Ukan Gorge , a famous maple viewing spot in Kibichuo Town , is also in the peak season for fresh greenery, and the red bridge over the Ukai River looks more beautiful than usual.
2024.05.02Ukan Gorge
The 5km-long Ukan Gorge , a tributary of the Asahikawa , one of Okayama 's three major rivers, is designated as 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 dazzling from the parking lot.
Akabashi Bridge
The red bridge over the Ugamagawa River. Looking down makes your legs tremble, but it's so charming that you'll want to try crossing it, even though it's scary.
Senryu Path
The area around the parking lot is also beautiful with the fresh green maples, and is now in its peak season. There is also a Senryu Trail, dotted with stone monuments with Senryu poems engraved on them, which you can enjoy walking around.
Iwaya's 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 area around the parking lot was also beautiful with the fresh green maple trees.
[ Ukan Gorge]
Address: 1760 Okayama Prefecture , Kibichuo Kamo, Kaga Prefecture
TEL: 0866-54-1301 ( Kibichuo Town Collaboration Promotion Division)
Katayama Residence
The Katayama Residence, located about a five-minute drive from Ukan Gorge , was a vast mansion complete with a Nagayamon gate and sake brewery, but these were 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, Ota City Shimane Prefecture ), and is highly praised by experts as "a perfect example of Japanese architecture, retaining some of the Edo period style, and with a structure and interior design that is worth seeing."
You can freely visit
The Katayama Residence is a large, old house also known as the "Hyakutatami Mansion." Once you pass through the gate, you'll find a spacious garden, and you can take off your shoes and freely explore the inside of the building.
The fresh green maples 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 foliage will be spectacular.
parlor
Going through the tatami room, I could see the dirt floor room. It had a certain Edo period atmosphere to it. It was truly spacious, as it was called the "100 Tatami House"!
veranda
You can spend some relaxing time looking out at the garden from the veranda. The fresh green leaves of the maple trees are spectacular in autumn. Even though 100 years have passed, the garden has been beautifully maintained and the scenery is so beautiful that just looking at it is soothing.
Maple trees in the backyard
The fresh green 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. This mansion dates back to the time of Katayama Shigenori, the eldest son of Katayama Asataro, a government official and Chinese scholar, and Shigeru, and you can see that it has a history of 100 years.
Hidden Room
I found an interesting room. It was a hidden room designed to hide the entrance from downstairs, allowing guests and family members to evacuate in case of unexpected intruders. It was dimly lit, but surprisingly spacious, and the tatami room looked comfortable.
Teahouse Katayamatei
There is a tea room in the house where light meals and coffee menus are served. There is also a space around the Irori (traditional sunken hearth) where you can 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 often hear that Kibichuo Town rice is delicious, and it was truly delicious. 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 Shimokamo, Kibichuo Kamo, Okayama Prefecture Kaga
TEL: 0867-34-0747
Opening hours: 10:00-15:00
Closed: Wednesdays and Sundays *Irregular holidays
Parking: Available
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