I was soothed by the fresh green leaves of the maple trees at "Ukankei" and "Katayama Residence" in Chuo Town.

Ukankei

The 5km-long Ukankei, a tributary of the Asahikawa River, one of Okayama's three major rivers, is designated as part of the Kibi Seiryu Prefectural Natural Park, where you can enjoy the various expressions of nature throughout the four seasons. The symbolic red bridge also looks even more beautiful from the parking lot.

Akabashi Bridge

The red bridge over the Uma River. Looking down makes your legs tremble, but it's so charming that it makes you want to try crossing it, even though it's scary.

Senryu Path

The area around the parking lot is also beautiful with the new green maples, which are now in full bloom. There is also a Senryu trail, dotted with stone monuments bearing Senryu poems, which you can enjoy walking around.

Cave toilet

There was a stone monument with the words "Iwaya no Toilet" written on it. It was a toilet, but I was drawn to it because it looked like a cave with a waterfall and beautiful fresh greenery. The toilet was inside a cave made of rocks. It changed my concept of toilets.

The maple trees around the parking lot are also beautiful.

The fresh green maple trees around the parking lot were also beautiful.

[Ukankei]

Address: 1760 Shimogamo, Kibichuo-cho, Kaga Chuo, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0866-54-1301 (Chuo Town Collaboration Promotion Division)

Ukan Gorge

1760 Shimokamo, Kibichuo-cho, Kaga-gun, Okayama Prefecture 709-2331

The Ukanawa River, a tributary of the Asahikawa River, has become extremely narrow, and the torrential flow has carved the rocks, creating a...

Katayama Residence

The Katayama Residence, located about a five-minute drive from Ugankei, was a vast mansion with a Nagayamon gate and sake storehouse, but it was demolished due to road improvement work, and now only the main house remains. The main house was built in 1881 (Meiji 14) by a carpenter from Iwami Province (Ota City, Shimane Prefecture), and is highly regarded by experts as "a perfect example of Japanese architecture, retaining some of the style of the Edo period, and with a structure and interior design that is worth seeing."

You can freely visit the museum.

The Katayama Residence is a large old house also known as the "100 Tatami Mansion." Once you pass through the gate, you will find a large garden, and you can freely take off your shoes and look around inside the building.

The fresh green leaves of the maple trees in the garden were in full bloom.

The courtyard was well maintained, and the fresh green leaves of the Japanese maples were in full bloom. I'm sure the autumn leaves will be spectacular.

parlor

Beyond the tatami room, we could see the earthen floor room. It had a certain Edo period feel to it. It was spacious, as expected of the "100 Tatami Mansion"!

Veranda

You can spend a relaxing time looking at the garden from the veranda. The maple trees are green and the autumn leaves are spectacular. Even though 100 years have passed, it has been beautifully preserved and the garden is so beautiful that just looking at it is soothing.

Maple tree in the backyard

The fresh green leaves of the maple trees in the backyard are also beautiful, and you can see both the courtyard and backyard from inside the spacious mansion.

Katayama Family Collection

If you go up to the second floor, there are exhibits that tell the history of the Katayama family and you can see the items that were in their possession. There is a large basket on display, and it feels like you have traveled back in time to the Edo period. It is a mansion from the time of Katayama Asataro, a government official and Chinese scholar, and Katayama Shigenori, who was Shigeru's eldest son, and you can see that a hundred years of history have passed since then.

Hidden Room

I found an interesting room. It was a hidden room designed to hide the entrance from the floor below so that guests and family members could evacuate in case of unexpected intruders. It was dimly lit, but surprisingly spacious, and had tatami mats that looked comfortable.

Sabo Katayama Residence

There is a tea room in the house, where light meals and coffee menus are served. There is a space around the hearth, and there is also a space to sit and eat. The high ceilings and spaciousness make it a very relaxing place.

Whimsical Lunch Box

The photo shows the "Kimagure Bento." The food was made with locally grown seasonal vegetables and was very delicious. The rice was also locally grown Koshihikari. I've often heard that Chuo Town rice is delicious, and it was really good. The price of 850 yen is also very reasonable! They also have a cafe menu, so feel free to drop by.

[Katayama Residence and Tea House Katayama Residence]

Address: 15-1 Shimogamo, Kibichuo-cho, Kaga Chuo, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-34-0747

Opening hours: 10:00-15:00

Closed: Wednesdays and Sundays *Irregular holidays

Parking: Available

Chuo Town Official Website (Katayama Residence)