Spots in Around Bizen and Ushimado Area

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Around Bizen and Ushimado

Category

Special Historic Site Former Shizutani School

4.5

107 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Bizen Shizutani 784

Former Shizutani School is a Historic Structure designated as a Special Historic Site. It was built in 1670 by the local feudal lord, Ikeda Mitsumasa, and it is the oldest remaining public school building in the world. In addition to the lecture hall, which has been designated a National Treasure, and in 2015, Japan Heritage designed it as No. 1 in the category Group of Remnants of Early Modern Japan’s Educational Heritage.

The school is located in Bizen City which is in the eastern part of Okayama Prefecture. During the Edo era the Ikeda Family was the feudal lord of Bizen. Shizutani Gakkou was established in 1670 in...
Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum

4.5

43 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Setouchishi Osafunechouosafune 966

This Japanese sword museum is located in the Osafune area of Osafune-cho, Setouchi City. It exhibits Japanese swords with various themes including Bizen swords from Osafune, an area that had long flourished as a Japanese sword production area. In addition, there is also a Japanese sword workshop on the premises, and besides being able to see how Japanese swords are made, you can make reservations to experience making paper knives and small knives, and also lectures to learn how to care for Japanese swords.

A couple of days ago we went to Okayama to visit friends and they very kindly took us to the village as they knew I was interested in Japanese swords and history. It was a marvellous experience, we...
Roadside Station Mt. Kuroi Green Park

3.5

28 Reviews

Transportation

Okayama Pref. Setouchishi Okuchoumushiage 5165-196

Roadside Station Mt. Kuroi Green Park is located along the Okayama Blue Line in Mushiage, Oku-cho, Setouchi City. It offers a farmers’ market and a gallery, as well as direct outlet shops for Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and one that sells fresh fish. There is even a full-scale on-road course for radio-controlled car in this park. It is well known as a good place to view cherry blossoms, and in the summer, the children’s pool is open. From mid October to December, visitors can pick mikan (Mandarin oranges).

岡山ブルーラインを国道2号線方面から岡山市内方面へ向かい、初めての道の駅になります。岡山県の特産品がたくさん販売されています。広い駐車場にいくつかのお店がありますが、ほとんどが閉店しており大きな売店がひとつ営業されているのみです。広場もあり休憩にはちょうどよいかもしれませんが、見晴らしは何もありません。駐車場西側にある公衆トイレはあまり綺麗ではありません。売店内にあるトイレを使用されたほう...
Umi no Eki Shioji

4.0

27 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Bizenshi Hinasechouhinase 801-8

Umi no Eki Shioji is a souvenir shop in Hinase, Hinase-cho in the city of Bizen. In addition to selling freshly processed local seafood, including the roasted conger eel for which the area is famous. The local fishing cooperative runs a restaurant where visitors can savor various kinds of seafood over rice. It is across the street from Gomi no Ichi, a market where the fishing cooperative sells its catch directly to consumers. There is even a barbecuing area where customers can cook their purchases immediately.

日曜日に「五味の市」で牡蠣とホタテを買い隣の「道の駅しおじ」でバーベキューをしました。10時の予約で入りましたがもう焼いて食べてる人もけっこうおられました。以前利用した時よりも広々として、コロナ対策で席と席の間は2mは空けてあり屋根はブルーシートが全体にかけてあり、壁はありませんから密にならず安心して利用できました。牡蠣の身も太って食べごたえがありますしウインナーとかマシュマロとかも準備してたので...
Sanyo Marunaka Honami Store

4.0

15 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Bizen Honami 2541-1

This fish market is located along the Okayama Blue Line in Honami, Bizen City. Besides selling fresh seafood hauled into port from Ushimado, Hinase and other nearby locations, they have a dine-in space where you can taste seafood rice bowls. In addition, Sanyo Marunaka (Honami Store) is adjacent to the market.

