OKAYAMA Hiruzen Highlands Hike, bike, ride, onsen, ski and snowboard in the highlands

Fans of outdoor sports recommend the Hiruzen-Kogen Highlands for trekking, camping and cycling during the warmer months and skiing and snowboarding in the colder ones. On the border between Tottori and Okayama prefectures, the Hiruzen area is especially known for mountain trails.

If you're simply looking for fresh air, a healthy environment and some great scenery, food and relaxation, Hiruzen offers horseback riding, hot springs, a dairy farm, a park with carnival rides and more.

Start from Okayama Station, a prefectural transit hub.

The train from Okayama Station to Chugoku-Katsuyama Station on the JR Tsuyama Line takes two hours, 30 minutes. From Chugoku-Katsuyama Station, take the Maniwa City Community bus (“Maniwa-kun”) from Katsuyama Station to Hiruzen Kogen. Alternatively, you can take a Chutetsu bus from Tenmaya Bus Station in Okayama to Chugoku-Katsuyama Station.

Hiking is the centerpiece of outdoor activities in Hiruzen-Kogen Highlands. Mount Hiruzen has three peaks and is part of the Daisen-Oki National Park—a huge and diverse park that includes Mt. Daisen , the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan, and Izumo Taisha.

Other popular outdoor activities here include camping and cycling. There is a well-paved and relatively flat cycling road through the area, and rental bikes are available. Guided tours by a knowledgeable local are available.

In the winter, skiing and snowboarding is popular. A skiing competition is held annually in January or February depending on the snow conditions.

At Hiruzen Horse Park, supervised horseback riding is available for adults and children ages 3 and older. Experience a trot around the corral or riding outside the park.

Outside of the park, you can ride through lush green meadows during the spring and summer or through the harsh, snow-covered ground of winter.

For an activity that smaller children will certainly enjoy, visit the Hiruzen Kogen Center Joyful Park. This small theme park features classic carnival rides that are familiar around the world. The park's 30 attractions include a Ferris Wheel, Viking ship, and go-kart course.

Another reason that many people visit Hiruzen is to soak in one of the many hot springs. Some of them welcome day trip visitors, while others are only available for those making an overnight stay. Of course, a stay in an onsen ryokan or hotel will give you more time to explore the natural environment and outdoor activities of the region. With the extra time, you may even take the opportunity to trek out to one of the many waterfalls and picnic by a riverside.

In Hiruzen, dairy farming is a key industry. A popular treat is the locally produced ice cream. While summer is when its popularity hits its peak, it is popular all year round.

The dairy industry is such an important part of the fabric of Hiruzen, there is even an agriculturally based theme-park in Hiruzen-Kogen—Jersey Land. Here, you can mil a cow, make cheese, and enjoy delectable dairy.

The Hiruzen Jersey Land restaurant offers plenty of hearty fare—their specialties include steak, cheese fondue, yogurt, milk, and ice cream. The produce, sourced from nearby farms, is also incredible. Be sure to drink the milk too.

There is a bounty of herbs on offer at the Hiruzen Herb Garden Her Bill. With more around 200 varieties of herbs and around 10,000 plants, its no wonder the restaurant, which has a workshop and store, calls itself Kaori-no-Yakata—the House of Scent.

An idyllic landscape, clean air, great food, soothing waters, and a paradise of herbs makes Hiruzen-Kogen Highlands an ideal nature getaway.