8 recommended commemorative stamps that give a sense of Okayama's history

• Table of Contents
• 1. National Treasure Lecture Hall and Banyan Tree (Bizen City/ Old Shizutani School)
• 2. Yumeji Takeshita's Beauty ( Setouchi City/Roadside Station Ipponmatsu Observatory)
• 3. The highest surviving mountain castle in Japan (Takahashi City/ Bitchu Matsuyama Castle)
• 4. Water Attack on Bitchu Takamatsu Castle (Okayama City /Bitchu Takamatsu Castle Ruins)
• 5. Specially designated garden of scenic beauty ( Okayama City/ Okayama Korakuen Garden)
• 6. Miyamoto Musashi (Mimasaka City/Chizu Express Ohara Station)
• 7. Okayama Astronomical Museum (Asakuchi City/Okayama Astronomical Museum)
• 8. Aliens (Asakuchi City/Okayama Astronomical Museum)

1. National Treasure Lecture Hall and Banyan Tree (Bizen City/ Old Shizutani School)

The stamp features the auditorium of the National Treasure "Old Shizutani School" and its symbolic Japanese cypress tree. It is a stately stamp that evokes history. It is known as the oldest public school in the world and has been recognized as a Japanese Heritage site. The unique architecture built in the mountains surrounded by abundant nature is fascinating. The stamp can be found at the reception desk.

[Old Shizutani School ]

Address: 784 Shizutani, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-967-1436

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: New Year's holiday

Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 200 yen for those 65 and over

Parking: Available

Former Shizutani School

705-0036 784 Shizutani , Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

In 1670, Ikeda Mitsumasa, the feudal lord of Okayama, founded Japan's first "public school for the common people." Built deep in a valley, the school was named Shizutani School. Many capable leaders who would go on to shape Japan's history came from here. The stately lecture hall with its gabled roof is worthy of being called the "Hall of Learning." It has been designated a national treasure. The area is dotted with facilities designated as important cultural properties by the nation, including the shrine where a statue of Confucius, the father of Confucianism, is enshrined. In 2015, it was recognized as the first Japan Heritage Site along with the "Special Historic Site of the Former Kodokan (Ibaraki Prefecture)," "Historic Site of the Ashikaga School (Tochigi Prefecture)," and "Historic Site of Kan'i-en (Oita Prefecture)" as "Educational Heritage Sites of Early Modern Japan - The Source of the Spirit of Learning and Etiquette."

2. Yumeji Takeshita's Beauty ( Setouchi City/Roadside Station Ipponmatsu Observatory)

This is a stamp of a beautiful woman by Yumeji Takehisa, who was born in Oku-cho, Okayama Prefecture. The characters "Yumeji" and "beauty" express a beautiful and sentimental atmosphere. Yumeji's birthplace memorial museum and Shonen Sanso are nearby. We recommend stopping by after shopping at the farm store or enjoying an omelet rice dish at the restaurant. The stamp can be found at the farm store.

[Roadside Station Ipponmatsu Observatory]

Address: 3539 Shiriumi, Setouchi City, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-925-1900

Business hours: Direct sales store 9:00-17:30

Closed: None

Parking: Available

Roadside Station Ipponmatsu Observation Garden

3539 Shirumi, Oku-cho, Setouchi-shi, Okayama 701-4212

Ipponmatsu Observation Garden boasts one of the best views along the Okayama Blue Line. The beauty of the Seto Inland Sea islands seen from here is spectacular! It is a recommended spot that both adults and children can enjoy, including one of the largest authentic "mini railway parks" in the country, restaurants, and a JA direct sales store. (Pets are only allowed in areas other than the mini railway park, restaurants, and JA shops)

3. The highest surviving mountain castle in Japan (Takahashi City/ Bitchu Matsuyama Castle)

The commemorative stamp for Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, the highest standing mountain castle in Japan, is extremely detailed and of photo-quality. It captures the characteristics of the mountain castle and the stone walls well. After a 20-minute walk up Mount Gagyu, you can get this special stamp inside the castle tower.

[Bitchu Matsuyama Castle]

Location: 1 Yamauchishita, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture

Phone: 086-622-1487

Opening hours: 9:00-17:30 (until 16:30 from October to March)

Closed: New Year's holidays

Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary, middle and high school students

Parking: Shiromibashi Park

Parking lot (5th station), Fuigo Pass

Use the parking lot (8th station)

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

716-0004 1 Uchisange , Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture

It is the only mountain castle in Japan with a castle tower remaining, and is one of 12 castles with surviving castle towers from the Edo period. Huge rock walls over 10 meters high tower around the mountain castle, and it still has the appearance of an "impregnable castle." Recently, it has become a popular photo spot nationwide as a "mountain castle floating in the sea of clouds," and many fans visit from early in the morning during the season when the sea of clouds can be seen. If you want to take photos of the fantastical mountain castle scenery, head to the Unkai Observatory. Try to visit at dawn between September and April, when the sea of clouds appears.