先日鮮魚を購入する際、買った商品を投げられるし、皮ひきをお願いしたら先に言えと言われました。気分最悪。
Bizenyaki Traditional Industries Hall

4.0

21 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Bizenshi Imbe 1657-7

This hall is attached to Inbe Station in Inbe, Bizen City. Besides providing tourism information and selling goods, it exhibits and sells works by members of Bizen yaki tou yu kai (Bizen Ceramics Association), and holds workshops to experience making Bizen-yaki ware on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (for a fee, reservation required). Every October, the “Bizen Pottery Festival” is held throughout the entire area.

岡山に来たついでに足を延ばしました。岡山駅からJR赤穂線で30分ほどの伊部駅です。駅舎の2階にあり、たくさんの陶芸家の作品が集まっています。窯元を訪ね歩く時間がなかったので、ここでまとめ買いをしました。
Osafune Service Area

4.0

8 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Okayama Pref. Setouchishi Osafunechouosafune 1133-2

This hot spring facility is located along the Sanyo Expressway in the Osafune area of Osafune-cho, Setouchi City. Besides a beach where you can enter a chloride hot spring, there is a banquet hall with Western-style and Japanese-style rooms, and a buffet-style restaurant that offers approximately 40 kinds of Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes. In addition, it also sells hot spring water from outdoor vending machines.

サービスエリアですが、鉄道模型の展示室（有料）があるお店でした。入口の看板に五目ラーメンがおススメとあったので、注文しました。なかなか美味しかったです。簡単なお土産屋も一緒についていました。
Ushimado Marine Culture Museum

3.5

11 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Setouchi-shi Ushimadocho Ushimado 3056

Located a 15-minute drive from the Oku Interchange on the Okayama Blue Line. A museum with exhibits showing the boat shaped portable shrines used in the Autumn Festival and materials related to the Korean delegation to Japan during the Edo period when they made port in Ushimado. The museum uses the former Ushimado Police Headquarters (a Registered Cultural Property of Japan) known for its white walls and stained glass in the entranceway. The giant Japanese sago palm tree outside the entrance is estimated to be over 150 years old. The boat shaped floats with beautifully carved and detailed dragon head are registered as Important Tangible Ethnic Cultural Properties of the Prefecture and there are two on display here in the museum.

元々は明治20年に建てられた岡山県警西大寺警察署の分署として建てられ、その後昭和52年まで牛窓警察署だった建物です。かなり趣きのある建物で、前には大きなソテツの木が植えられています。今は、江戸時代に立ち寄った朝鮮通信使と牛窓のだんじりに関する資料が展示されています。
Isonokami Futsumitama-jinja Shrine

4.0

9 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Akaiwashi Ishikami 1448

This shrine is located in Ishikami, Akaiwa City. Besides being dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto (Shinto god of the sea and storms), it also enshrines the sword the god used to vanquish Yamato no Orochi (legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed dragon) as an object of worship. The main shrine is located on the summit of the mountain behind the shrine.

明治時代まではスサノオがヤマタノオロチを退治したときに用いた剣「天羽々斬剣（あめのはばきりのつるぎ）」がご神体だったという。変わった神社名だが、この剣は「布都斯魂剣（ふつしみたまのつるぎ）」と呼ばれることもあるから、これが起源かもしれない。さらに天羽々斬剣は最古の神宮とされる石上神宮（奈良県天理市）に移されており、「石上」の名も何か共通項がありそうだ。場所は自動車でなければ参拝が難しい山中だ。さ...
Kumayama English Garden

3.5

15 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Akaiwashi Tonodani 170-1

A highly unique English garden created on the grounds of a closed elementary school located a 20-minute drive from the Sanyo Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway. The garden was designed by English gardener and researcher Kay Yamada. The old school building is used as a multipurpose hall for parties and events, and as a greenhouse where rare plants are kept. The garden holds ceramics classes, aromatherapy experiences, flower arranging classes, and more. There's also a cafe where you can enjoy a break while taking in a view of the garden's seasonal flowers and plants.

