VENUES

The city of Tsuyama has a rich history and culture, and is still the major city in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture. In the Edo period, there were thriving castle towns to the east and west of Tsuyama Castle (present-day Kakuzan Park). The central district of the city is lined with wooden structures dating from that period and Western-style edifices built in the ensuing Meiji and Taisho eras. Here, visitors can sense the city’s past prosperity and rich history.

Situated on the northern side of the central district of Tsuyama, Green Hills Tsuyama is a park with plenty of greenery on hilly land with a panoramic view of the Chugoku Mountains. Cafes, walkways, flower gardens, and other features can be found here and there on its spacious grounds covering 25 hectares. For all in the area, it is a favorite spot for rest and relaxation.

The town of Nagi is located at the base of Mount Nagi, a beautiful peak in the Chugoku Mountains, on its southern side. It affords an excellent view of this majestic mountain, whose appearance changes with the seasons. In addition, it has been called a “miracle town” in the aspect of measures to increase birthrates. Due to its full support for people moving into the town and child raising, it achieved a total fertility rate of 2.95, among the highest nationwide, in 2019. Nagi MOCA was designed by the internationally-renowned architect Arata Isozaki, and is the world’s first experience-oriented art museum that is a public facility integrating artwork and the building on a semi-permanent basis.

The city of Niimi lies at the northwestern edge of Okayama Prefecture, near the headwaters of the Takahashi River, a Class A river. It has an abundance of crystal-clear water and greenery, and most of it sits on a karst plateau. Within the city are several limestone caves. One of these is Makido Cave, which has been designated as a natural monument by the prefectural government. It came to be called “Makido Cave” (literally meaning “wonderful cave”) after the haiku poet couple Tekkan and Akiko Yosano praised it as being ki ni michita do (“a cave full of wonder”).

The city of Maniwa is situated near the center of the Chugoku Mountains in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture. The Hiruzen area in the gently-sloping district in northern Maniwa has a large expanse of pastureland and ranks as one of Japan’s top locations for raising Jersey cattle. The facility GREENable HIRUZEN was opened to disseminate tourism and cultural information so that more people could learn about the area’s sustainable value. “Kazenoha“ pavilion, which stands as its symbol and was designed by the noted architect Kengo Kuma, as well as its museum and activities, visitors can experience sustainable living and have plenty of fun in the process.

The town of Kagamino is blessed with a rich natural environment in a forested district against the backdrop of the Chugoku Mountains. Okutsu Valley extends for a length of about three kilometers along the scenic headstream of the Yoshii River with its limpid waters. In the fall, the valley’s breath-taking autumn colors draw visitors who come to admire its magnificent beauty. Another attraction is the “washing dance” performed by women who stamp on garments along the river bank at the foot of the Okutsu Bridge. This is one of the iconic sights of Okutsu Hot Spring.