Shōsan-ji is temple No. 12 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. Located at 800 m up a mountain, it’s the second highest temple on the pilgrimage, and it’s known as a nansho, or ‘difficult place’, with a lot of up and down along the way.
Kurashiki is best known for the Bikan Historical Quarter, now preserved as a historic district, with many of former storehouses converted into characterful shops, museums, and cafés.
Kibiji is an ancient road connecting Sōja and Okayama, the central area of what was once the kingdom of Kibi. Traversing a vast plain, the road is level and ideal for cycling.
Kurashiki is best known for the Bikan Historical Quarter, now preserved as a historic district, with many of former storehouses converted into characterful shops, museums, and cafés.
Bitchū Matsuyama Castle stands on a mountain high above the town of Bitchū Takahashi. The high stone walls are very impressive, and the view from the keep is expansive and awe-inspiring.
The small city of Takahashi in the mountains of Okayama grew up around Bitchū Matsuyama Castle. It retains much of its Edo period atmosphere, with many old merchant premises close to the river.
Despite its relatively isolated location, Hagi had a remarkable impact on Japanese history at the end of the feudal period and the early modern period.
A Shintō shrine in Akitsu with a sake theme. In the shrine compound is a fine bronze statue of Miura Senzaburō, who devised a method for brewing sake with the soft water of Hiroshima.
Miura Senzaburō was a Japanese sake brewer whose “Miura method” of brewing sake with soft water, invented in 1887, laid the foundation for the development of the renowned Hiroshima sake. He’s also known as the father of ginjō sake.
Taketsuru Masataka, known to his friends as Massan, was a brewer and distiller from Takehara. He’s known as the founder of Japan’s whisky industry and Nikka Whisky.