JAPAN

Okayama

Journey through time in sunshine.

Saigen Jiro · CC0

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Okayama

Kairo

About 400 metres in all, running in waves along the contours of the ground.

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Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0

Takahashi

Bitchu Matsuyama-jo

A surviving keep, standing higher than any other in Japan. It floats on a sea of cloud.

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203296578@N04 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Bizen

Bizen Ware

One of the six ancient kilns of Japan. No glaze: the colour comes from clay and flame alone.

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"Okayama prefecture guide album", publ… · Public domain ↗

Okayama

Saijo Inari

Even after the separation of Shinto and Buddhism it did not become a shrine, but kept enshrining Inari as a temple: a rare case. Its formal name is Myokyoji.

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663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

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Mimasaka, Tsuyama & HiruzenHot Springs, Nature & Scenery · 27 entries

OkayamaShrines & Temples, Art & Crafts · 22 entries

KurashikiShrines & Temples, Architecture · 21 entries

TsuyamaShrines & Temples, Architecture · 8 entries

TakahashiArchitecture, Shrines & Temples · 7 entries

SojaShrines & Temples, Castles & History · 5 entries

FEATUREOkayama now (autumn)Autumn colors sweep across Shizutani School and the Hiruzen Highlands.See the feature 津山市立図書館 Public Library of Tsuyama · CC BY 2.0

Shop Kojima DenimBrowse workshops and boutiques in the birthplace of Japanese jeans.

Make Bizen WareTry the ancient art of unglazed Bizen pottery, shaped by clay and flame.

Cycle HiruzenRide or drive through highland pastures framed by mountain scenery.

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Q. What do people get wrong about IC cards (Suica, PASMO) in Japan?

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Q. What do people get wrong about coin lockers and luggage forwarding in Japan?

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Q. What do people get wrong about Golden Week, Obon and New Year travel?

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REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

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Kabaya Foods Okayama Plant

Fukiya Bengara Museum

Kuroshima Venus Road

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Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.

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THINGS TO DO / 6

Things to do in this prefecture

Choose from what you can only do here.

01Stroll KorakuenWander through the lawns, ponds and borrowed scenery of a celebrated Japanese garden.See related entries →Fjkelfeimvvn · CC BY 3.0

02Explore KurashikiExplore museums and merchant houses beside Kurashiki's willow-lined canal.See related entries →663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0

03Make Bizen WareTry the ancient art of unglazed Bizen pottery, shaped by clay and flame.See related entries →"Okayama prefecture guide album", publ… · Public domain

04Shop Kojima DenimBrowse workshops and boutiques in the birthplace of Japanese jeans.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0

05Cycle HiruzenRide or drive through highland pastures framed by mountain scenery.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0

06Pick Seasonal FruitPick and taste peaches, grapes and other fruit nurtured by Okayama's sunshine.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0

NEED TO KNOW

At a glance

AirportOkayama Momotaro Airport
ShinkansenOkayama Station
From TokyoAbout 3 hr 15 min by shinkansen
Best seasonMarch–May and October–November
Local specialtiesBara-zushi · Demi-glace katsudon · White peach
Typical temperatureSummer: around 28°C / Winter: around 5°C

See all 298 entries in this prefecture →

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

What each season brings

ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0

Spring

MAR–MAY

Cherry blossoms brighten Korakuen Garden and the Tsuyama Castle ruins.

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663highland · CC BY 2.5

Summer

JUN–AUG

Peaches and grapes ripen as the Seto Inland Sea invites island excursions.

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津山市立図書館 Public Library of Tsuyama · CC BY 2.0

Autumn

SEP–NOV

Autumn colors sweep across Shizutani School and the Hiruzen Highlands.

See recommendations for this season →

Koda6029 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Winter

DEC–FEB

Enjoy a quieter season among Kurashiki's white walls and mountain hot springs.

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LOCAL FOOD / 12

Local food

What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.

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Matsurizushi

A scattered sushi in which vinegared rice mixed with seasoned vegetables is topped with a colorful arrangement of Spanish mackerel, conger eel, shrimp, squid, mogai ark shell and shredded egg crepe. Also called barazushi.

Area：Throughout the prefecture

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Mamakari no suzuke

Mamakari with the head and innards removed is opened along the belly and boned, salted, then marinated in a sweet vinegar of vinegar, sugar, salt, kombu and ginger.

Area：Seto Inland Sea coast

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Hiruzen okowa

Chicken, dried shiitake, fried tofu, chestnuts, burdock and carrot are simmered with sugar and soy sauce, combined with glutinous rice and barley and steamed, and the cooking liquid is sprinkled over as water to finish.

Area：Hiruzen area, Maniwa

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Sawara no Kōko Sushi

Spanish mackerel that has been salted and marinated in vinegar is sliced on the diagonal and mixed, together with shredded takuan pickles from which the saltiness has been drawn out, into vinegared rice cooked with kombu.

Area：Bizen (Hinase area)

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Todomese

Dried shiitake, carrot, burdock, kanpyo gourd strips, chikuwa, dried shrimp, chicken and taro are stir-fried and cooked together with the rice, and vinegar is mixed in once it is done. Topped with glazed grilled conger eel and shredded egg crepe.

