【Okayama】The most sunny and beautiful prefecture, next to Hiroshima

【Okayama】The most sunny and beautiful prefecture, next to Hiroshima

Okama Prefecture is located in the west of Japan’s main island at the east of Hiroshima Prefecture. Almost people should know Hiroshima, I guess. But how about Okyama? In fact, that is called Harokuni. That means the protection with the most sunny days. Okama faces the ocean called Setonai and they have mountains at their back and that creates a mild and calm climate and more. There are a lot of historical sites like Kurashiki city. Those old and aesthetic mood must get your heart I guess. And there is an old road called Kibishi. You can enjoy so many temples and shrines built in over 1,000 years ago. This time I spent one day and a half at Okyama. [Music] That was really short, but I truly enjoyed it. Now, let’s start our new trip of Okama. Bamos. This time we going to Okayama from Osaka by the Barrett train. Let’s start our new trip. The scenery is changing into soyic Japanese authentic countryside. Now we at Hyoko Prefecture between Osaka and Okayama. It takes about 15 minutes from Osaka to Okama by the Barrett train. We’ve arrived at Okama station. Okama is called Harokuni, the land of sunshine. In fact, Okama is one of the prefecture with the roest annual rainfall and they are known as the birthplace of Motaro, the most famous Japanese old story. Let’s walk around the Okama city. I found good place with an old atmosphere. This place is called Nono Town in the Edo period. It’s located to the west of Okayama Castle. It was a residential area here for merchants and artisans in the Edo period. Oh, there are dinosaurs over there. Okama is known as a dinosaur’s place as same as Fukui Prefecture Fukui. Now, let’s have some lunch here. This time I ordered a ramen and demi katon, a rice bowl with pocket cut demigrass sauce on top. It was a funny combination, but I truly enjoyed it. [Music] Now we are heading to the Okama Castle. The old atmosphere is still remaining here and there. [Music] Now we found Okama Castle. [Music] Let’s get into the castle. [Music] The wall rocks of the castle is stuck nearly. It’s called Kagamishi. That means the mirror rocks. This castle was built by Ukita, one of the kings of Japan in 1597. At that time his boss teotomy hideoshi was dead and the war of seigahara was occurred. Hideier fought at one of the main force of western army hideoshi’s site but they were lost and then kobayakawa hideyaki a king of eastern army moved to this castle. He started the reconstruction of this castle in 161. But soon he was dead. After his death, Iikida Terumasa and his son Tadatsugu became the new kings of this castle. Then their family preserved this castle until the last years of Edo period. [Music] The castle is painted in black and white that creates a imposing atmosphere. This is one of the most beautiful castle in Japan. I truly think now let’s move to another attractive site. [Music] We are heading to a park called Kora. It is known as one of the most three beautiful park in Japan. [Music] It’s rocketed next to the castle. [Music] Going through the nice bamboo street. [Music] And here is the entrance. [Music] It cost just 500 yen. [Music] This park was built at 1700 by the order of Iika Tsunamasa, a king of Okama Castle. That house is called Enyote. The king invited his guests served the tea. Sweet. A big pond is located at the center of this park. And those small rivers run through this park. People walk through it working those rivers, trees and beautiful buildings. [Music] That style is called Chisen Caillou Shiki Park. In 1869, the park was given to the mage government with Okama Castle in a while. [Music] But soon after that, the park was back to the Okayama Prefecture [Music] and then I Akimasa released this park to citizens. [Music] So, we can get into this park easily. Now, [Music] let’s climb the small hill. [Music] The scenery from here is really good, isn’t it? [Music] I truly loved it. [Music] Now, let’s move to another city. [Music] [Music] Now we are at Kurashiki City. [Music] It’s located on the west side of Okama City. It’s known as a city of the Japanese heritage. [Music] A lot of old beautiful buildings and cityscapes are still remaining. [Music] Let’s walk around and look for them. [Music] I found an old shrine. [Music] It’s called AI shrine. The shrine is on the top of a hill. [Music] Nice scenery. you. [Music] So, [Music] so much. [Music] This shrine is located at the top of Turugata Mountain, center of Krashiki city. So I recommend visiting here before you walk around this city. [Music] Now let’s continue walking. In the Edo period, Kurasiki city was directly governed by Tokugawa Shogunit. At that time, those cities were called Tendo. Kurashiki city was one of the tend cities. [Music] They are so proud of that. So they keep this beautiful cityscape as almost same as that era. We better thank their efforts of keeping this city so beautiful. [Music] The red building on the left side is called Kurashiki IB Square. Originally this was built as a kind of spinning factory of Maji period but now this is