5 Photogenic Scenic Spots in Okayama

Okayama Prefecture, known as the "Land of Sunshine," is truly the best prefecture for photogenic shots. The superb scenery woven by blue skies and rich nature will color your Instagram feed in an instant. This time, we introduce five special photogenic spots that you will instinctively want to save

01｜Hiruzen Highlands｜A Morning Miracle of a Sea of Clouds and a Carpet of Green

Hiruzen Highlands, the largest highland in the Chugoku region, is a scenic spot where a fantastical sea of clouds appears from autumn into early winter. The sea of clouds spreading out with the three peaks of Hiruzen as a backdrop is like a world in the sky.

• Photogenic point: The golden light where morning mist and the morning sun overlap dramatically envelops the entire highland
• Best time: Early morning (just after sunrise) in October–November; the morning after a strong cold snap is the time to aim for
• Shooting angle: Capturing the whole highland with a wide angle from the Hiruzen Observatory is recommended. Including a Jersey cow in the foreground instantly boosts the travel feel!
• Access: About 10 minutes from the Hiruzen IC on the Yonago Expressway

02｜Oji-ga-take｜An Observatory Where You Can Have the Seto Inland Sea All to Yourself

Located within the Setonaikai National Park, Oji-ga-take is a viewing spot where you can take in the calm Seto Inland Sea dotted with islands. A two-shot with the oddly shaped "Nikoniko Rock" is also popular.

• Photogenic point: At dusk, the breathtaking beauty of the sea surface glowing orange and island silhouettes rising up
• Best time: Evening, 16:00–18:00 (depending on season), especially on clear-aired days in autumn and winter
• Shooting angle: Use the rocks as a frame and place the Seto Inland Sea in the back in a "picture-frame composition" to create depth
• Access: About 20 minutes by bus + walking from JR Tamano City Station

03｜Okutsu Gorge｜A Fiery Autumn Foliage Reflection

Okutsu Gorge, Okayama Prefecture's foremost autumn-foliage destination. The contrast woven by the clear stream threading between massive rocks and the trees dyed red and yellow is spectacular. The reflection of the fall foliage mirrored on the water surface is especially talked about for its beauty.

• Photogenic point: The vivid fall foliage reflected on the still water surface created by the rock spring is like a world out of a painting
• Best time: Mornings in early to mid-November (the light is soft and the water surface calm)
• Shooting angle: Aiming from a low position along the river at a low angle lets you capture the reflection on a larger scale
• Access: About 50 minutes by bus from Tsuyama Station

04｜Washuzan Observatory｜The Golden Collaboration of the Great Seto Bridge and the Setting Sun

The Washuzan Observatory is renowned as the place where you can view the Great Seto Bridge most beautifully. The view where the bridge, sea, and islands become one is one of Okayama's representative spectacles.

• Photogenic point: The Great Seto Bridge bathed in the setting sun shines gold, and the bridge's shadow stretching long across the sea surface is fantastical
• Best time: The magic hour from 30 minutes before sunset to just after sunset
• Shooting angle: Placing the observatory's railing in the foreground creates depth and conveys the bridge's sense of scale
• Access: About 15 minutes by bus from JR Kojima Station

05｜Yubara Onsen｜A Night-Trip Photo of Open-Air Baths and a Starry Sky

The Sunayu of Yubara Onsen, which has earned the title of "West Yokozuna of open-air bath rankings," is an open, natural outdoor bath spreading along the river. At night, the combination with a sky full of stars creates a shot brimming with travel sentiment.

• Photogenic point: The fantastical night view where river steam and the starry sky overlap is a one-and-only shot you can capture only here
• Best time: A clear winter night (the air is clear and the stars are more vivid)
• Shooting angle: A vertical composition with a wide-angle lens, the rising bath steam in the foreground and the starry sky drawn in large, is dramatic
• Access: About 40 minutes from the Ochiai IC on the Chugoku Expressway

Okayama's superb scenery changes its expression completely depending on the time of day and the season you visit. Wanting to come back again and again is the charm of Okayama. By all means, grab your camera and set off to find your very own shot

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: The sea of clouds over the Hiruzen Highlands is most likely early in the morning on cold days from autumn to early winter, but it depends on the weather conditions and is never guaranteed. The autumn leaves of Okutsukei Gorge are at their best from early to mid-November, while Ojigatake and Washuzan are best in the evening in autumn and winter when the air is clear.
• Opening hours and periods: The Sunayu bath at Yubara Onsen is free, mixed-gender and available 24 hours a day (bathing is not possible on Wednesday mornings, from 10:00 to 16:00 on the first Friday of each month, and from 9:00 to 14:00 on December 27, when it is cleaned). Ojigatake, the Washuzan observation deck and Okutsukei Gorge are all outdoors and can be visited all year round.
• Admission: Ojigatake is free to enter and has parking for 200 ordinary cars. Bathing in the Sunayu at Yubara Onsen is free. Always check the latest prices for each facility on its official website.
• Access: According to Okayama Kanko WEB (Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation), Ojigatake is reached by taking the limited express bus bound for Shibukawa from JR Okayama Station for about 70 minutes, getting off at Shibukawa and then taking a taxi for about 10 minutes. By car it is about 25 minutes from the Kojima IC on the Seto-Chuo Expressway. There is no station called JR Tamano-shi Station. The nearest interchange for the Hiruzen Highlands is the Hiruzen IC on the Yonago Expressway, and for Yubara Onsen it is the Yubara IC on the same expressway.
• Parking: Ojigatake has space for 200 ordinary cars. For the other spots, please check the official information of each facility.
• Photography rules: The Sunayu at Yubara Onsen is a mixed-gender open-air bath. Never take photographs in which bathers appear. Be sure to read the bathing etiquette for the Sunayu on the official Yubara Onsen website in advance, including the rules on photography. Please also refrain from entering private land or farmland without permission.
• Safety notes: There is a risk of falling from the rocks at Ojigatake, so do not climb onto the rocks or go beyond the fences. The rocks and riverbanks of Okutsukei Gorge become wet and slippery and are especially dangerous when the water is high, so do not stray from the walking paths. The Sunayu is on the riverbed, where it is dark underfoot at night and there is a risk of falling in or tripping. Early mornings on the Hiruzen Highlands are cold whatever the season, so bring warm clothing.

Note: Natural phenomena such as the sea of clouds and the autumn leaves vary greatly from year to year and with the weather.

(Sources: Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation, Okayama Kanko WEB; Yubara Onsen official website (yubara.com); Maniwa City official website)