A Feature Articles on hydrangea spots in Okayama Prefecture ! 14 must-see flower spots to visit during the rainy season.

Hydrangeas are one of the most representative flowers that adorn Japan's rainy season. In Okayama Prefecture, they are typically in full bloom from early June to early July, creating a beautiful landscape with their vibrant blue, purple, and pink blossoms. This article introduces famous hydrangea spots in Okayama Prefecture, as well as recommended gourmet spots within a 30-minute radius.

Written by

Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!

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• Table of Contents
• 1. Otakiyama Nishihoin Temple (Bizen City)
• 2. Kibitsu-jinja Shrine(Okayama City)
• 3. Takebe Forest Park Park (Okayama City)
• 4. Okayama Korakuen Garden(Okayama City)
• 5. Misaki Flower Garden(Misaki Town)
• 6. Chōhōji Temple (Tsuyama City)
• 7. Tsuyama Castle / Tsuruyama Park (Tsuyama City )
• 8. Daisen Hydrangea Road (Mimasaka City)
• 9. Fumonji Temple (Maniwa City)
• 10. Hiruzen Herb Garden Harville (Maniwa City)
• 11. Matsuyama Park West Area (Kurashiki City)
• 12. Saitoji Temple (Niimi City)
• 13. Miyama Park (Tamano City)
• Map of the spots introduced
• We are updating the hydrangea blooming information.

1. Otakiyama Nishihoin Temple (Bizen City)

As its nickname "Hydrangea Temple" suggests, the temple's approach is lined with colorful hydrangeas, with approximately 1,500 bushes in bloom from early to late June, soothing the hearts of visitors. A "Hydrangea Festival" is held during the peak blooming season.

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Delicious places to stop by: Honokura

Located about a 10-minute drive from Otakiyama Nishihoin Temple, this take-out only onigiri (rice ball) shop is run by the agricultural production corporation Ichiken Farm. They offer a wide variety of onigiri made with Asahi rice grown and harvested in Bizen City. Freshly milled rice and locally grown fresh vegetables are also sold in the shop.

Honokura Official Instagram

2. Kibitsu-jinja Shrine(Okayama City)

Admire the beautiful corridors and the flowers of early summer. Along the 360-meter corridor that extends from behind the main hall, a national treasure, approximately 1,500 colorful hydrangea bushes bloom on both sides of the path leading to Iwayama Shrine. The hydrangeas viewed from above the path with the corridor as a backdrop are also very beautiful.

Kibitsujinja shrine

701-1341 931 Kibitsu, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

There is a legend surrounding Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura, who are said to be the origin of the Momotaro (demon slaying) legend. You can experience legendary settings such as Yagi Rock, where it is said that an arrow was placed to kill demons, and Okamaden, where it is said that the head of a demon was buried. The Narukama Shinto ritual, in which fortune is predicted by the sound of a kettle, is familiar to many people. The main shrine and worship hall, which were rebuilt in 1425, are the only ones in Japan to adopt the architectural style Kibitsu-zukuri (hiyoku irimoya-zukuri, hiyoku irimoya-zukuri), and have been designated as national treasures. Additionally, the beautiful 360m corridor that extends from the main shrine is a historic building that is worth seeing.

Delicious stopover spot: Spice Cafe RATIO

Located about 20 minutes by car from Kibitsu-jinja Shrine, in the Ashimori townscape preservation district that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, this old house cafe next to the Jinya-cho Ashimori parking lot offers homemade spice curry, as well as hand-ground coffee and sweets.

Spice Cafe RATIO Official Instagram

3. Takebe Forest Park Park (Okayama City)

The hydrangea road, approximately 3.5 km long, adorns the path to the mountaintop with refreshing colors and is located on the outer perimeter of a park where various leisure activities can be enjoyed throughout the year. White, blue, and other refreshing colors of hydrangeas bloom along the roadside. You can also drive up from the park entrance to the mountaintop.

Takebenomori Park

1571-40 Takebe Machidajiko, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture...

It is a park where you can enjoy various activities while feeling the seasons, such as cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, hydrangeas in early summer, leisure pools and car camping in summer, and viewing autumn leaves in autumn.

Delicious stopover spot: Tabuchi Shoten

Located about a 15-minute drive from Takebe Forest Park Park, this nostalgic cafe, situated along the Asahikawa, blends old and new elements. Their shaved ice, topped with juicy original syrups made with plenty of Setouchi fruits, is a popular summer treat.