花がメインです。イベントもやれるようです。無料開放してました。バラの花等が好きな人には良いと思います。
Honrenji Temple

4.0

11 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Setouchi-shi Ushimadocho Ushimado 3194

This ancient Nichiren Buddhist temple is situated in a fishing village's residential area a 15-minute drive from the Oku Interchange on the Okayama Blue Line. The temple's reception hall was used to lodge Korean delegations to Japan in the Edo period and has a garden which records state was created by the celebrated artist Kobori Enshu. The temple's wooden tile hip roofed main temple, Banjindo hall, and unusual four-legged Chumon gate have been designated National Important Cultural Properties, while its three-story pagoda and Soshido hall dedicated to the temple's founder have been designated Important Cultural Properties by the prefecture. In October 2017, the temple was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World heritage listing concerning records of Korean envoys to Japan.

牛窓のしおまち唐琴通りから石段を上がっていったところにある本蓮寺で、三重の塔が遠くからも見え、牛窓の古い街並みに映えてます。山門を上がると本堂、番神堂、祖師堂などがあり、広い寺院。海辺にある三重塔は全国でもここだけとのこと。
Bizen Latin America Museum

4.0

10 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Bizen Hinasecho Hinase 241-10

A two-minute walk from the Hinase Sogoshisho-mae bus stop or eight-minutes from the JR Hinase Station. This art museum is located close to the Bizen Private Hinase junior high school. As the name suggests they feature exhibits focusing on Latin American Culture which isn't very well covered in Japan. One of the landmarks of the museum is the outer wall which is covered in nearly 16,000 pieces of Bizen-ware pottery. The principle part of their collection was donated by the late Morishita Seiichi, some 2100 pieces with a focus on earthenware, clay figures, and textiles made in the ancient American continent. The museum is normally open on weekends and holidays but is open on other occasions as well.

我が国唯一の古代中南米美術専門美術館。オリエント美術館、マコンデ美術館、ルーブル彫刻美術館に匹敵する地域限定一点突破型ミュージアム。ペッカリーとホセ艦長のさえずる文明展を見に行きました。入館料７００円、ＪＡＦ等割引で６００円。ＱＲコードでさえずるボトルや土偶の音を聴いてもらえるコーナーが何か所もあり、スマホにＱＲコードリーダーをセットして回ると効果的。ガラケー保有者には吹けど踊らず。写真撮影(ノー...
Fuji Wisteria Park

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Wakegunwakechou Fujino 1386-2

This park is located along Prefectural Route 46 in the Fujino area of Wake Town, Wake County. It has wisteria trellises with a total length of 500 meters, and is known as a popular place to see wisteria with the largest variety in Japan. You can see approximately 100 kinds of different colors and shapes. From late April to early May when the flowers are at their best, they are lit up for the Fuji Matsuri.
Gomi no Ichi

3.5

39 Reviews

Shopping

Okayama Pref. Bizenshi Hinasechouhinase 801-8

Gomi no Ichi is a fish market in Hinase, Hinase-cho in the city of Bizen. It sells locally caught fish and shellfish, and on weekends, there are food stands and pop-up shops selling local products. Customers can even carry their seafood purchases over to the barbecuing area at Umi no Eki Shioji across the way and cook and eat their purchases right away.

毎度この時期になると剥き牡蠣を買いに行きます。牡蠣フライ、鍋と月に数回料理。少し小さいかもしれませんが、美味しく頂いています。市外、県外からも殻付き牡蠣を買いに来ています。土日祝日は出店もあり楽しめます。
Okayama Forest Park German Forest

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Akaiwa-shi Nibori Naka 2006

A theme park located in Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture which recreates a German farm village and rural scenery. Seasonal flowers such as tulips, rapeseed, and cosmos bloom on the peaceful hill country of the park, and facilities such as a winery, agricultural product processing factory, and restaurants dot the grounds. There’s also a full array of activities for visitors to enjoy, including go-carts, a lawn slide, and miniature golf; Jersey cow milking and playing with the animals in the park’s petting zoo are also popular things to do at the park. The park also holds classes where participants can try making sausage and bread.
Ushimado Olive Shop

4.0

111 Reviews

Shopping

Okayama Pref. Setouchishi Ushimadochoushimado 412-1

"This olive shop is located approximately a 20-minute drive from Oku Station on the JR Ako Line. The directly operated store of Ushimado Olive Garden, they offer various olive products such as edible olive oil and cosmetics with the theme of ""living with olives."" ""Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado"" is their limited time only product sold from December to around March. Their ShikOlive Medicinal Skin Cream printed with a photograph of Ushimado Olive Garden is a cream popular for its smooth feeling and is a good item to commemorate coming to the garden."

