Don’t Just Pass Through on the Shinkansen—That Would Be a Waste! An Okayama Prefecture PR Representative Introduces Favorite Spots!

Hello, everyone! I am Makino from the 3rd Department of the Social Relations Bureau at the Public Relations Business Headquarters.

This may be sudden, but have you ever visited Okayama Prefecture?

Okayama Prefecture is blessed with a mild climate and rich natural beauty. When asked about sightseeing spots in Okayama, most people likely first think of locations in the southern part of the prefecture, such as Okayama Korakuen (one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens), the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Kojima denim, or the Seto Inland Sea.

However, if you venture just a little further into the northern part of the prefecture, you will find many wonderful sightseeing spots, a fascinating food culture, and various other attractions that offer a sophisticated experience for adults, even if they aren’t flashy!

As a PR representative for Okayama Prefecture who strives daily to promote its charms, I would like to focus on the northern area of the prefecture and introduce some hidden gems!

After reading this, you will surely want to visit Okayama Prefecture during the New Year holidays or spring break. Please stay with me until the end!

Enjoy Majestic Nature and Gourmet Food! “Hiruzen Highlands”

Located in Maniwa City at the northernmost tip of Okayama Prefecture, the Hiruzen Highlands is one of Western Japan’s leading highland resorts, featuring majestic nature and a wide variety of sightseeing spots.

This time, I would like to introduce “Hiruzen Jersey Land” located within the Hiruzen Highlands!

At the on-site restaurant, you can enjoy Jersey dairy products, including homemade roast beef made from lean Jersey beef, cheese fondue made with homemade cheese, and soft-serve ice cream.

Homemade dishes eaten while gazing at the great outdoors are truly delicious!

From April to November, Jersey cattle are put out to pasture. You can find peace of mind watching the cows and horses grazing freely at the breeding farm right before your eyes.

The charming “Town of Noren” is Instagrammable! Katsuyama is a joy just to walk through!

Katsuyama is located about an hour’s drive from Hiruzen. It once flourished as a post town and castle town on the Izumo Kaido highway. Because its old townscape remains intact, it was the first area in Okayama Prefecture to be designated as a “Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.”

In addition to nostalgic buildings such as traditional sake breweries, former residences, and samurai houses, there are workshops, cafes, and galleries housed in renovated old folk houses and storehouses. Simply walking through the streets is a delightful and atmospheric experience.

In Katsuyama, “noren” (traditional fabric dividers) have now become the symbol of the town. It is truly enjoyable to see the various patterns of noren hanging from the eaves of each building, making it one of my favorite spots.

The Sacred Land of Beef Culture? You Must Try the Exquisite Meat Dishes of Tsuyama!

Tsuyama City, also located in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture, is a “sacred land for meat” known to those in the know. Even over 1,000 years ago, when meat-eating was generally prohibited, Tsuyama was permitted to practice “Yojo-gui” (medicinal eating), where beef was consumed as medicine.

As a result, a beef culture developed, and unique traditions remain in Tsuyama to this day. Did you know that the famous B-grade gourmet dish “Horumon Udon” actually originated in Tsuyama?

One dish you cannot miss in Tsuyama’s meat culture is “Sozuri-nabe.”

The name is said to come from the fact that the meat is scraped off the bone (called “sozuru” in the Tsuyama dialect), similar to how tuna nakaochi is prepared. It is an exquisite hot pot with a soy-based sweet and savory broth rich in umami, featuring various cuts of meat, tofu, and vegetables simmered until tender, leaving a clean aftertaste!

Tsuyama offers many other exquisite meat dishes that may be unfamiliar to many, such as “Hoshi-niku” (dried meat, front), which offers concentrated umami; “Beef Nikogori” (jellied beef, center), made by simmering beef tendon and setting it with collagen; and “Yomenakase” (back), which is the cow’s aorta seasoned with salt and pepper or soy sauce.

Please give them a try!

The northern area of the prefecture, which we focused on this time, is an area to watch, as it is scheduled to host the international art festival “Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama” in the fall of 2024!

There are still many other recommended spots in Okayama Prefecture, but I will save those for another occasion.Please consider visiting Okayama Prefecture for your next trip!

SUNNY SIDE UP has established the “Regional Revitalization Unit,” a specialized unit that solves challenges for communities such as local governments and companies, providing even more strategic and effective marketing solutions.

We will continue to promote the charms of various regions to energize Japan through “fun excitement” (Tanoshii Sawagi)! 🎉