Okayama Bizen Area Tourist Card
With the card in hand, I set off on my next journey.
This photo card showcases the charms of the Bizen area. It features a variety of attractions, from popular spots like Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle to nature, art, history, and scenic locations. The card is free to take home, and you can access tourist information via the QR code on the back.
The Bizen area, which stretches across eastern Okayama Prefecture .
The Bizen area is located in the eastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It boasts a variety of attractions, including historical sites such as Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle, as well as natural beauty such as the sea and mountains, art, starry skies, and scenic spots. Easily accessible from urban areas, it is a popular area for enjoying quintessential Japanese scenery and culture.
About tourist cards
We're showcasing the various attractions of the Bizen area through photo cards you can take home. The cards are distributed free of charge, and you can access detailed information about each spot by scanning the QR code on the back. Find your favorite card and discover your next travel destination!
Pickup Spot
① Okayama Korakuen Garden
This grand garden was built by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the second lord of the Okayama domain, as a place of relaxation for himself. The spacious grounds, adorned with seasonal flowers, evoke a world reminiscent of the Edo period. In 1952, it was designated a "Special Place of Scenic Beauty" as a historical and cultural heritage site, and it has received a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. Various events, such as tea picking and moon viewing, are held throughout the year. Volunteer guides are also popular with tourists.
② [Okayama City] Okayama Castle(Ujo (Crow Castle))
This castle was built by Ukita Hideie, a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of the Five Great Elders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its unusual three-story, six-tiered keep, shaped like an irregular pentagon, and its black clapboard exterior have earned it the nickname "Crow Ujo (Crow Castle)." From the top floor, one can enjoy a 360-degree view of the Asahikawa, Okayama Korakuen Garden, and the city. The original keep was destroyed in an air raid in Showa, but it has since been rebuilt.
③ [Okayama City] FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）
This event is held at Okayama Korakuen Garden for a limited time during spring, summer, and autumn. The garden is specially opened at night and illuminated, allowing visitors to enjoy a unique atmosphere bathed in elegant light. Events such as traditional Japanese cultural experiences are also held.
④ [Okayama City] Kibitsu-jinja Shrine
Legends of Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto and Ura, who are said to be the origin of the Momotaro (demon-slaying) legend, remain here. Visitors can experience the setting of the legend, including the Arrow-Placing Rock, where the arrow used to slay the demon is said to have been placed, and the Mikama-den, where the demon's head is said to have been buried. The main hall and worship hall, rebuilt in 1425, are the only ones in Japan to adopt the Kibitsu-zukuri architectural style and are designated as national treasures. In addition, the beautiful 360-meter-long corridor extending from the main hall is a historical structure well worth seeing.
⑤ [Tamano City] Mt. Ojigatake
This viewpoint offers stunning views of the numerous islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the magnificent Seto Ohashi Bridge. On clear days, you can even see the Shikoku mountain range. There are many uniquely shaped rocks with fun names like "Uncle Rock," "Smiling Rock," and "Sheep Rock," making it fun to search for them. A walking trail is also available, making it a popular hiking spot.
⑥ [Tamano City] Nikoniko Rock
The Smiling Rock looks as if an old man is smiling while gazing at the sea. You can also go around to the back of the rock, so take a stroll around it.
⑦ [Tamano City] Black sea bream from Uno
The "Uno no Chinu" (
Yodo River Technique) sculpture, created from driftwood collected mainly from the coast around Uno Port and Kojima , was born at the first " Setouchi Triennale 2010". Waste materials that drifted across the sea from all over the world to the Setouchi have been transformed into a new form and are on display as art at Uno Port. Next to it is "Kochinu," which was created in 2016 and is a slide that goes from head to tail.
Yodo River Technique) sculpture, created from driftwood collected mainly from the coast around Uno Port and Kojima , was born at the first " Setouchi Triennale 2010". Waste materials that drifted across the sea from all over the world to the Setouchi have been transformed into a new form and are on display as art at Uno Port. Next to it is "Kochinu," which was created in 2016 and is a slide that goes from head to tail.
⑧ [Bizen City] Former Shizutani School
Founded in 1670 by Ikeda Mitsumasa, the lord of the Okayama domain, this was Japan's first public school for commoners, and a place that produced many capable leaders who shaped Japanese history. The magnificent lecture hall, with its hipped roof, has an atmosphere befitting a "temple of learning" and is designated a National Treasure. There are also many other facilities designated as important national cultural properties, such as the sacred shrine where a statue of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, is enshrined. It was designated as Japan's first Heritage site in 2015.
