Summary
I used a round-trip pass to eat all the gourmet food in Okayama in three days and two nights.
Starting with kakioko (Okonomiyaki with oysters), Okayama is home to many exquisite local delicacies such as horumon udon and Kasaoka ramen!
The “Round Trip Pass” is a convenient and too-beneficial ticket that allows you to board a train just by showing the screen of your smartphone to the station attendant at the ticket gate.
This article is the first part. We hope you will also try Okayama Gourmet Travel using this plan as a guide.
(Be careful not to miss the train as it is a very tight schedule!)
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Itinerary (Day 1)
7:20am Okayama Station（岡山駅）
The trip starts at Okayama Station. There are many souvenir stores and restaurants.
And clean! It is a very convenient station with hotels nearby!
Spot Outline
Okayama Station is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West) located in Kita-ku, Okayama City. It takes only 50 minutes from Osaka by Shinkansen bullet train and less than one hour from Kyoto. You can also take a sightseeing train, SAKUBI-SAKURA, to Tsuyama Station.
8:21am Hinase Station（日生駅）
Take the JR Ako Line to a station near the port, about an hour from Okayama Station.
The surrounding area is full of okonomiyaki restaurants.
The word Hinase is written on the mountain.
Spot Outline
Hinase Station, located in Sanga, Hinase-cho, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, is a station on the West Japan Railway (JR West) Ako Line. Located near the Seto Inland Sea, ferries to Shodoshima Island and passenger boats to the Hinase Islands depart from the port in front of Hinase Station. There are many okonomiyaki restaurants in the area, making it a popular spot for tourists.
9:00am Minato no Mieru Oka Park（みなとの見える丘公園）
First, we walked 20 minutes to Minato no Mieru Oka Park to see the spectacular view.
The bright blue harbor, mountains, bridge and blue sky… cloudy but beautiful✨
To see the spectacular view, you have to climb a steep mountain path.
But it’s worth the climb!
Spot Outline
Minato no Mieru Oka Park is a park located in Hinase Town, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. From the observation plaza, the entire Hnase area, including Hinase Port, can be seen. A parking lot is available, and the summit can be reached by car.
11:00am Restaurant Yudaci（レストラン 夕立）
After enjoying the scenery, we will go out to eat!
A restaurant where you can eat kakioko (Okonomiyaki with oysters), located right next to Hinase Station.
Okonomiyaki with lots of oysters is a hearty dish.
Lots of signs with the word “kakioko” written on them!
In addition to kakioko, many other set menus are available.
It was also featured in a variety show!
Spot Outline
Restaurant Yudaci is a restaurant located in Hinase-cho, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. You can enjoy kakioko, seafood, hormone udon, and other dishes. The kakioko, in particular, is filled with oysters and has a reputation for being hearty and delicious. It is also conveniently located just a short distance from Nissei Station.
1:17pm In front of Okayama Station（岡山駅前）
From Hinase Station, we took the JR Ako Line back to Okayama Station!
Next, take the tram to buy pork buns.
You can get there through the basement.
Spot Outline
In front of Okayama Station is a tram station located in Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture. There are many commercial facilities and restaurants in the vicinity, making it a popular spot for tourists. It can be reached from Okayama Station via an underground passage.
1:23pm Kencho-dori Station（県庁通り駅）
Take the tram to Kencho-dori Station.
The prefectural government building was large and beautiful!
Riding a tram running in the middle of the road is a magical experience
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Kenchodori Station, located in Uchisange, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a stop on the Okayama Electric RailwayHigashiyama Main Line. Various facilities and tourist attractions are located nearby, making it a convenient spot for locals and tourists alike.
1:30pm Canton Saikan Sanchin（広東菜館 山珍）
Arrival! The red roof is a landmark.
The restaurant offers a set meal of pork buns.
You can also take out individual pork buns.
Pork bun (380 yen)
It is very filling, with a quail egg and pork cubes inside!
The dough is chewy and satisfying!
Spot Outline
Located in Kita-ku, Okayama City, Canton Saikan Sanchin is a popular restaurant for its pork buns. You can enjoy a meal with a set of pork buns inside the restaurant, and takeout is also available. The red roof is a landmark of the restaurant, and it is well known by locals.