Area：Setouchi

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Takomeshi (Octopus with Rice)

Octopus legs, rubbed with salt to remove the sliminess, are cut into small pieces and cooked into rice together with ginger, dashi, soy sauce and mirin. Chopped green onion is mixed in at the end.

Area：Kurashiki

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Buri Zouni (Japanese Amberjack Soup with Mochi Rice Cakes)

Root vegetables such as daikon, carrot, burdock and lily bulb are simmered in dashi, yellowtail is added, the soup is seasoned with soy sauce and sake, and it is served in a bowl with round mochi boiled separately.

Area：Takahashi

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Demi Katsu Don (Demi-glace Sauced Pork Cutlet on Rice)

A rice bowl with shredded cabbage laid over the rice, a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet on top, and a dark brown sauce made with red wine and other ingredients poured over it.

Area：Okayama

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Horumon Udon (Offal Fried Udon)

Beef or pork offal is stir-fried over high heat, then cabbage, onion, long green onion, bean sprouts and udon are added and seasoned with a sauce. A fried udon dish.

Area：Tsuyama

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Kinira-no-Ohitashi (Boiled Yellow Chives in Ponzu Soy Sauce)

Yellow garlic chives grown shielded from sunlight are blanched briefly so that they keep some bite, cooled in cold water, and seasoned with ponzu, sesame oil and soy sauce.

Area：Okayama, Akaiwa

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Iidako no nitsuke (Simmered Ocellated octopus)

Ocellated octopus rubbed with salt to remove the sliminess is first simmered gently in plain water, then simmered until tender under a drop lid in a broth of soy sauce, mirin and sugar.

Area：Kurashiki

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Kenbiki yaki

Dough of wheat flour kneaded with boiling water is wrapped around adzuki bean paste to make dumplings, which are wrapped in myoga leaves and grilled until both sides are browned.

Area：Niimi

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

MICHI-NO-EKI / 17

Michi-no-Eki roadside stations

RestInformationLocal links

Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.

Kamogawa EnjoKibichuo, Kaga DistrictRegistered November 1993Official site
Gaisen-zakura Shinjo-jukuShinjo, Maniwa DistrictRegistered November 1993Official site
AwakurandoNishiawakura, Aida DistrictRegistered August 1994Official site
KumenanKumenan, Kume DistrictRegistered August 1995Official site
Miyama KoenTamanoRegistered April 1996Official site
Ipponmatsu TenboenSetouchiRegistered April 1996Official site
Kuroisan Green ParkSetouchiRegistered April 1996Official site
Hiruzen KogenManiwaRegistered August 1996Official site
KoigakuboNiimiRegistered August 1996Official site
Saisai ChayaMimasakaRegistered October 1997Official site
Kaze-no-IeManiwaRegistered October 1997Official site
Okutsu OnsenKagamino, Tomata DistrictRegistered August 1999Official site

There are 17 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).

Source: MLIT register of Michi-no-Eki

LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2

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CITIES & TOWNS / 18

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Sorted by number of entries. Start from the name of a town.

Mimasaka, Tsuyama & Hiruzen 27 Okayama 22 Kurashiki 21 Tsuyama 8 Takahashi 7 Soja 5 Setouchi 5 Bizen 5 Maniwa 4 Kasaoka 2 Ibara 2 Tamano 1 Akaiwa 1 Nishiawakura 1 Soja and others 1 Nagi 1 Yakage 1 Mimasaka 1

INTERESTS / 15

Find by interest

Only the interests found in this prefecture.

Kibitsu Jinja · 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0

Shrines & Temples27 entries

Kibitsu Jinja ／ Kibitsuhiko Jinja

Okayama

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Recommended information

Things worth knowing about Japan

Meet the Japan you don't know yet.

Japan's value, to the world.

Official and local Instagram photos

Things to do in this prefecture

At a glance

What each season brings

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Local food

Matsurizushi

Mamakari no suzuke

Hiruzen okowa

Sawara no Kōko Sushi

Todomese

Takomeshi (Octopus with Rice)

Buri Zouni (Japanese Amberjack Soup with Mochi Rice Cakes)

Demi Katsu Don (Demi-glace Sauced Pork Cutlet on Rice)

Horumon Udon (Offal Fried Udon)

Kinira-no-Ohitashi (Boiled Yellow Chives in Ponzu Soy Sauce)

Iidako no nitsuke (Simmered Ocellated octopus)

Kenbiki yaki

Michi-no-Eki roadside stations

People posting this area

Find by city or town

Find by interest

Shrines & Temples27 entries

Nature & Scenery16 entries

Hot Springs13 entries

Historic Districts8 entries

Castles & History2 entries

Gardens1 entries

Architecture19 entries

Museums9 entries

Art & Crafts33 entries

Contemporary Art4 entries

Craft Experiences60 entries

Culture & History14 entries

Festivals2 entries

Food & Markets36 entries

Experiences21 entries

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