Okayama Date Spots [Summer] | A Refreshing Date with the Sea and Fruit Picking

• Table of Contents
• Melty white peaches and juicy grapes! A summer date to enjoy the seasonal flavors of Okayama
• Blue sea and white sand! Summertime at Okayama's beaches
• Watch the fireflies that light up the night! Surrounded by fantastic lights...
• Related articles by season and theme can be found here

Melty white peaches and juicy grapes! A summer date to enjoy the seasonal flavors of Okayama

Speaking of summer in Okayama, fruit picking is what comes to mind. White peaches are in season from late June, and grapes are in season from August. When you experience Peach Picking at an orchard, you can taste Okayama white peaches that have been carefully grown in bags, and their melt-in-your-mouth sweetness and aroma are exceptional.

Grape Picking offers a wide variety of grapes, including the traditional Muscat of Alexandria, the large, seedless New Pione, and Shine Muscat, which can be enjoyed with the skin on.

Some farms offer all-you-can-eat plans and cafes, where you can enjoy sweets and drinks made with freshly picked fruit. Tasting freshly picked fruit in the middle of nature will make for a special memory of your summer date. Check out the Feature Articles articles below to learn more about the charms of peaches and grapes, as well as information on recommended farms!

Blue sea and white sand! Summertime at Okayama's beaches

Shibukawa Beach (Tamano City)

For a summer date in Okayama, we recommend spending time at a beach facing the Seto Naikai!

Shibukawa Beach, one of the largest in the prefecture, is a popular spot with a white sand beach stretching for about 1 km, lined with green pine trees, and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches and 100 Best Swimming Beaches. The facilities are well-equipped, so you can enjoy the day without worry.

Sami Beach

At Sami Beach, said to be the oldest swimming beach in Japan, you can spend a romantic time taking a leisurely stroll along the water's edge or watching the beautiful sunset at dusk.

Ushimado Beach

At Ushimado Beach, you can enjoy the scenery known as "Japan's Aegean Sea," and its exotic atmosphere. Furthermore, at the beaches of remote islands such as Shiraishi Island Beach, you can enjoy a quiet and private space.

Shiraishi Island Beach

A visit to the Setouchi's beaches, surrounded by its warm climate and beautiful scenery, is a refreshing date plan unique to summer.

Sami Beach

Tamashima Kurosaki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture 713-8126

Said to be Japan's oldest beach, this beautiful sandy beach has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches, and is visited by many swimmers every year. Nishihama, where Japan's first artificial beach nourishment work was carried out over a six-year period starting in 1983 (Showa 58), and which became an "artificial beach" in 1989 (Heisei 1), is also one of the highlights.

Shibukawa Beach (Shibukawa Coast)

2-chome Shibukawa, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture 706-0028

The coastline is approximately 1km long with white sand and green pines, and has been selected as one of Japan's ``100 Best Beaches'' and ``100 Best Swimming Beaches.'' It is also famous as a place where you can enjoy marine sports such as sailing and windsurfing throughout the year.

Ushimado Beach

Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture 701-4302

The spacious and relaxing beach overlooking Maejima and the calm Seto Inland Sea is a popular spot for families. The beach house is open during the swimming season.

Shiroishijima Beach (Nishinoura)

Nishinoura, Shiroishijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture 714-0036

It is one of the most beautiful remote island beaches in the prefecture, with approximately 500 meters of white sand and clear water. You can enjoy marine sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and sea kayaking. The sea opens in early July every year.

Watch the fireflies that light up the night! Surrounded by fantastic lights...

Hokubo Firefly Park

From early summer to summer, you can enjoy the fantastical dance of fireflies in Okayama.

Hokubo Firefly Park in Maniwa City is known as one of Japan's leading viewing spots, with Genji fireflies dancing swarming along the river for several kilometers. Thanks to community-wide conservation efforts, events are held every June as "Firefly Viewing Month," and the attraction is that you can encounter a wide variety of fireflies, including Genji fireflies, Heike fireflies, and Hime fireflies.

Daiya River River Park (Yunogo Onsen Hotarugawa)

Daiya River River Park (Yugo Yunogo Onsen Hotarugawa) in Mimasaka City is also a popular spot, and it's a great place to combine hot springs and sightseeing for a date!

Unai Firefly Park

Furthermore, at Unai Firefly Park in Yakage Town , you can enjoy watching Genji fireflies dancing in the clear stream, and around Tenno Yawata Shrine in Niimi City , you can see the rare golden fireflies (Himebotaru).

Tenno Yawata Shrine

One of the fun things about watching fireflies in Okayama is that the types of fireflies you can see vary from spot to spot. Walking along the quiet night, following the faint glow, will naturally bring you and your partner closer.

Hokubo Firefly Park

716-1433 Shimobe, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

The Hokubo area is a representative firefly village in Okayama Prefecture and has been selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's ``Top 100 Hometown Creature Villages''. Along the Bitchu River, centered around Hokubo Firefly Park, you can see Genji fireflies flying around from early to late June every year. The wild dance of Genji fireflies that stretches for many kilometers along the Bitchu River is said to be the best in Japan and is a sight to behold. The park also has models and photo exhibits that explain the life of fireflies.

Tenno Hachiman Shrine

718-0311 1708 Mosukeya, Tettacho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture

Tenno Hachiman Shrine in Niimi City is designated as a natural monument of Okayama Prefecture as a habitat for golden fireflies. A rare type of gold firefly is also called Himebotaru. The “golden world” spreads through the light of fireflies for just 10 days around July 10th! Many tourists come to see the magical fireflies dancing in the forest. Please observe good manners when viewing, such as not using flashlights, not using camera flash, and not smoking.

Unai Firefly Park

714-1221 Unai, Yakage-cho, Oda-gun, Okayama Prefecture

In the clear Hoshida River basin that flows through the western part of Yakage Town, you can see fireflies as early summer arrives. Firefly-shaped lights will be lit in the Unai area. It has become a hot topic as a unique park, with a rest area and a firefly breeding farm for the natural reproduction of fireflies. ``Firefly viewing season'' is held every year in early June.

Related articles by season and theme can be found here