a hotel. There’s some restaurants, souven shops, and beer garden. I wish I could drink some beer here, but I didn’t. This is my job. In front of the building, there are a lot of shops, especially selling denim curls. Kurashiki is so famous of its denim curls because the Japanese first denim was made in here. [Music] It’s so popular that so many people who rub denim often visit this place. [Music] Well, the atmosphere is changed a little. [Music] [Music] In this place, those Japanese traditional buildings and European style buildings are coexisting. That makes it a strange feeling. But the scenery and the atmosphere of here is perfect. [Music] This building has a kind of Greek style. I failed. [Music] This cafe is called Eric Greco. The name of famous painter from Greece lived in Toledo, Spain. Let’s enter. Unfortunately, they were crossed today. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Oh, look at them. Even those swans are laughing at me. [Music] Now, let’s get back to Okama City. We walk it so much today. [Music] This time I choose a hotel including dinner and breakfast. To be honest, I wanted to have some dinner at some isakaya restaurant. But I saved my money for continuing this trip. Good night. [Music] Good morning. [Music] This hotel is including the breakfast and dinner and the price is surprisingly just 5,000 yen. Amazing. Today we’re going to walk an old road called Kibishi. Let’s move to the start point. [Music] Well, I found an old shrine. [Music] This is a start point Kibitsuhiko Shrine. [Music] This shrine is dedicated to Kibitsu Hikon Mikoto who is a model of Mamotaro Japanese old story. Kibi is the old name of Okama and he was a king of this region. We can’t walk around Okama ignoring his trace. [Music] Now let’s start walking Kijiji. [Music] [Music] The mountain of the right is called Kibi no Nakayama considered as a god’s mountain. And here is the border of two regions Bizen and Pichu. We are entering the beach region. [Music] There is another shrine called Kibitsu shrine. The name is almost same as Kibitsuhiko Shrine, but those shrines are different. [Music] This shrine is also dedicated to Kibitsu Hikon Mikoto, but the outlook is so unique. As you can see, this shrine has two triangular roofs. is quite different from other shrines. [Music] It’s called Hiuya Sukuri. One of the Japanese national treasure. You will definitely be surprised by that look. Now, let’s continue walking. Nice old houses. This street is called Itakurashuku. A kind of old post town. So the atmosphere is like Edo period, an old era of Japan. [Music] Now we take it detour a bit. [Music] Oh, there is a big toi the god’s gate. This region is called Bichu Takamati. And there was an old castle when the Sangok period. There was a king called Shimizu Muna fought against Toyoto Mihi, the king who united Japan first. At the last of that war, his castle was surrounded by artificial rake made by Hideoshi. Finally he committed sepuku in order to become a substitute for the citizens. [Music] He strongly respected by citizens of this region from then to the present. [Music] Now let’s continue walking. The scenery is getting so beautiful. This is the authentic Japanese country road. [Music] Villages still have these old style buildings. You can enjoy seeing while you are walking this road. [Music] [Music] There is an old town called Sukuriyama town. It just look like a small hill but actually that is a grave of some king of ancient era. What a beautiful scenery. [Music] Now we are entering so city. There is an old temple with great taga called Bichu Kokubi. Now we found that. What a beautiful. Let’s take a closer look. So [Music] this temple was established in 741 in the Nara period by Shom Teno the emperor at that time. He is also known as the inventor of the biggest Buddha of Toaii Nara Prefecture. He made those great buildings for helping people suffering by the epidemic at that time. This great pagoda has five loops as same as the Nara’s one. If you have been to Nara once, probably you would feel the same atmosphere of Nara. [Music] And the best thing of this temple is that location. [Music] It’s surrounded by this beautiful nature. So we can see those beautiful buildings and mountains together. But there is a bad thing in that access. There are no stations, no bus stops. We can reach there by car or our foot. Too much tired. Now, let’s finish our trip of Okayama. Thank you so much for watching my video until the end. This is too short for seeing other nice places of Okama, but I truly enjoyed it. Please visit Okayama someday. See you next time. [Music]

Daniel K’s Walk Around Japan vol.14

This time,I traveled around Okayama prefecture,
next to Hiroshima.
Okayama is known for it’s sunny climate.
it’s called that Okayama is the most lower rainy days in Japan,
the grains and the fruits grow so well.
And more, there are much historical sites like Okayama castle,
Korakuen park,Kurashiki -city.
This time,I spent one day and a half in Okayama,
and visited those great places.
Please enjoy my video and use this as a reference for your trip!!

#japantravel
#japantrip
#okayama
#kurashiki