A course to enjoy classic spots in Okayama and art in Setouchi

A large garden built by Tsunamasa Ikeda, the second lord of the Okayama domain, as a place for relaxation. The spacious garden, decorated with seasonal flowers, is a different world just like the Edo period. In 1952, it was designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty” as a historical and cultural heritage site, and received a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. Various events are held throughout the four seasons, such as tea gathering and moon viewing, and for a limited time, you can enjoy the ``Fantasy Garden,'' which is specially opened at night and lights up the garden in a different way than during the day. Volunteer guides (free of charge) are also popular with tourists.

Take a leisurely stroll on the Asahi River, which flows between Okayama Korakuen and Okayama Castle, on a peach-shaped boat.
There are also swan boats and row boats.

A castle built by Hideie Ukita, a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of the Five Elders of Toyotomi. The three-story, six-story castle tower, which has a rare scalene pentagonal shape, has a dignified appearance, and is also called ``Ujo'' because of its black clapboard exterior. From the top floor, you can see Asahikawa below, and enjoy a 360-degree view of Okayama Korauen Garden and the city. The original castle tower was burnt down in an air raid in 1945 (Showa 20), but it has now been rebuilt, with parts such as the castle lord's room restored. There is a Bizen ware workshop on the first floor, where you can try your hand at making clay. In addition, the ``Ujo Togenkyo'' event, in which Okayama Castle's castle tower and its surroundings are lit up in spring, summer, and autumn, is gaining popularity.

This workshop is located in Karasujo Park, where Okayama Castle is located, where you can experience twisting Bizen baked clay. Our experienced staff will carefully teach you, so anyone from children to adults can easily enjoy making Bizen ware.
We have everything you need including an apron, so you don't have to bring anything!

[Beautiful white-walled townscape filled with history and art] The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter offers a quaint landscape with white-walled warehouses, sea cucumber walls, and rows of willow trees. The townscape created by traditional buildings and the retro-modern scenery along the Kurashiki River continue to fascinate people from all over the world. It is lined with stylish shops selling Kurashiki brands such as Kurashiki Canvas and Kurashiki Denim, as well as cafes in renovated townhouses, and is crowded with tourists all year round. There are many cultural facilities such as the Ohara Museum of Art and Ivy Square, so you can spend a whole day walking around this area.

Would you like to wear a kimono or yukata and walk through the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter? If you rent a kimono or yukata, they will help you put it on.
Advance reservations are required.

Taste parfaits, crepes, gelato, juices, etc. made with plenty of seasonal fruits.

``GREENable HIRUZEN'' is a base facility to spread awareness of the value of sustainability to as many people as possible. This facility was designed and supervised by architect Kengo Kuma, and was relocated from a wooden building that was once used in Harumi, Tokyo.
The removable building, which is not possible with conventional concrete buildings, has become a symbol of the brand, as a decarbonized and sustainable architecture, and as a symbol of the exchange of resources and culture between cities and regions.
The facility consists of a visitor center and shop that sells goods that allow you to practice sustainability, the Maniwa City Hiruzen Museum that disseminates art and culture, a cycling center that offers experiential programs, and the CLT Pavilion ``Kazenoha''.

Located at the foot of Kami Hiruzen Mountain, you can see the majestic sight of Hiruzen Sanza and Jersey cows grazing leisurely. You can see through the window a factory that manufactures dairy products such as Jersey yogurt and cheese made from Jersey milk, which has a refreshing and rich flavor, and you can enjoy soft-serve ice cream and assorted Jersey sausages at the restaurant and shop. There are also dishes made with Jersey beef, and in addition to steaks and curries, there are more than 10 dishes that allow you to enjoy the deliciousness of red meat, such as roast beef bowls.

Located downstream of the Yubara Dam, this popular hot spring resort stretches along the Asahi River. The amount of hot water is large and the quality of the hot spring is highly alkaline, making the skin feel smooth. The symbol of the hot spring town is the large natural open-air bath "Sunayu" made of hot spring water that wells up from the bottom of the river. It is open 24 hours a day for free, so you can enjoy the natural hot springs in the great outdoors at any time. It has been praised as one of the "West Yokozuna" in the national open-air bath ranking, and you can enjoy baths with different temperatures, such as Bijin-no-Yu, Kodakara-no-Yu, and Choju-no-Yu.

Nearby sightseeing spots include Hiruzen Kogen, a vast plateau that is very popular with families. Dairy products made from jersey cattle that are raised on pastures are also recommended as souvenirs. About 200 wild monkeys may welcome you at Kanba Falls, which was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.

Inujima, located about 3km off the coast of Hoden in the eastern part of Okayama City, is Okayama City's only inhabited island. The island is attracting attention as an art island, with features such as the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum, which is a renovated site of a copper smelter that is also a modern industrial heritage site, and the House Project, which is being developed in the village of Inujima. There are plenty of fun activities such as camping, swimming in the sea, and sea kayaking while enjoying the island's rich nature. There are lodging facilities available, so you can relax and enjoy your time on the island.

This museum is conscious of a recycling-oriented society and serves as a model for new regional creation through "heritage, architecture, art, and the environment." The former smelter site on the Inujima Seirensho Museum grounds was designated as one of the 33 "Modern Industrial Heritage Sites" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2007 for the purpose of revitalizing the region.
In 2009, the island was selected as one of the "100 Treasure Island Sceneries" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as an island of art that makes use of its industrial heritage.

*The Akebono Maru ferry service between Hoden and Inujima, departing Hoden at 15:15 and Inujima at 15:35, only operates on days when the museum is open.

It is a departure and arrival point for important shipping routes to Naoshima, where the Chichu Art Museum is located, and Teshima, where the Teshima Art Museum is located, which is the venue for the Setouchi Triennale, an art festival held on the islands. There are various art works scattered around Uno Port, and you can walk around them, so we recommend enjoying a stroll while looking out at the port.

The object ``Uno no Chinu'' (ⒸYodogawa Technique) was created at the first ``Setouchi Triennale 2010'', which was created using floating debris collected from the coast around Uno Port and mainly Lake Kojima. Waste that has drifted across the ocean from all over the world to the Seto Inland Sea has taken on a new form and is now on display at Uno Port as a work of art. In addition, "Cochinu" next door was created in 2016 and is a slide that goes from head to butt. "Uno no Chinu" Yodogawa Technique © Yodogawa Technique

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