Visit Tsuyama and other Okayama-ken, Japan Things to Do Tips

Tsuyama is a city in Okayama-ken that is often referred to as "Little Kyoto" because of all of its historical sites. Walking down Joto Street, you will find many old samurai residences. The Shurakuen Gardens is a lovely stroll, and entry is free. Tsuyama's Kakuzan Park is very beautiful in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. In fact, Tsuyama is one of the best places in all of Japan to view the cherry blossoms!

(See the Tsuyama pages on VT for more information)

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Address: Tsuyama City
Website: http://www.city.tsuyama.lg.jp/index.cfm/1,0,14,15,html

For those who are interested in themed tours, particularly self-made tours, you may enjoy taking a Momotaro tour of Okayama prefecture!

The main sites lie in the Kibiji region, which spans from Soja City to Okayama City, because it was in this region where the story of Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, which the Momotaro tale developed from, occurred.

If you wish to do this, here are the sites you should visit:
-Kibitsu Shrine: The site where Momotaro fought the demon Ura.
-Kibitsuhiko Shrine: Dedicated to Prince Kibitsuhiko, also located in the area of Kibitsu Shrine where the battle took place
-Kinojo Castle: The site where the demon Ura was said to have lived
-Koikui Shrine: After the battle at Kibitsu Shrine, the demon turned into a carp and swam down the river. The prince turned into a cormorant and pursued him. Koikui Shrine is located on the site where the prince finally caught the demon and killed him.

EXTRAS:
-Megijima Island (Onigashima): This is actually in Kagawa Prefecture. Some people say that this is the actual island where the demons lived.
-Momotaro Museum: In Kurashiki, a cute museum dedicated to Momotaro, mostly for children
-Momotaro Statues: In the front of Okayama Station is a large statue of Momotaro with his animal companions (dog, pheasant, and monkey). alligning both sides of Momotaro-odori Street are statues of young Momotaro and each of his companions. The final stop is the "Riverside Peach Baby", which is a statue of little Momotaro holding a peach up towards the heavens.

If you are the sort of traveller who enjoys themed travels or you are simply a fan of Momotaro, a Momotaro trip is both unique and fun!

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Directions: Kibiji District: Kibitsu Shrine, Kibitsuhiko Shrine, Koikui Shrine, Kinojo Castle
Kurashiki City: Momotaro Museum
Okayama City: Momotaro Statues, Riverside Peach Baby
Kagawa Prefecture: Onigashima Island

The Kibiji District spans from Okayama City to Soja City and is marked by a variety of shrines, temples, tombs, samurai homes, and other sites that relate to the ancient kingdom of Kibi that once flourished in Okayama prefecture.

A bike path now exists to allow people easy access to all of the sites in the region. It is suggest you rent a bike to travel on the trail. The trail is 15 kilometers long and estimated to take two hours to complete, but if you stop at the many sights along the way, (which you should) it may take more time.

If you don't want to bike (or can't) it IS possible to walk however, you'll need to start in the morning and make sure to wear the proper footwear. Walking takes about 7 hours, if you stop along the way to see the sights. I actually chose to walk the trail, and it was a great experience, but my feet were hurting by the end of it!

Some of the highlights of the trail are:
-Kibitsuhiko Shrine
-Kibitsu Shrine
-Koikui Shrine
-Tsukuriyama Kofun
-Koumori-zuka Kofun
-Bicchu Kokubunji Temple
-Ancient Kibi Cultural Center
-Kibi Culture Museum

On the other offset of the trail are:
-Ruins of Takamatsu Castle
-Saijo Inari
-Ashimori Clan Samurai Residence
-Omizuen Garden
-Kinojo Castle

(For specific information about the sites, view my pages for Soja and Okayama)

Travel along the trail is really nice, as the surrounding area is quite beautiful, and the trail is well-marked; both the attractions and guides that keep you on the trail, so there's no stress. It's a beautiful area full of rich history that foreigners rarely ever go to see, but it's well worth the visit!

(If things look a little dead in the pictures, keep in mind I travelled here in the wintertime. If you come in the spring, summer, or fall, the nature around the trail is quite full of flowers and greenery!)

You can get maps of the region from Okayama Station.

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Directions: To start the trail, get of at Bizen Ichinomiya Station. When you exit the station, turn right, and the bike rental is right there (1000 yen per bike for the day). At the end, return the bike at Soja Station.
Website: http://www.infomapjapan.com/hstore/200809-spfeature2.phtml