2024 Okayama Prefecture Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in December)
Popular Attractions
Okayama Castle
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Okayama Korakuen
Fewer people, more fun! The Japanese countryside is my first choice for a vacation!
📍Shinjō Village, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Shinjō Village is located in Maniwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is a small village surrounded by mountains🏡
91% of the village is forest🌳, and the Asahikawa River, the third largest river in Okayama Prefecture, flows through the area.
With abundant water and forest resources, it is one of the most beautiful villages in Japan.
The cherry blossoms🌸 in Shinjō Village are a major feature, adding endless charm and poetry to the village.
These cherry trees are over a hundred years old!
They line both sides of the street, forming a spectacular cherry blossom tunnel🥰
When spring comes and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the entire Shinjō Village seems to be surrounded by a sea of pink flowers, like a dream.
It is worth mentioning that
the Edo-style samurai residences in Shinjō Village complement the cherry blossom scenery.
These historic buildings look even more rustic and elegant against the backdrop of cherry blossoms, as if you have traveled back to the Edo period🎏
Visitors can enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms while experiencing the charm of traditional Japanese culture.
ExcursionEnchantment
The Charm of the Countryside, Okayama
The unique charm of the Japanese countryside emanates from Okayama! It was my first visit, but I already want to go back again because it was such a lovely place! The quaint streets lined with trams, the local beer called 'Doppo', and my favorite 'Mazesoba'—the city lacks nothing! I always feel this, but I seem to match so well with Japan!
봉주루
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter was originally a key port town during the Edo period, and to this day, it still retains a series of white-walled, earthen storehouses and residences, old warehouses, and merchant buildings from that era. It's like stepping back into the streets of the Edo period. Along the Kurashiki River, willow trees enhance the rich Japanese-style colors of the waterside landscape, creating an irreplaceable atmosphere unique to Kurashiki. With every step, there is a scene from the past, and the retro-flavored streets of Kurashiki are home to many century-old shops selling sake and traditional Japanese sweets. However, don't just skim the surface; a little exploration will reveal many warehouses and old shops that have been transformed into stylish cafes, dessert shops, and general stores. The area also hides museums that house precious cultural artifacts and artworks in its alleys, including the Ohara Museum of Art, established in 1930 to display valuable works by famous painters such as El Greco, the French Impressionists Gauguin, Monet, and others. There are cultural facilities such as a classical music box museum and the Torajiro Kojima Memorial Museum; or you can visit the Kurashiki Ivy Square to experience pottery, a former rice warehouse from the late Edo period in Japan that has been converted to display over 15,000 pieces of folk art including ceramics, glass, and lacquerware at the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, and the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, which collects Japanese Paleolithic, Jomon, Yayoi, and other era stone and bronze artifacts.
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (倉敷美観地区)
Address: Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture