Explore by train and rental bicycle! Okayama/Kurashiki/Soja 1 night 2 days course

There is a legend surrounding Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura, who are said to be the origin of the Momotaro (demon slaying) legend. You can experience legendary settings such as Yagi Rock, where it is said that an arrow was placed to kill demons, and Okamaden, where it is said that the head of a demon was buried. The Narukama Shinto ritual, in which fortune is predicted by the sound of a kettle, is familiar to many people. The main shrine and worship hall, which were rebuilt in 1425, are the only ones in Japan to adopt the architectural style Kibitsu-zukuri (hiyoku irimoya-zukuri, hiyoku irimoya-zukuri), and have been designated as national treasures. Additionally, the beautiful 360m corridor that extends from the main shrine is a historic building that is worth seeing.

When you arrive at Soja Station, leave your luggage in a locker and rent a bicycle at Araki Rental Bicycle, which is located right next to the station.

One of the Kokubunji temples built throughout the country at the request of Emperor Shomu during the Nara period. It was built to protect the country from natural disasters and famine with the help of Buddhism. The buildings that remain today were rebuilt during the Edo period. A five-storied pagoda with a height of approximately 34 meters rises within the precincts, and is famous as one of the most representative views of Kibiji. The only five-storied pagoda in Okayama Prefecture is designated as an important cultural property. It is becoming increasingly popular as a cycling spot, where you can take photos of the five-storied pagoda built in the countryside, rape blossoms, astragalus, and sunflowers.

It is located in a location overlooking the five-storied pagoda of Bicchu-bunji Temple in the front, and on the premises there is a corner where you can enjoy meals and shopping, a gallery that changes every week, and an arbor where you can feel the breeze of Kibiji. There is also a corner selling local specialties and vegetables picked in the morning.

[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.

Japan's first private Western art museum was established in 1930 (Showa 5) by Magosaburo Ohara, a businessman who contributed to the cultural development of Kurashiki. The main building displays many famous Western masterpieces, including El Greco's ``The Annunciation,'' Claude Monet's ``Water Lilies,'' Renoir, and Gauguin. The museum also houses approximately 3,000 works of art, including ancient Egyptian art, modern Western art, and modern and contemporary Japanese art.

[About the Ohara Museum of Art building]
The designer, Kazue Yakushiji, joined the Kurashiki Silk Textile Co., Ltd., whose founder, Magosaburo Ohara, was the president, and as Ohara's right-hand man, he worked on many buildings related to the company and the Ohara family.
The huge pillars at the entrance look like marble at first glance, but they are actually made of reinforced concrete, and are made by mixing stone powder with mortar and using plastering techniques.
No photography allowed inside the building

As the Kojima area of ​​Kurashiki is the birthplace of domestically produced jeans, we carry denim products made in Kojima, as well as denim accessories and accessories. At the take-out corner, we sell light snacks finished in a blue color inspired by denim, such as ramune-flavored ``Denim Soft'' and ``Denim Man.''

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.

This castle was built by Ukita Hideie, a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of the Five Elders of Toyotomi. The unusual scalene pentagonal, three-story, six-storey castle tower has a dignified appearance, and its black clapboard exterior has earned it the nickname "Ujo Ujo (Crow Castle)." From the Mogami, you can look down on the Asahikawa, and enjoy a 360-degree view of Okayama Korakuen Garden and the city. The original castle tower was destroyed in an air raid in 1945 (Showa 20), but has now been rebuilt, with the lord's room and other areas restored. On the first floor, there is a Bizen Pottery workshop where you can try your hand at clay twisting. In addition, the popular " U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo " event is held in spring, summer and autumn, where the Okayama Castle tower and surrounding area are lit up.

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!