Specialties
The Story of Okayama Prefecture's Japan Heritage
We will introduce the 7 Okayama Prefecture Stories that have been certified by Japan Heritage.
Discover the charm of each story through the region's history and culture hidden within them.
A Trip Exploring the 7 Japan Heritage Okayama Prefecture Stories
A Trip Exploring the 7 Japan Heritage Okayama Prefecture Stories
Modern Japan's Education Heritage Ensemble —The Desire to Learn・The Root of Etiquette—
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Modern Japan's Education Heritage Ensemble —The Desire to Learn・The Root of Etiquette—
［Bizen City］
In the Edo Period, educational institutions for commoners were built in various areas of Japan, leading to a permeation of education that even shocked foreigners that came to Japan. Bizen City's Shizutani School was established by Ikeda Mitsumasa, Okayama's domain lord, in 1670. Shizutani was Japan's first-- and still exists as Japan's oldest-- public school for commoners. It is lined with many spectacular structures, such as the Lecture Hall that is recognized as a national treasure and the reliquary shrine. In 2015, it was certified as one of the first Japan Heritage sites, alongside Ashikaga School Historical Remains (Tochigi Prefecture) and several others.
The Kurashiki Story of Fiber～The Textile Town that Interweaved Japan and The West～
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
The Kurashiki Story of Fiber～The Textile Town that Interweaved Japan and The West～
［Kurashiki］
Kurashiki, the tenryo, or directly-controlled land of the Tokugawa Shogunate, flourished as a hub for the collection and distribution of materials sent via water transportation, forming it into a town where merchant shops lined along the Kurashiki River. In the latter half of the Edo Period, cotton rich in salts and igusa (Japanese rush grass) were cultivated in the vast land reclaimed from the Seto Inland Sea, which paved the way for manufacturers of tabi sandals and other textile products to prosper. Going into the Meiji Period, western technology was adopted into manufacturing practices, and the textile industries developed even further. This history of the joining of Japanese tradition and modern western technology became certified by Japan Heritage in 2017.
The Nostalgia-Inducing Six Ancient Kilns ——The Ceramics Born and Raised in Japan——
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
The Nostalgia-Inducing Six Ancient Kilns ——The Ceramics Born and Raised in Japan——
［Bizen City］
Being a production region of a pure ceramic art, Bizen is known as the home of one of the "Six Ancient Kilns of Japan", alongside Seto, Shigaraki and other regions. Even within that category, Bizen Ware boasts the longest history, and it is an extremely simple ceramic that involves no use of glaze, pigment or even decoration. Even now, you can catch a glimpse of some of Japan's earliest scenery in the towns where ceramic making still exists. Follow the trail of chimney smoke and find your way to the nostalgic kiln remains and workshops, as if you were walking along a complex, narrow maze in search of a long lost friend. Certified by Japan Heritage in 2017.
Ports and Residences Built on the Dreams of Brave Seafarers
～Kitamae Ships Port-of-Call・Ship Owner's Settlement～
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
Ports and Residences Built on the Dreams of Brave Seafarers
～Kitamae Ships Port-of-Call・Ship Owner's Settlement～
［Kurashiki City］
Tamashima and Shimotsui were the the ports-of-call for Kitamae Ships in the Edo Period. At these ports, dried mackeral, herring meal and other items indisensible to fertilizer for cotton cultivation were brought in from Hokkaido and the Tohoku Region and traded for return cargo items such as cotton, rapseed and salt, causing substantial development for both Tamashima and Shimotsui. The port townscape, made up of mostly alleys lined with merchant shops facing the sea, was a peculiar sight that could not be seen in farm villages or castle towns. Certified by Japan Heritage in 2018.
Okayama, the Birth Place of "The Legend of Momotaro"
～A Folktale Illustrating Demon Slaying and Ancient Kibi's Heritage～
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
Okayama, the Birth Place of "The Legend of Momotaro"
～A Folktale Illustrating Demon Slaying and Ancient Kibi's Heritage～
［Okayama City・Kurashiki City・Soja City・Akaiwa City］
In Okayama, once called "Kibi no Kuni" in ancient times, there exists an ancient mountain castle called "Kinojo" and megaliths lining an ancient burial mound. The special features of this area are what made it the stage for the folktale in which Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto (a Shinto God) slayed and beheaded Ura (the demon of the tale). As the ancient mountain castle's name (literally meaning "Demon Castle") suggests, Kinojo was where Ura inhabited. Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto used the megaliths as protective shields. This demon slaying tale shows the prosperity and downfall of Kibi no Kuni. This folktale became the background for "The Legend of Momotaro" a mystic story that, even now, invites visitors to learn about Okayama's ancient heritage. Certified by Japan Heritage in 2018.
Did you know!? Islands of Stone, Since Time Immemorial
～Crossover the sea to the Setouchi Bisan Islands, where Japan's Foundation was Laid～
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
Did you know!? Islands of Stone, Since Time Immemorial
～Crossover the sea to the Setouchi Bisan Islands, where Japan's Foundation was Laid～
［Kasaoka City］
The granite and stonemasonry techniques of the Bisan Islands have long supported Japanese architectural culture. The stones that were used to build structures that would become landmarks of Japan, such as Bank of Japan, a western-style structure that stands as a symbol of Japan's modernization, and the modern representative Osaka Castle's great stone wall, were cut down and taken from these islands. This rare industrial culture that involved cutting down and processing megaliths and then carrying them across the sea, has lived along with the stones and people that cultivated it, and is alive and well on this island. Certified by Japan Heritage in 2019.
The Birthplace of "Japan Red" - Bichu Fukuya Town, Bengara and Copper
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
The Birthplace of "Japan Red" - Bichu Fukuya Town, Bengara and Copper
［Takahashi City］
Fukuya was a mining town that flourished as one of Japan's leading producers of bengara and copper. Fukuya's red-pigment, called bengara, was circulated across Japan and was used for beautifully coating structures at temples and shrines as well as Japan's representative lacquer ware such as Kutani Ware, Imari Ware and Wajima Lacquer Ware. This distinct color eventually became known across the world as "Japan Red".
The townscape built and developed by the wealthy merchants who were blessed by the riches of bengara production offers a view of red-colored rooftiles and bengara-coated lattices, dazzling the many people that visit this area. Certified by Japan Heritage in 2020.
