Advice about Okayama
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Hadaka Matsuri, a.k.a "The Naked Man Festival"
On the third Saturday night in February, the annual Hadaka Matsuri is held at the Saidaiji Kannon-in temple in Okayama Prefecture. This year's festival will be held on February 21st, 2015.Originating in 1510, this historic festival is also one of Japan's largest Naked Man festivals. In fact, na…(349 words)
Andrea Miyata
"Jibie" Cuisine in Okayama
A trend utilizing wild game, specifically wild boar meat, is sweeping Okayama Prefecture. Known as "jibie" （ジビエ）in Japanese, the word is derived from the French "gibier" and simply means "wild game".Although I am generally very adventurous when it comes to trying new food, I have never rea…(280 words)
Andrea Miyata
'SKIP Ferret & Cafe' in Okayama
When I recently heard that Okayama City now has a ferret cafe, I knew I had to go. Although I'm not especially "into" ferrets, I enjoy interacting with animals of all kinds, so news of this cafe caught my attention.Apparently there are only a few ferret cafes in the country; I found online refe…(486 words)
Andrea Miyata
Hidden gems in Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures
Ushimado seaside town, Setouchi City, Okayama“Setonaikai is the Japanese Inland Sea and Setouchi City in Okayama Prefecture faces this beautiful part of the coast in West Japan. When you visit Hiroshima or Himeji Castle, extend your trip and spend some quiet time here. The part of Setouchi call…(513 words)
DeepJapan
Top 10 things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Summer
If you're visiting western Japan in the summer, you should try some of these specialties of Okayama prefecture. Here are my top 10 things to do / try in Okayama (Summer version), in no particular order:1. Enjoy a lazy afternoon on a golden sand beach. There are loads of beaches in the sout…(885 words)
Andrea Miyata
Top 10 Things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Autumn
Just because summer is over doesn't mean there's not plenty to do and see. If you're headed to or passing through west Japan, don't miss stopping off in Okayama Prefecture and enjoying some of the best seasonal activities.1. Bizen Pottery FestivalI wrote about this festival previously in a…(1168 words)
Andrea Miyata
Yubara Onsen (Valentine Special)
If you're looking for a special way to spend Valentine's Day in the Chugoku region, how about a trip up to Yubara Onsen? Located in Maniwa City, Yubara is Okayama Prefecture's most well-known hot spring town, and is situated along the Asahi River and next to the Yubara Dam.Yubara is a hot sprin…(271 words)
Andrea Miyata
Denim Kimonos--Only in Kurashiki!
Did you know that the birthplace of Japanese denim is Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture?Kurashiki is best known for the great shopping and sightseeing opportunities in the Bikan-chiku Historical district. This area is well known throughout Japan for having refurbished original 'kura' warehouses …(655 words)
Andrea Miyata
One of the best sword museums and sword artisans communities can be found in Okayama Prefecture
Bizen Osafune Sword Museum and Craft Center is located in Setouchi city, Okayama Prefecture. Just a short train ride from Okayama station to Osafune station and a 10 minute taxi ride for 500yen to the museum. You can walk to the museum (it takes about 25 minutes) but if you are unfamiliar with gett…(218 words)
JudithMikami
Coming soon!: Bizen Pottery Festival in Okayama
Many fans and afficionados of Japanese culture enjoy the traditional arts, pottery being one of them. Many people are aware of beautiful Kyo-yaki from Kyoto or Kutani-yaki from Ishigawa Prefecture, but did you know that Okayama Prefecture boasts THE oldest pottery kiln in Japan?Bizen-yaki began…(404 words)
Andrea Miyata
Quiet Retreat at the Seaside in Setouchi
Setonaikai is the Japanese Inland Sea and Setouchi City in Okayama Prefecture faces this beautiful part of the coast in West Japan. When you visit Hiroshima or Himeji Castle, extend your trip and spend some quiet time here.The part of Setouchi called Ushimado is an old seaside town that is the …(381 words)
David
Winter Fruit: Strawberries!
Best Winter Fruit: Strawberries!The strawberries that are grown in Japan are different varieties than those grown in my home country (U.S.A) and are super large and super sweet! Whereas American strawberries are grown in fields, Japanese strawberries are grown in elevated beds in vinyl greenhou…(221 words)
Andrea Miyata
High Quality Fruits in Japan
The other day, I found giant "New Pione" grapes at a local supermarket and I could help buying one even though the price was rather high compared to other grapes (750 yen per pack while regular grapes are sold at 350 yen per pack). They are seedless and each grape has a diameter of 4cm or more. The…(599 words)
EmiOnishi
Bizen Osafune Sword Museum
Japan is synonymous with master sword-making. This status has been cultivated through popular culture with the myriad of samurai and ninja movies that have been made over the years. While Hollywood often focuses on the fanciful side of the Japanese sword, within Japanese popular culture it tends to…(307 words)
Kenji
Yoshima YMCA Retreat
oshima Island is located off the southern tip of Shodoshima in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. It has an area of 2.2 square kilometers and is about 1 kilometer from the main island of Shodoshima. Although Yoshima is part of Shodoshima and therefore Kagawa Prefecture, it is administered by the Kobe YMCA.…(421 words)
Kenji
The Birthplace of Yumeji
Do you know Yumeji Takehisa? Even if you don’t know the name you are probably familiar with the work of this artist from the early 20th century. Sometimes referred to as Japan’s Toulouse Lautrec, Yumeji was active during the Belle Epoque of the Taisho era during which the nation lived in relative…(315 words)
Kenji
Best Summer Foods in Japan
Here is a list of my favorite summer foods in Japan (in no particular order):* Yakiniku （焼肉）, or Korean-style barbeque. Although it's available all year around, it somehow just tastes better when cooked and eaten outdoors, especially in the garden or at the beach.* Somen （そうめん） …(239 words)
Andrea Miyata
A decent hotel substitute
In Tokyo I have used internet cafes that don't even ask for identification. In Okayama many of them require you to have a members card which makes some sort of identification necessary. They charge by time intervals but it depends on the establishment. 10-15 minutes, 30 minutes or hourly rates are …(69 words)
Kenji