With an eye on Okayama’s historical townscapes, we bring you a list of four carefully chosen destinations causing a buzz in the region these days, topped by the ever-popular “Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.” We also bring you: the Sword Village in Setouchi City’s Osafune Town, home of the revered blade “Sanchomo (Yamatorige)”; Maniwa City in Katsuyama, the first area in Okayama designated as a Historical Preservation District; and Yakage Town, selected as Asia’s first “Albergo Difusso.”
Why do so many old townscapes remain in Okayama?
Okayama faces the Seto Inland Sea in the Chugoku region. With arteries connecting every city and port in West Japan, Okayama has long served as a key point for the flow of people and goods. Many towns along these roads prospered as commercial centers or stopover points and traces of this past remain here and there in the old streets.
Okayama Destination Campaign
Thinking about a trip to Okayama? We recommend doing it this summer!
Campaign Term: July 1-September 30, 2022
Check here for details→
https://www.okayama-japan.jp/en/
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Schedule
Spring: April 14-May 18
Summer: August 5-September 4
Autumn: September 29-November 6
One of the country’s preeminent festivals of contemporary art will be held on the 12 islands and two ports of Okayama and Kagawa in the Seto Inland Sea. The festival is held every third year including this year, as the Seto region comes alive with all kinds of art.
https://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
On November 3, 2022, Okayama Castle will be back better than ever!
Okayama Castle overlooks Okayama City. It has been closed since June 2021 for repair. Don’t miss this sight as it opens once more on the same day as its reopening after reconstruction in 1966.
https://kin-ujo.jp/
Everyone loves the old streets of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. The townscape blends the architecture of traditional Japan with modern Western design in a harmonious area now designated as one of Japan’s “Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings.” From stylish boutiques to cafes set in old traditional houses, there’s plenty to catch your eye here!
A beautifully illuminated nightscape
Be sure to take a stroll not only in the daytime but also at night ♪ The beautiful town enveloped in a dreamlike illumination is not to be missed.
| Address | Kurashiki River area, Kurashiki Ivy Square area |
| Business hours | April-September (sunset-22:00), October-March (sunset-21:00) |
| URL | https://kurashiki-tabi.j-server.com/LUCKKJH/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0 |
The Kojima district of Kurashiki City is the birthplace of Japanese domestic denim, an industry that began around the 17th century when cotton cultivation and the textile industry flourished here. Take a walk through the beautiful area wearing a unique “denim kimono” made of Okayama denim ♪
| Address | 5-10 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama |
| Business hours | 9:30-17:00 |
| Regular holiday | No fixed holiday |
| URL | https://kimonokomachi.jp/ |
Masking tape with cute, colorful designs is said to have originated in Kurashiki. The city’s industrial tape manufacturer, Kamoi Kakoshi, developed the adorable stationery, and the product name “mt” is now famous. Masking tape with unique designs like motifs of the Kurashiki cityscape make perfect souvenirs!
| Address | 5-12 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama |
| Business hours | 10:00-17:00 |
| Regular holiday | Tuesday |
| URL | http://www.kurashiki.shop/ |
On April 28, 2022, a shopping area set in a restored old folk house opened in Kurashiki. The five stores here showcase Kurashiki’s craftsmanship through clothing, food, and living spaces, including a denim store, a Western-style restaurant, accommodation, a Japan-style shoe store, and a Japanese restaurant. The “Mingei Square” courtyard is a relaxing space to hang out with friends.
| Address | 1-4-13 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama |
| URL | https://www.kurashiki-sola.jp/ |
In southeastern Okayama, Setouchi City’s Osafune area is famous as “sacred ground for Japanese swords.” The region has a long history of steel-making expertise and many famous swords have been fashioned here, fed by the rich resources of the Chugoku Mountains.
| URL | https://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp.e.amw.hp.transer.com/site/token/ |
This museum exhibits a variety of swords, mostly made in Okayama Prefecture. Here you can observe the techniques of real modern swordsmiths at work in the sword workshop on the premises. Hands-on courses (reservation required) offer the experience of making various items such as small swords and paper knives, in addition to rings made with metal engraving technology.
| Address | 966 Osafune, Osafune-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama |
| Business hours | 9:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30) |
| Regular holiday | Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday, the museum will close the following day), days following national holidays, New Year holidays (December 28-January 4), exhibition renewal period |
| URL | https://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp.e.amw.hp.transer.com/site/token/ |
The national treasure “Sanchomo (Yamatorige)” sword, made in the Osafune region, is one of the finest, most famous blades in Japan, beloved by the feudal warlord Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578). Passed down for generations as a prized possession of the Uesugi family, it was purchased in 2020 when Setouchi City collected 500 million yen through crowdfunding. Its homecoming for the first time in about 800 years caused a sensation. Currently, it is publicly exhibited about once a year at the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum. Keep an eye out for your next chance!
（写真提供：備前長船刀剣博物館）
This historical cityscape is about 2.5 km from the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum. Around the 14th to 16th centuries, the city prospered as one of the largest commercial hubs in medieval Western Japan, handling various items from clothing to food and weapons. These days, a regular market is held on the 4th Sunday of every month, and efforts are now under way to revive the energy of the former business center.
This “self-style” udon noodle restaurant uses locally grown wheat and a special manufacturing method, and was also awarded Michelin Plate’s “Green Star” in 2020. Enjoy a set that includes a hands-on class making udon noodles and grinding wheat in a stone mill (reservation required), along with information about the townscape of Bizen Fukuoka.
| Address | 1588-1 Fukuoka, Osafune-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama |
| Business hours | 10:00-15:00 |
| Regular holiday | Wednesdays, 1st and 3rd Tuesday |
| URL | http://ichimonji.ne.jp/ |