⑨ [Bizen City] Amatsu Shrine
This is a venerable shrine with a thousand-year history. Bizen Pottery is used for the roof tiles, guardian lion-dogs, paving stones along the approach, and ceramic panels on the walls along the approach. Bizen Pottery tablets are also sold here.
⑩ [Setouchi City] Ushimado Olive Garden
This is the own farm of Nippon Olive Co., Ltd., which opened in 1942. Cultivating approximately 2,000 olive trees across 10 hectares of land, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ushimado, also known as the "Aegean Sea of Japan," from the top of the hill. There is also a shop selling olive products, local goods and souvenirs, as well as olive and lemon trees, and on the second floor of the building is a charming cafe with deliberately unlit lighting. Pets are allowed in the garden outside of the buildings.
⑪ [Setouchi City] Kuroshima Island Venus Road
On Kuroshima Island , located off the coast of Ushimado in Setouchi City , a romantic sandy path appears at low tide. Kuroshima Island Venus Road, where three islands are connected in a crescent shape, is a power spot for lovers. Take a walk along this mystical 800-meter-long sandy path created by nature and search for the "heart-shaped stone" that is said to bring about romantic success if touched by two people.
⑫ [Setouchi City] Sanchomo (National Treasure Sword)
The national treasure "Tachi Mumei Ichimonji ( Sanchomo (National Treasure Sword) )," a long sword made by the Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji School in the mid- Kamakura period, is a famous sword with a magnificent form and a gorgeous blade pattern. It is also known as a favorite sword of Uesugi Kenshin and Kagekatsu, and is currently owned by Setouchi City, and is exhibited at the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum about once a year.
⑬ [Setouchi City] Traditional Sword Forging
Located in Setouchi cho, Setouchi City, a town that has flourished as a center for sword production since the Kamakura period , the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum is a rare collection of Bizen, Bizen Osafune Sword Village swords, that are uncommon throughout Japan. The grounds include a forge where visitors can observe various sword-making processes, such as Traditional Sword Forging, sword mounting, blade engraving, and polishing.
Once a month, visitors can observe the " Traditional Sword Forging " process, where Tamahagane (Japanese steel) is hammered and stretched at a scorching 1200 degrees Celsius. This process has become so popular that it attracts sword enthusiasts from overseas. The sight of the craftsmen powerfully hammering the steel and sparks flying is truly impressive! This is the process that gave rise to the Japanese expression "to strike a hammer together."
⑭ [Akaiwa City] Kumayama Ruins
The Kumayama area, at an altitude of 508.6m, contains 33 stone structures, the largest of which is the nationally designated historical site "Kumayama Ruins." This unique stone structure, reminiscent of a pyramid, consists of three tiers, and a square vertical shaft is located in the Chuo of the top of the third tier, where a cylindrical ceramic container and a small Nara sansai jar were found.
⑮ [Akaiwa City] Yurugi Rock
The shrine enshrines a group of massive rocks located Oku the main hall, with Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto as its deity. The sacred rocks, each approximately 5 meters tall, are supported by only a few points and appear to be on the verge of falling but never do, hence the name "Yurugi-iwa" (Shaky Rock). It has also become a popular power spot for students taking exams.
⑯ [Wake Town] Fuji Park
Wake Town's representative tourist spot is Fuji Park. With around 100 varieties of wisteria gathered from all over Japan, it boasts one of the largest selections of wisteria varieties in the country! The sight is truly impressive, with wisteria that hangs down in clusters of flowers up to 1 meter long, and a massive wisteria trellis that stretches for a total of 500 meters. The flowers come in a variety of colors, from deep purple to light purple, pink, and white, offering plenty of photo opportunities.
⑰ [Kibichuo Town] Narutaki Forest Park
Narutaki Falls boasts a large volume of water, and the surrounding area is dotted with massive and unusual rock formations. To allow visitors to stroll through this beautiful gorge, walking paths and various open spaces have been developed along both banks of the river. You can enjoy the waterfall's beauty in every season: cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and vibrant autumn leaves. There is also a campsite and a birdwatching hut, making it a great spot for families with children.
⑱ [Kibichuo Town] Astro Cottage Galileo
This is a town-operated astronomical observation facility located in Kibichuo Town accommodation.
