The village of Takahashi, in Okayama prefecture, close to the city of the same name is the kind of picturesque village perfect for a small stop away from the big cities.
On 1 October 2004, Takahashi absorbed the city of Ukan (Jōbō district) and the towns of Nariwa, Kawakami and Bitchū (all of Kawakami district) into the new enlarged city of Takahashi. The Kawakami district was dissolved as a result of the merger.
Bitchū Matsuyama Castle overlooks the city. Another important place is Raikyū-ji, a Buddhist temple with a historic garden.
Castle of Bitsu Matsuyama
In the northern part of the city of Takahashi rises Mount Gagyu, the mountain of the “bed cow”, so named because from the west it looks like a cow lying on grass. It consists of four peaks, Omatsuyama, Tenjin no maru, Komatsuyama and Maeyama. Built on the top of Komatsuyama, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is one of the last twelve Japanese castles with an original dungeon. It must not be confused with the castle of Matsuyama located in the prefecture of Ehime.
The castle of Bitchu Matsuyama was built on the summit of Omatsuyama in 1240 by Akiba Shigenobu Saburo, and extended to the summit of Komatsuyama later. Its construction was completed in 1683 by Mizunoya Katsumune, lord of Bitchu Matsuyama estate at that time. While many Japanese castles were destroyed after the abolition of the feudal system in the second half of the 19th century, the castle of Bitchu Matsuyama managed to live through the centuries intact.
The castle of Bitchu Matsuyama is one of the last twelve Japanese castles with a dungeon that has never been destroyed or rebuilt. Of these twelve buildings, Bitchu Matsuyama is the only one to be a Yamajiro, i.e. a castle on top of a mountain isolated from the rest of the city, and it is also the castle at the highest altitude above sea level in Japan (430 meters).
The castle is located on a strategic point between the Sanyo and Sanin areas, so its lord has changed many times. He was also the stage of the Battle of Heiran in 1574.
When it is beautiful and there is a significant temperature variation between morning and afternoon, a “sea of clouds” appears. It is a large layer of white clouds that surrounds the mountains and gives the impression that the castle floats in the sky. You can enjoy this view from an observatory located at the top of the mountain overlooking the castle.
The castle area is accessible on foot from the bitchu takahashi station in about 1H30 hiking in the mountain. Otherwise, from the same station, there is a bus up to the parking shiromibashi, the entry point of the area (simple ticket from 160 yen).
Raikyu-ji Temple
Raikyuji is a Zen temple with some gardens, the most interesting of which is karesansui. This garden, was designed by Enshu Kobori, a high-ranking samurai involved in the construction of many castles and palaces of the early Edo years, as well as in the design of gardens for the great and powerful. While residing here in Takahashi, he designed Raikyuji’s garden by innovating in the sculpture of bushes and hedges to represent the waves. He was also a master of the tea ceremony and Raikyuji gives lessons in his style of ceremony.
This Japanese mineral garden, or karesansui, uses stones and sand instead of water to express a natural landscape. This important place, which has existed for more than 400 years, has received the title of a national place of scenic beauty. Visitors to the garden can admire a delicate natural landscape represented by rocks and trees on the white sand appearing the islands and azaleas carved to recreate wave waves. The garden is particularly beautiful in May when the azalea bloom and in autumn when the leaves begin to change color.
Ishibiyacho, the Samurais district
At the foot of the mountain below the castle in the northern part of Takahashi is the former Samurai quarter called Ishibiya-cho.
The streets here are lined with walls and doors that protected the main samurai of the estate, and on Bukeyashiki Street, two former samurai residences are now open to the public. The Haibara residence and the Orii residence are similar, being old high-ranking samurai houses, although the Orii residence is a little larger. Both houses can be explored with all rooms open to visitors, including kitchens and bathrooms. There are lots of furniture and other everyday objects and the two houses have several small gardens. The Orii House has models in period clothing around the house and a small museum featuring armor, weapons and other samurai artifacts.
Nariwa Museum
On the other side of the river Takahashi is the Nariwa Art Museum. The main exhibition of the Nariwa Museum presents paintings by Kojima Torajiro, born in Nariwa, an artist who has painted in Western style, as well as ancient Egyptian objects from his private collection. His works can also be seen in Kurashiki at the Kojima Museum and the Ohara Museum.
Hina matsuri from Takahashi
The Hina Matsuri, a Japanese dolls festival, officially takes place on March 3, but Takahashi is still organising it at the beginning of April, near the 3rd of March of the old lunar calendar. In Takahashi, all along the hondori in front of the traditional houses, you can admire the shelves of dolls.
Getting to Takahashi
From the station of Okama, take either:
Train line JR Hakubi to Bitchu Takahashi or Niimi (approximately 1 hour)
Or Limited Express Yakumo to Izumo (about 35 minutes)
Get off at Bitchu Takahashi station.
Takahashi is the perfect picturesque village for a small stop away from the big cities ofChugokutime for a day or a weekend.
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