Hakubi line
Ushimado : About 30 min. to JR Okayama by the bus
About 22 min. to JR Oku station from JR Okayama station by JR Ako line
About 25 min. from JR Oku station by a local bus on regular route
 
Okayama city

Black Crow Castle and Korakuen Garden are the symbol of this cultural and historic town.
"Land of Sunshine" endowed with the warm climate.
The central city is a castle town with rich cultures
You can enjoy the old shrines/temples and streets

It was the original place of ancient Kibi culture and has flourished as a castle town under Ikeda clan's governance of 315,000 koku. There are the Okayama Castle called "Crow Castle" and the Korakuen Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Japan along the Asahi River which flows in the center of this city. The unique museums such as "Yumeji Takehisa Museum" and "Orient Museum" are scattered near them. In the suburb, there are the Kibitsu Shrine, streets of Ashimori, Saidai Temple that is famous for "Naked Festival".

 Soja city

Towns in the peaceful countryside on the Kibi Road
The folk tale of Momotaro fighting off devils traveled
The place where Sesshu was born and grown up
Now the five-story pagoda overlooks the Kibi road

There remains a legend of Ura in which Momotaro tale originated. This city is a center of Kibi Kingdom in the ancient times. The "Kinojo Castle" in the northern area of city was told to be an adobe of devils. In the countryside where the ancient burial mounds are scattered, there are the Bicchu-Kokubunji Temple with beautiful five-story pagoda and the Iyama Houfukuji Temple with a famous story which Sesshu drew a mouse by using his tears. Many people visit the "Kibi Road Lotus Festival" in spring.
倉敷市

Town of street moats, row of houses with white walls and Seto Ohashi Bridge
Willows swaying, warehouse mansions with white walls standing in a row along Kurashiki river
Taking an artistic walk along elegant streets
Further going to Mt. Washu looking out over Seto Ohashi Bridge

In old days, Kurashiki city flourished as key point of sea traffic. In Edo period, it became the territory under direct control of Edo government, then many warehouse mansions were built. It is said that is why this town was named “Kurashiki” (meaning warehouse mansion in Japanese). “Bikan chiku (legally designated fine sight area)” keeps the old town scene where you can enjoy the beautiful street moats and row of houses with white walls. This is also an artistic area where Ohara Museum of Art and many galleries are located. Nostalgic town houses stand side by side in Hommachi and Higashimachi. You can look out over Seto Ohashi Bridge, enjoying various beautiful island views in Kojima facing Seto Inland Sea.

 Bizen city

Original place of Bizen-Ware to attract the masters of ceremonial tea
Inbe town has the 1000-year-old history and many chimney pipes for kilns with stepped chambers
It produces the simple but elegant ceramics.

Inbe town is a ceramic town that has been actively producing the ceramics from a long time ago. Many potteries and galleries are scattered on the streets in this town. The "Bizen Ceramics Museum" stands next to JR Inbe station, which shows the history of Bizen-Ware. There is "Sizutani School" which is the oldest school for common people established by Mitsumasa Ikeda, clan lord in the mountain area. You can enjoy the fresh seafood and the scenic beauty of many islands of the Seto Inland Sea at the Hinase port.
Takahashi city

"Little Kyoto in Bicchu", which was developed by the pure Takanashi River
A castle town in the mountain area in the foggy weather in the river
Let's walk in the beautiful mountain castle and on the street of castle town
You should visit the "Nariwa in Fukiya".

The castle town in the mountain area has been called "Matsuyama" until Meiji period. The Bicchu Matsuyama Castle is built on the Mt. Gagyu dominating in the east area of town. There remain the old street scenes in the castle town and the samurai residences and tradesmen's houses. You should visit the "Konkawasuji" where the rows of cherry blossoms and willows are lined near the river and the Rikyuji Temple with the beautiful garden. There are Fukiya, a mine town that has flourished by Bengara and the luxurious Kokentei House in Naniwa.

 Ushimado town

Scenery and old towns reminding you of the Aegean
Appearance of an old port waiting for the wind/tide to turn
The Ushimado Bay from the olive hill called Aegean in Japan

A port town about which the tanka is composed in a Collection of a Myriad Leaves. This town is called "Ushimado Senken", where the Korean embassy was entertained as a sea route of Seto Inland Sea in the Edo period. The central area of town has lots of remnants of the Edo period. The hill overlooking the town/port is the olive garden. The yacht harbor is prepared in the port. So you can see the scenery reminding you of the Aegean. So it is attractive as a resort because of art activities.