4:27pm Tsuyama Station（津山駅）
From Hayashino Station, take the Kishin Line to Tsuyama Station.
Since there are only a few, care should be taken when making plans.
The station roundabout is very beautiful.
Spot Outline
Tsuyama Station, located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Nearby is the Tsuyama Railroad Educational Museum, a preserved railroad exhibition facility, which is also worth a visit for railroad fans. It is also an ideal starting point for a trip, with easy access to hot spring resorts.
4:51 Hayashino Station（林野駅）
Next, take the JR Kaisoku Kotobuki from Okayama Station.
Transferring to the JR Kishin Line at Tsuyama Station, we arrived at Hayashino Station!
The station has a very retro atmosphere.
Spot Outline
Hayashino Station, located in Sakae-machi, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, is a station on the West Japan Railway (JR West) Hime-Shin Line. It can be accessed by taking the JR Kaisoku Kotobuki from Okayama Station and transferring at Tsuyama Station. The station is known for its retro atmosphere and is popular among tourists.
5:30pm Yunogo-kan（ゆのごう館）
After exiting the ticket gate, take the shuttle bus that you have reserved in advance to the ryokan where you will be staying today.
This ryokan offers hot springs and sumptuous kaiseki cuisine (Traditional Japanese course meal)!
Spacious Japanese-style room
It is also nice to have separate bath and toilet!
The river and mountains can be seen from the window!
Healed by nature.
Sumptuous kaiseki dinner using local ingredients
Sashimi, beef steaks, and freshly fried tempura are excellent!
Spacious hot spring and open-air bath available
The hot spring has a skin beautifying effect!
Breakfast is also such a sumptuous Japanese meal.
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Yunogo-kan, located in Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, is a long-established onsen ryokan. It is highly reputed by word of mouth for its relaxing hot springs and sumptuous kaiseki cuisine.
6:00pm Sagiyu Park（鷺湯公園）
Change into a yukata and take a stroll in the hot spring resort area!
It is commonly known as Umeboshi Park.
Why?
Huge dried plums in the middle of the park.
Spot Outline
Sagiyu Park is a park rich in nature located in Yunogo, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture. The main attraction is a giant dried plum tree. The vast grounds are filled with seasonal flowers and trees, and just strolling around is a soothing experience. There is also a playground, popular with families and children.
8:00pm Otanigawa Kasen Park（大谷川河川公園）
A large number of fireflies can be seen in this area depending on the season.
Fireflies are so impressive because you can’t see them in the city ✨.
Spot Outline
Otanigawa Kasen Park, located in Yunogo, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, is a park rich in nature. Depending on the season, large numbers of fireflies can be seen, providing a rare experience that cannot be found in the city.
Itinerary (Day 2)
9:00am Yunogo-kan（ゆのごう館）
Start of Day 2!
Departing from the inn, we will take a stroll and head for Hayashino Station.
9:30am Yunogo Onsen Railway Model Museum & Retro Toy Museum（湯郷温泉てつどう模型館＆レトロおもちゃ館）
On the way, visit the toy museum where you can see a huge diorama and toy collection that the owner is particular about.
It makes me feel nostalgic.
Inside is a huge railroad diorama!
You can watch the train running as long as you want. It’s interesting.
I was amazed at the store’s ability to collect!
Lots of nostalgic toys and figures!
Fun for both adults and children!
In the Plarail area, you can run a train of your choice!
Spot Outline
Yunogo Onsen Railway Model Museum & Retro Toy Museum, located in Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, exhibits tools for daily life, comic magazines, and toys from the Showa period. The huge dioramas and nostalgic toy collections that the owner has carefully created are worth seeing and enjoying.
12:05pm Nagomi（和み）
Arriving at the third Okayama gourmet restaurant!
This restaurant serves horumon udon.
About 5 minutes walk from Tsuyama station.
Both the exterior and interior are full of austerity!
I was convinced it was absolutely delicious.
Horumon Udon (700 yen)
This amount of food is enough for a regular portion! It is such a large volume that it is almost too much!
The hormone is plump and very tasty.
Spot Outline
Located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, Nagomi is a restaurant about a 5-minute walk from the station. The restaurant has both table and counter seating, and offers a wide variety of menu items such as okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and soba-meshi. The hormone udon is especially popular for its delicious taste.
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See the second part of the article.
