Okayama Date Spots (Winter) | Night Views, Hot Springs, Strawberry Picking, and Oyster Delicacies

• Table of Contents
• The magic of lights shining in the winter night sky! A sparkling illumination date
• Gaze at the starry sky of Japan's top three stars! Bisei Astronomical Observatory
• Enjoy comparing different flavors! Strawberry picking date in Okayama
• Relax in the steam! A relaxing hot spring date at one of Okayama three famous hot springs
• Recommended for winter dates! A trip to taste Setouchi oysters
• Seasonal related articles

The magic of lights shining in the winter night sky! A sparkling illumination date

Okayama Momotaro Festival MOMOTAROH FANTASY

The Okayama Momotaro Festival MOMOTAROH FANTASY, which brilliantly colors Okayama in winter, is an annual event that illuminates the area from Okayama Station to City Hall Street with approximately 130,000 LED bulbs. Enjoy the light show, which has a different theme every year, and liven up your romantic walking date around the city.

Nishigawa Greenway Park

In the center of Okayama City, Nishigawa Ryokudo Park is also illuminated, and you can enjoy strolling along the river and visiting cafes. Furthermore, in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, the white-walled townscape is enveloped in soft lights, allowing you to enjoy a fantastical atmosphere where historical atmosphere and light come together in harmony.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

From street corners to castles and atmospheric townscapes, why not create special memories on a glittering illumination date in Okayama in winter?

MOMOTAROH FANTASY

1-1 Ekimotomachi, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-0024

Momotaro Fantasy is a regular winter event when the area surrounding Okayama Station is illuminated. With a new theme each year, trees and other objects in the area are beautifully lighted up.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

710-0046 1-4-8 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

[Beautiful white-walled streets with a hint of history and art] Kurashiki Bikan Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter where you can enjoy quaint scenery, such as white-walled storehouses, namako walls, and rows of willow trees. The streets created by traditional buildings and the retro-modern scenery along the Kurashiki continue to fascinate people from all over the world. Lined with stylish shops selling Kurashiki brands such as " Kurashiki Hanpu" and "Kurashiki Denim ," as well as cafes renovated from traditional townhouses, the area is bustling with tourists all year round. There are also many cultural facilities such as the " Ohara Museum of Art " and "Ivy Square," so you won't get bored even if you spend the whole day exploring the area. We also recommend the " Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter Nighttime Landscape Lighting" produced by the world-renowned lighting designer, Ishii Ishii. The special nighttime production, colored with an elegant sensibility, gracefully reflects the townhouses, white-walled buildings, and retro Western-style buildings, allowing you to enjoy a different view from the daytime. Traditional paper lanterns are available for rental (free of charge, limited number) exclusively to guests staying at participating facilities. Enjoy a stroll through Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter at night, lit up by the lights.

Gaze at the starry sky of Japan's top three stars! Bisei Astronomical Observatory

Bisei Observatory

If you're looking for a date to enjoy the clear winter night sky, we recommend the Bisei Observatory in Bisei-cho , Ibara City!

It is one of the best stargazing spots in the country, and has been recognized by astronomers as one of the "Three Best Stars of Japan." Efforts to protect the stars are ongoing, including the establishment of a town-wide light pollution prevention ordinance and being recognized as Asia's first "starry sky protection area" in 2021.

From the observatory, which stands on a hill 420 meters above sea level, you can see the starry sky with the naked eye, and through the 101cm diameter reflecting telescope, one of the largest in Japan, you can even observe the craters on the moon, the rings of Saturn, and distant galaxies.

The air is especially clear in winter, making the stars shine even more clearly and allowing you to enjoy famous constellations such as Orion and the Winter Triangle. The museum is open from Friday to Monday nights, and you can enjoy stargazing with expert staff providing commentary. Especially in the cold season, gazing up at the star-filled sky while snuggling up together will create unforgettable memories.

Bisei Observatory

1723-70 Okura, Bisei-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture 714-1411

This is an astronomical observatory built on a hill in Bisei-cho, Ibara City. The “360 degree panoramic view” is a perfect location to admire the starry sky. You can enjoy stargazing at the largest public observatory in Japan, which has a telescope with a diameter of 101cm. Bisei Town, which is famous as a town where the stars can be seen beautifully, has a light pollution prevention ordinance, creating an environment where you can enjoy the starry sky under the best conditions. Many tourists come to see the beautiful Milky Way on Tanabata days.