Tabuchi Shoten Official Instagram

4. Okayama Korakuen Garden(Okayama City)

In Three Great Gardens of Japan, you can encounter a refreshing floral landscape. Hydrangeas are planted along a waterway created by drawing up groundwater. The sight of irises and hydrangeas blooming at the same time is refreshing and seems to make you forget the humid heat.

Okayama Korakuen Garden

703-8257 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

A large garden built by Tsunamasa Ikeda, the second lord of the Okayama domain, as a place for relaxation. The spacious garden, decorated with seasonal flowers, is a different world just like the Edo period. In 1952, it was designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty” as a historical and cultural heritage site, and received a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. Various events are held throughout the four seasons, such as tea gathering and moon viewing, and for a limited time, you can enjoy the ``Fantasy Garden,'' which is specially opened at night and lights up the garden in a different way than during the day. Volunteer guides (free of charge) are also popular with tourists.

Delicious stopover spot: Fukuda Chaya

Located within Okayama Korakuen Garden, this tea shop offers a beautiful view of the changing seasons while you enjoy matcha made with carefully selected tea leaves, as well as seasonal sweets such as parfaits, shaved ice, and Zenzai (Sweet Red Bean Soup) ( sweet red bean soup). It's the perfect place to take a break during your stroll through the garden.

Fukuda Chaya Official Website

5. Misaki Flower Garden(Misaki Town)

This flower garden, located at an altitude of 400m, is a spot where you can enjoy a variety of flowers, with 20,000 hydrangea plants of 100 different varieties in bloom. The sheer number of hydrangeas is overwhelming, with approximately 100 varieties and 20,000 plants! You can stroll through the 20-hectare grounds and admire the diverse colors and types of hydrangeas.

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Delicious stopover spot: Makiba no Mori FOOD&SHOP

Located about a 10-minute drive from Misaki Flower Garden, this restaurant is situated within the "Makiba no Yakata" complex. Here you can enjoy locally sourced dishes, including Okayama Wagyu beef ribeye steak, katsu curry, carbonara, bolognese, and pizza.

Makiba no Yakata Restaurant "Makiba no Mori FOOD&SHOP" Official Website

6. Chōhōji Temple (Tsuyama City)

This temple, located at the foot of Mt. Kannabi in southern Tsuyama City, boasts approximately 3,500 hydrangea bushes in full bloom. The planting began after a pair of hydrangea-painted shoji screens were presented as a gift when Tsuyama Castle was demolished during the Meiji era. Currently, around 3,500 hydrangea bushes bloom in profusion during the rainy season.

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Delicious stopover spot: Nishilma 25

Located about a 7-minute drive from Chōhōji Temple, this gallery is housed in a building that has been passed down through generations since the Edo period, situated in the Jōsai Traditional Buildings Preservation District of Tsuyama City. It also functions as a cafe, offering lunches made with organic vegetables and brown rice, as well as baked goods featuring seasonal ingredients.

Westlma 25 Official Website

7. Tsuyama Castle / Tsuruyama Park (Tsuyama City )

Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park) , famous for its hydrangeas and cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the Bitchu Turret and Ishigaki , is a hidden gem for hydrangea lovers. The sight of the hydrangeas blooming beneath the Bitchu Turret is particularly picturesque, complemented by the imposing Ishigaki and historical architecture. In addition to blue and reddish-purple hydrangeas, you can also see lacecap hydrangeas.

Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park)

135 Yamashita, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture 708-0022

The symbol of Tsuyama City, which has been selected as one of Japan's ``100 Famous Castles'' and ``Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.'' The castle was built in 1616 by Tadamasa Mori, the younger brother of Ranmaru Mori, who was killed in the Honnoji Incident. All of the buildings were demolished due to the Meiji Castle Abandonment Order, but Bicchu Yagura was restored in 2005 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the castle's construction. It has become a new popular spot along with the stone wall that boasts a height of over 10 meters. It is also known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the prefecture, and the scenery with about 1,000 cherry blossom trees in full bloom is spectacular. Cherry blossom season: Early April to mid-April (approximately 1,000 trees) Wisteria season: Late April to early May Azaleas season: Late April to early May Hydrangea season: Mid-June to late June Autumn leaves season: Late October to mid-November

