In recent years Okayama prefecture has been gaining popularity as a place where young Japanese move when they want to live in the countryside, which is why the number of chic cafés, seasonal sweets, guesthouses opened in renovated traditional Japanese houses, organic markets, etc. has been increasing.

This time we'd like to introduce some great spots not to be missed. How about heading off for a trip with your female friends on your next long vacation?

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is famous for its beautiful white plaster walled townscape.

Kurashiki Momoko is located right after crossing Nakabashi Bridge. 

It’s a shop where you can enjoy sweets made using an abundance of seasonal fruit at a reasonable cost. In the showcase at the back of the first floor you can find sweets such as tarts, etc. lined up.

Did you know that Okayama prefecture produces a myriad of delicious fruit every season? Peaches, mangoes, Pione grapes, watermelons, cherries, pears, strawberries and so on and so on…

The café's parfaits are filled with seasonal fruit that girls just can't resist. Try many different sweets and share with your friends…

URL:  http://eng.mg/a7cc3

2. Tour the Holy Land of Masking Tape

Whether you want to post notes or decorate your surroundings, masking tape, also sometimes known as mt in Japan, is colorful tape that's easy to tear with your fingers, and comes off nicely afterwards. 

It takes around 30 minutes to get to the hilltop from the viewing platform, but the trail is not steep. The course has been created to allow glimpses of the islands floating in Seto Inland Sea as you get closer and closer to Setouchi Ohashi Bridge. 

Well known both domestically and overseas for the quality of its merchandise and its highly skilled workforce, Kojima (Kurashiki city), the place where Japanese jeans originated, is called the sacred land of Japanese denim.

And if you carry on towards the station exit, the coin lockers on your left are covered in jeans!

Kurashiki city is the place where Japanese jeans were born! Once you exit the ticket gates, you'll be welcomed by plenty of jeans.

How about buying that perfect pair as a souvenir? ♪

URL: https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/544

5. Immerse Yourself in Taisho Era Romance & Meet Yumeji Takehisa's Beautiful Women

During the period of ‘Taisho Romance’, Yumeji Takehisa was active in a variety of arts, as a painter, designer as well as a poet. Yumeji, who is known for his illustrations of beautiful women with gloomy expressions, was actually born in Okayama.

When talking about Yumeji, the first thing that comes to mind is his illustrations of beautiful women. With their anguished expressions and fragile yet supple forms, the ‘Yumeji-style beauties’ were created with a unique sense of aesthetic. 

In the middle of nowhere, deep in the mountains, though only 15 minutes from Ushimado port, there is a café called Akatsuki café & Something, which includes a tree house located in a Japanese bead tree, the symbol tree of Akatsuki. 

Mr. Kinoshita became a coffee shop owner out of an intense love of roasting coffee. His coffee bean preferences are somewhat unusual. The coffee beans used at the store are selected carefully one by one from among ripe coffee beans. 

The biggest feature of "Guest House I….," has to be rush grass.

Here you can experience everything from cultivating to harvesting and even processing rush grass. 

As you would expect from a 200-year-old home, its pillars and beams are refined… or should I say, have dignity. Even if you’re not a fan of traditional Japanese houses, this is the kind of place a Japanese person would want to stay in at least once in their lifetime. 

This guesthouse is also popular among international guests, and makes a convenient base for travelling the Setouchi region.

It's also conveniently close to Uno, the area we will introduce next. 

URL: https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/520

 9. Handicrafts at the Marché by the Sea

A gateway to the islands of Shōdo, Teshima, and Naoshima, the bustling port town of Uno is located in Okayama. Since the summer of 2014, a marché event called “UNOICHI” has been held here. 

Unique fresh produce and foods are gathered from around Okayama and, of course, the Setouchi islands.

 

The very active Okayama craft culture represented by Kurashiki, as well as other high quality handicrafts, are also on offer at the events.

UNOICHI is held at Uno port. By taking advantage of the location, the organizers gather plenty of the good items from the Seto Inland Sea area.

Through the carefully selected products born out of skilled handicrafts, as well as through meeting new people, you'll receive the opportunity to think about your way of life… That's the kind of event it is.

Check here when the next marché is going to be held: http://unoichi-tamano.com/ (Japanese)

URL: https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/311

Lastly today, we’d like to introduce a slightly different kind of spot!

Found at a great location with a 5-minute walk of JR Okayama station, Aeon Mall Okayama had its grand opening in December 2014. Since then, believe it or not, the ladies room has become a hot online topic for its "super feminine ladies room".