4. Water Attack on Bitchu Takamatsu Castle (Okayama City /Bitchu Takamatsu Castle Ruins)

This is a commemorative stamp from Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, the site of the greatest strategy ever conceived by military strategist Kuroda Kanbei and launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The castle is barricaded, with water closing in. A true "water attack." This is a beautiful depiction of a historic scene just before the castle was submerged. The stamp version of the castle's lord, Shimizu Muneharu, who committed suicide to save his soldiers is also quite tasteful. There is a stamp pad in the museum inside Bitchu Takamatsu Castle.

[Bicchu Takamatsu Castle Ruins Museum]

Address: 558-2 Takamatsu, Kita Ward, Okayama City Prefecture

TEL: 086-287-5554

Opening hours: 10:00-15:00

Closed: Mondays, New Year holidays

Admission fee: Free

Parking: Available

Bitchu Takamatsu Castle Ruins

701-1335 Takamatsu, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

In the 10th year of Tensho (1582), the ``Takamatsu Castle Water Attack'' was fought here between Hideyoshi's army and the Mori army. There are remains of a water embankment nearby. Nowadays, it is maintained as a park, and you can enjoy a walk while thinking back to those days. Every year in mid-July, you can see the lotus ``Soji Lotus'' blooming over an area of ​​about 4,000 square meters in the vast 7,000 square meter moat in the center of the park.

5. Specially designated garden of scenic beauty ( Okayama City/ Okayama Korakuen Garden)

There are two types of stamps with designs of red-crowned cranes and a beautiful garden overlooking Okayama Castle. The retro feel of the words "Special Place of Okayama Korakuen Garden was designated a Place of Scenic Beauty in 1922, and in 1952, it was designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. It was also designated a National Historic Site in 1987. It is counted as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and is truly a feudal lord's garden with the seal of approval. The stamp pad is on the left immediately after entering the main gate.

[Okayama Korakuen Garden]

Address: 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Kita Ward

TEL:086-272-1148

Opening hours: March 20th to September 30th 7:30am to 6:00pm, October 1st to March 19th 8:00am to 5:00pm

Closed days: None

Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, free for high school students and younger, 200 yen for those 65 and older

Parking: Available (paid)

Okayama Korakuen Garden

703-8257 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

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.

6. Miyamoto Musashi (Mimasaka City/Chizu Express Ohara Station)

This stamp featuring Miyamoto Musashi was found at Ohara Station, next to the Chizu Express Miyamoto Musashi Station. It conveys the dynamism of Musashi's youth, when he invented the two-sword style of swordsmanship. Mimasaka City in the north of Okayama Prefecture is famous as the birthplace of the master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, but the townscape of Inaba Kaido Oharajuku near Ohara Station is also worth seeing. There is a stamp pad inside the Ohara Station building.

[Chizu Express Ohara Station]

Address: 1494-7 Furumachi , Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL:086-878-2466

Chizu Express Official Website

7. Okayama Astronomical Museum (Asakuchi City/Okayama Astronomical Museum)

The 188m reflecting telescope is one of the largest in Japan. The telescope named "Seimei" is one of the largest in East Asia. This stamp features two telescopes packed with cutting-edge technology and a cute design with twinkling stars.

8. Aliens (Asakuchi City/Okayama Astronomical Museum)

The latest planetarium and 4D digital space theater are available. Explore the mysteries of the universe at the astronomical museum in Asakuchi, the city of astronomy. You might even find an unidentified creature! The stamp pad is located in the exhibition room on the first floor.

[Okayama Astronomical Museum]

Address: 3037-5 Honjo, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL:086-544-2465

Opening hours: 9:00-16:00

Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, etc.

Admission fee: Adults and high school students 100 yen, elementary, junior high and high school students 50 yen

Parking: Available

Okayama Astronomical Museum

719-0232 3037-5 Honjo, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi-shi, Okayama Prefecture

In addition to being able to see a beautiful starry sky that looks just like the real thing in the state-of-the-art planetarium, you can also experience the universe up close and personal through various celestial exhibits. Adjacent to the site are the Kyoto University Okayama Astronomical Observatory, which is equipped with a 3.8m new technology telescope, one of the largest in Asia, and the Subaru Telescope Okayama Branch Office, NAOJ, NINS Telescope, which is equipped with a 188cm aperture reflecting telescope, one of the largest in Japan. You can see the majestic telescopes from the observation deck.