Delicious stopover spot: kitchen hitotogohan

Located about an 8-minute drive from Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park), this cafe is situated in a complex that was renovated from a former kindergarten building. Popular items include omurice (omelet rice) with a choice of sauces such as organic tomato sauce, Hiruzen Jersey beef demi-glace sauce, and stew-based white sauce, as well as hamburgers served in a skillet.

kitchen hitotogohan Official Website

8. Daisen Hydrangea Road (Mimasaka City)

The path leads to an observation point where you can see the Yunogo Onsen town below, with its beautiful blue gradient, and in the distance, the mountains including Mt. Ushiro, the highest Mt. Ushiroyama in Okayama Prefecture , and Mt. Mt.Nagi. Approximately 3,000 hydrangea bushes of deep blue and purple blend beautifully with the green of the mountains.

Oyama Hydrangea Road (Oyama Observation Deck)

656-1 Kose, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture 707-0045

It is an observation spot where you can see the Yugo Onsen town in Mimasaka City, the leisurely flowing Yoshino River, and in the distance, Okayama Prefecture's highest peaks, Ushiroyama and Nagisan, and the mountains beyond the Tsuyama Basin. Hydrangea season: Mid-June to mid-July

Delicious places to stop by: Farm Cafe Yunogo / Yunohana Garden

Located in the Yunogo Onsen town, about a 7-minute drive from Daisen Hydrangea Road, this facility offers a picnic-style experience with hot springs known for Beauty Bath and delicious local cuisine. You can order croissant sandwiches, pizzas, and sweets made with fruit from their own farm at the attached cafe and enjoy them in the spacious garden. There's also a footbath area on the premises.

Yunogo Farm Cafe / Yunohana Garden Official Website

9. Fumonji Temple (Maniwa City)

The mountain temple known as "Hana no Yamadera" (Flower Mountain Temple) is adorned with the colors of the four seasons, including cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, and maple leaves, in early summer. In mid-June, approximately 3,000 hydrangea bushes bloom in a variety of colors, delighting visitors.

Fumonji Temple

719-3132 2127 Taharasanjo, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Known as the ``Flower Mountain Temple,'' you can enjoy flowers throughout the year, such as rhododendrons in spring, hydrangeas in early summer, succulents in summer, and buckwheat in autumn. In particular, there are four seasonal cherry blossoms that bloom twice in spring and autumn, and in autumn you can enjoy the contrast between the red of the maples and the pink of the four seasonal cherry blossoms.

Delicious stopover spot: Gelato Daigozakura

Located about 20 minutes by car from Fumonji Temple, this gelato shop uses fresh Jersey cow milk and local ingredients to offer seasonal flavors. Popular menu items include "Sake Kasu An," a combination of sake lees from Gozan-shu Junmai Daiginjo sake and the smooth red bean paste from Fujito Manju.

Gelato Daigozakura Official Instagram

10. Hiruzen Herb Garden Harville (Maniwa City)

A Takaharu garden overlooking the Hiruzen Sanza Hiruzen Sanza in Nishikayabe, Hiruzen, Maniwa City, this facility boasts a total area of ​​3 hectares and features one of the largest lavender fields and herb gardens in western Japan, as well as a hydrangea garden with approximately 3,000 hydrangea bushes in bloom.

Hiruzen Herb Garden herbill

1480-64 Hiruzen Nishikabe, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture 717-0604

This facility was built in Nishi-Kayabe, Hiruzen, Maniwa City, overlooking the Hiruzen Sanza, with the aim of interacting with people in the city through plants. The site, which has a total area of 3 hectares, includes one of the largest lavender fields in western Japan, an herb garden full of herb flowers, a mountain park with a collection of local wild plants and wild plants, a hydrangea garden with about 3,000 hydrangeas, and a wreath-making facility. There is a Kaori-no-Yakata with a workshop and a shop/restaurant. Hydrangea: Late June to early July (approximately 3,000 plants) Lavender: Early July to early August (approximately 10,000 plants) Herbs: Mid-May to late November (approximately 200 types) Wreath making experience: About 1 hour Price: From about 1,500 yen

Delicious stopover spot: Hiruzen Winery

Located about a 10-minute drive from Hiruzen Herb Garden Harville, this winery is one of the few in Japan to produce wine using wild grapes. In addition to wine, the cafe offers a selection of cheeses made in the Hiruzen-kogen Heights, as well as soft-serve ice cream made with Hiruzen Jersey milk and wild grapes.

