Soja city is located in the mid-south of Okayama prefecture, an area that was once the center of the ancient Kibi province. It is also the place where the provincial capital of Bicchu province was located after the divide of Kibi province, and as such is well known for its historical sights and ruins.

Tsukuriyama, an ancient tomb, is found in a thick forest at the end of this road.

If you look to the east, you can see Bitchu Kokubunji Temple’s 5-storey pagoda.

Among all the historical sights in the area, Bitchu Kokubunji Temple, the symbol of Soja, is one you simply cannot miss.

Standing among the paddy fields, the 5-storey pagoda looks somewhat lonely, and extremely beautiful.

Picturesque whatever the season: In the spring the area is covered with rapeseed flowers, during autumn with the beauty of autumn foliage, and June, green seedlings and purple hydrangea accent the view.

Bitchu Kokubunji Temple was established in 741 upon the orders of Emperor Shomu.

However, the structures we see today are part of Nisshozan Kokubunji Temple, which was rebuilt during the Edo period.

As the slender, narrowly built 5-storey pagoda was originally supposed to be a 3-stories, the first, second and third floors are constructed of Japanese zelkova timber. The 4th and 5th floors are constructed of pine.

Incidentally, while we’re talking about the Kibi Bike Trail, here’s an interesting fact:

The Japanese crane hatched on April 29^th, 2015 at Kibijitsuru no Sato, which is located about 2km from Kokubunji Temple, was named Kibiji (‘Kibi trail’)

Less than 2 months after hatching, Kibiji is already this elegant! Its motions when picking food already resemble those of a grown bird.