Enjoy comparing different flavors! Strawberry picking date in Okayama

Strawberry picking, which is in season, is a popular date spot in Okayama during the cold season. You can experience this in the prefecture from December to May, with January and February being the best season when the berries are large and sweet.

You can enjoy comparing a variety of strawberries, including "Hare Ichigo," a new brand unique to Okayama, the "Fruit Kingdom," as well as "Akihime," "Beni Hoppe," "Oi C Berry," and "Shiroi Ichigo."

Another appealing feature is that the produce is grown in greenhouses, so you don't have to worry about the weather and can spend the day comfortably in a warm environment. Some farms offer a variety of creative ideas, such as 40-minute all-you-can-eat options, elevated cultivation so you can pick the produce while standing, and even homemade sweets available at the farm cafe.

The time you spend together smiling while munching on freshly picked, bright red strawberries will be a special memory!

Strawberry picking experience in Okayama, the kingdom of fruit

Relax in the steam! A relaxing hot spring date at one of Okayama three famous hot springs

Yubara Onsen"Sunayu"

A trip to a hot spring that will warm you from the inside out is recommended for a date in Okayama during the freezing winter. The Mimasaka Three Hot Springs, spread across the northern part of the prefecture, are famous hot springs that represent Okayama and consist of Yubara Onsen, Okutsu Onsen, and Yunogo Onsen .

Yubara Onsen is famous for Open-air Bath, "Sunayu ," which springs from the riverbed of the Asahikawa , and soaking in it while gazing at the starry sky is an exceptional experience.

Okutsu Onsen

Okutsu Onsen has long been known as the "Beauty Hot Spring," and you can enjoy the beautiful valley scenery and the mellow Japanese atmosphere.

Yunogo Onsen has a history of approximately 1,200 years and is popular with couples as it offers foot baths, strolls around the hot spring town, and interactive facilities.

The quality of the springs, the scenery, and the atmosphere of the towns are all different, so you can enjoy them on a day trip or overnight stay!

Yubara Hot Spring

Yubara Onsen, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture 717-0402

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.

Okutsu Onsen

708-0503 Okutsu/Okutsukawanishi, Kagamino-cho, Tomata-gun, Okayama Pre...

A hot spring town along the river that has the atmosphere of a secret hot spring. This quiet mountain town is lined with quaint long-established inns and rustic guesthouses. The foot-stomping washing ceremony performed at the base of Okutsu Bridge is a symbolic sight of Okutsu Onsen, and demonstrations are held for tourists from 9:00 a.m. on Sundays (irregularly) from March to early December. The spring quality is a simple alkaline hot spring. It is popular as a ``beauty bath'' because it contains bleaching ingredients and is said to make your skin smooth. Many literary figures and artists have visited here since ancient times, and it has also served as the setting for their works.

Yunogo Onsen

Yunogo, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture 707-0062

Yunogo Onsen is said to have been discovered by Ennin about 1,200 years ago when he saw a white heron healing a wound on his leg. Also known as "Sagi no Yu", it is a famous hot spring known throughout the country. The colorless and transparent hot water is popular among women as a hot spring for beautiful skin. There are fun facilities such as the free footbath "Fureai no Yu" and the day-trip hot spring facility "Yunogo Sagi Onsenkan". In early summer, you can enjoy the scenery of fireflies dancing along the Oya River.

Recommended for winter dates! A trip to taste Setouchi oysters

When it comes to winter gourmet foods to try in Okayama, oysters are in season. Hinase in Bizen City is known as one of the leading oyster-producing areas in the country, and you can enjoy plump, meaty oysters from November to March.

"Hinase Kakioko (okonomiyaki with oysters)" is a local winter delicacy with fragrant batter filled with plenty of oysters, making it perfect for a snack-filled date.

At oyster huts and oyster restaurants, the popular style is to grill your own shelled oysters and then eat them hot, and you can also enjoy a variety of dishes such as steamed oysters, fried oysters, and oyster rice.

As you sit around the charcoal fire and munch on fresh oysters, the conversation will flow so well that you'll forget the cold!

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