Hiruzen Winery Official Website

11. Matsuyama Park West Area (Kurashiki City)

Approximately 13,000 hydrangea plants are planted in this park that takes advantage of the natural terrain! This comprehensive park is popular for its panoramic views of the Mizushima Industrial Area and its well-equipped playground for children.

Tanematsuyama Park West Park

426-1 Fukuda, Fukuda-cho, Kurashiki-shi, Okayama 712-8041

[A park with a panoramic view of Kurashiki city] A comprehensive park that was established near the summit of Mt. Tanematsu (258m above sea level) located south of Kurashiki city center, making good use of the natural topography. There are many different kinds of play equipment in the park. It is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot where approximately 1,200 cherry trees are in full bloom in spring.

Delicious stopover spot: Patisserie Oxalis

Located about a 10-minute drive from the west side of Matsuyama Park, this popular Western-style confectionery shop showcases exquisite and beautiful cakes. In addition to the delicious cakes available for takeaway, their freshly prepared plated desserts, known as "assiette de dessert" (available on limited dates and times; advance reservations by phone required), are also a hot topic.

Patisserie Oxalis Official Website

12. Saitoji Temple (Niimi City)

The collaboration of pure white torii Torii (Shrine gate) and hydrangeas: Saitoji Temple, said to have been built by Kobo Daishi Kukai, is also famous as a temple where hydrangeas bloom in early summer. The mountainside next to the pure white torii Torii (Shrine gate), a popular photo spot, is also adorned with beautiful hydrangeas.

Saidouji Temple

661 Hoso, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture 719-2552

In early summer, irises and hydrangeas bloom on the field in front of the temple. Hydrangeas are in full bloom in the mountains from late June to late July. Saitoji Temple, which is said to have been built by Kukai (Kobo Daishi), has a white stone statue named after Hakuryu, who is said to have traveled to Japan from the Tang Dynasty with Kukai during the Heian period and brought the pottery manufacturing technology that became the basis of Hoso ware. There are 78 torii gates (total length 86m, 78 gates).

Delicious stopover spot: JA Hare no Kuni Okayama Yakiniku Restaurant "Chiya"

Located about 30 minutes by car from Saitoji Temple, this JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant sources whole Chiya beef from its own farm. You can fully enjoy Chiya beef, which is said to be the root of many wagyu brands throughout Japan. They also offer set meals and rice bowls, making it a restaurant where you can easily enjoy this rare brand of beef.

Official website of the yakiniku restaurant "Chiya"

13. Miyama Park (Tamano City)

Enjoy a hydrangea tour in this vast park full of nature. Spanning approximately 15 times the area of ​​Okayama Okayama Korakuen Garden, it boasts over 300 varieties and about 150,000 plants, including cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, camellias, and azaleas. The hydrangeas, with 30 varieties and about 3,500 plants, are in full bloom in mid-June. You can see them in various locations throughout the park, such as along the walking paths beside Akamatsu Pond and in the "Miyama English Garden."

Miyama Park

2-4490 Tai, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture 706-0001

This park is located in the center of Tamano City, adjacent to National Route 30, and has five ponds dotted around it and is surrounded by green pine trees, with an elevation of 50m to 180m. There are approximately 150,000 trees planted in the park, including over 300 species, including approximately 7,000 cherry trees, plums, camellias, azaleas, and maples.

Delicious stopover spot: Miyama cafe PUUT

Located inside the roadside station adjacent to Miyama Park, this restaurant offers a variety of dishes, including set meals featuring vegetables and fresh fish sold at the roadside station, as well as ingredients from Okayama Prefecture. They also serve inari sushi made with Tamano's famous mixed grains, homemade sweets, and breakfast. Takeout options are available, perfect for picnics in the park.

Miyama Park Roadside Station

706-0001 2-4644 Tai, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture

This roadside station is located in a lush green area at an altitude of 50 to 180 meters, almost in the Chuo of Tamano City . It has a shop selling agricultural and marine products and local specialties, as well as a bakery and restaurant. Food trucks are also set up outside, mainly on weekends and holidays. There is plenty to see in the adjacent park, including a "walking zone" full of nature with over 100 types of flowers and trees, a "play zone" with a putt-putt golf course and a playground, and an "English garden."

Map of the spots introduced

Map of the spots introduced

We are updating the hydrangea blooming information.

★We're providing information on hydrangea blooming season. Please use this as a reference when planning your outing.

Hydrangea blooming information can be found here.