瀬戸内海を一望できる岡山県の「牛窓」は日本のエーゲ海とも呼ばれてるらしい。そして今は「恋人の聖地」を名乗ってるんだ。 ▷幸福の鐘心を込めて3回鳴らすとオリーブに託した思いの全てをこの美しい丘から鐘の響に乗せてあなたに届けるってさ。つまり、片想いの人が相手の事を想い、鐘を鳴らすと、オリーブ魔人が相手をストーキングして伝達するって事...
Yumeji Art Museum Yumeji Seika and Shonen Sanso

3.5

7 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Setouchishi Okuchouhonjou

The birthplace and home where the well-known Taisho Roman poet, painter, and artist Yumeji Takehisa lived until the age of 16. A traditional Japanese home with a thatched roof built some 250 years ago, both the interior and the exterior are preserved in the state they were in when Yumeji Takehisa lived here. The Syonen Sansou was designed by Takehisa and served as his Tokyo studio and home; on the artist’s 95th birthday in 1979, the structure was restored with the help of Takehisa’s second son, Fujihiko. Hanging scrolls, folding screens, sketches, and other works by Takehisa are displayed inside.

竹久夢二の美術館、公園に隣接してかわいらしく残されています。竹久夢二ファンには最高なのでしょう。公園と土産物屋さんでゆっくりできます。
Bizen Municipal Hinase Sports Park

3.5

6 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Bizenshi Hinasechousougo 380-36

This park is located in the Sogo area of Hinase Town, Bizen City. In addition to the gymnasium with an arena and training gym, it has sports facilities such as a baseball field, tennis court, archery field, multipurpose field and ground golf course, and a children’s space with large playground equipment.

そこまで、広い公園ではありませんでした。季節の花々も、ありました。よく、整備されていましたので、気持ちよく過ごせました。また、行きたいです。
Bizen City Museum of History

3.5

6 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Bizen Higashikatakami 385

A five-minute walk from JR Bizen-Katakami Station. This museum exhibits local history, folklore, and culture. It's organized around the three themes of Folk Customs, Literature, and Ceramics. In the Folk Customs room you'll be introduced to the lifestyles of the locals and the tools that they used in their daily lives such as paper-enclosed lanterns, lamps, and stone mortars. In the Literature room you'll learn about local authors who hail from Bizen City. The Ceramics room features a cross section model of an ascending kiln and Bizen-ware pottery. Twice a year they hold special exhibitions that let you get in touch with the history and culture of Bizen City from all angles.

アクセスは、さほど良いとは言えないです。展示物なども、分かりやすく並べてありました。資料も、色んな切り口から、専門的な解説をしてありましたので、深い知識が、得られました。
Nishinoya Kikkatoge Store

3.5

6 Reviews

Transportation

Okayama Pref. Akaiwashi Niborihigashi 1077

This drive-in area is located along National Route 484 in Niborihigashi, Akaiwa City. The restaurant offers a menu that includes the Okayama specialty of matsuri-zushi (scattered sushi), nishin soba (buckwheat noodles in hot soup with a salty-sweet dried herring), and offal curry. In addition, there is also a souvenir center, pottery location where you can experience making shigaraki Japanese pottery, short golf course, and ground golf course.

スイーツや食事、ファストフード、工芸品も含むお土産などなんでも揃っているドライブインです。飲食店の席数が多いので、大型の観光バスも立ち寄ります。卵かけごはんは350円で食べられます。

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Okayama Areas

Overshadowed by Hiroshima to the west and the Kansai region to the east, Okayama is an easy spot to miss but a nature-rich gem where the Seto Inland Sea laps at its toes and peach and grape farms complete its interior. One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, Koraku-en in Okayama city is well worth a visit before progressing to Kurashiki, where preserved wooden Edo buildings line the picturesque canal.