Tsuyama
Discover Tsuyama
Tsuyama (津山市, Tsuyama-shi) is a city in northern Okayama Prefecture, Japan with around 100,000 citizens. Much of the city's historical sites remain well-preserved, making Tsuyama a quiet yet charming town. First known as Soja (not to be confused with the present-day city of Soja), Tsuyama City was established in 713 as the capital of Mimasaka Province. In its early years, it was just a small town with little influence, but in 1603 things began to change after Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the local warlords and united the nation under his rule. Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded Mimasaka Province to Tadamasa Mori who rapidly began to develop the capital of his domain. Upon becoming ruler, Mori constructed plans to build his own castle and thirteen years later, the construction of Tsuyama Castle in Tsuruyama (from which the name "Tsuyama" is believed to have originated) was completed. During its heyday, Tsuyama Castle was said to be the most magnificent castle in all of Japan with an impressive amount of fortifications. The city flourished as a castle town and a major stop for pilgrims along the Izumo Kaido.
What to Experience in Tsuyama
Taste of Tsuyama...
Tsuyama is famous for it horumon udon (fried udon noodles with sauce and pork or beef giblets). The town also has two famous treats, the sweet-tasting Tsuyama Senbei and Tsuyama Manju. The senbei and manju can be purchased at the Visitor Center on Joto Street, as well as some of the specialty shops along the street.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Tsuyama.
Tsuyama Neritenjin are clay figures of Neritenjin, the Shinto god of learning. In the past, they were made to worship. They are still made in Tsuyama, however for most people, they are simply a unique souvenir. Yokono Washi the traditional paper of the Yokono area is still produced in the same fashion in which it was once produced. The best place to purchase souvenirs are in the shops along Joto Street. The shops that align this street are locally owned and managed, with most of the merchandise being hand-made by the shop owners. Tsuyama is famous for it horumon udon (fried udon noodles with sauce and pork or beef giblets). The town also has two famous treats, the sweet-tasting Tsuyama Senbei and Tsuyama Manju. The senbei and manju can be purchased at the Visitor Center on Joto Street, as well as some of the specialty shops along the street.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsOkayama Airport (岡山空港 OKJ), Okayama. The nearest airport is some distance away. If you don't have a car, you can get a Share-Ride Taxi (☏ +81 86-822-1234) for ¥2,500. Departure times vary by month. Reservations required. (updated Jul 2020) Most train travelers take the Sanyo Line to Okayama Station. From there, you can take the Tsuyama Line directly to Tsuyama Station, the terminus, in about an hour for ¥1140. Alternatively, the Kishin Line connects Himeji to Tsuyama with a couple transfers. This can be a better option when using local trains with the Seishun 18 Ticket for travelers coming from Kansai. The Kishin Line also connects to Tsuyama with Niimi (¥1,320) to the west, but trains are infrequent. If you are coming from the north, the JR Inbi Line connects Tottori to Tsuyama. Trains are less frequent, and it takes about 3 hours (¥1,490) to reach Tsuyama due to the lack of alignment with connections in Chizu....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Tsuyama City bus is the Gongo Bus, named after the city's mascot. Each ride costs ¥200. From Tsuyama Station, buses travel to places around central Tsuyama, including Joto Street, along with buses to the Kume area. Buses to the northern regions can be accessed from stops closer to Higashi-Tsuyama Station. Upon exiting the station, there are car rentals available. Bike rentals are a great way to explore Tsuyama. You can rent bikes at the Tourist Information Center to the right of Tsuyama Station. Two-hour rentals cost ¥400 or ¥1000 for the entire day. Motorized bikes cost ¥600 for two hours or ¥2000 for the day. When renting bikes, pay the daily fee upfront and when you return, depending on how long you were out, you will get money back. Although some of the sites are too far to reach on foot, the sites in and around Joto Street are all within walking distance of Tsuyama Station. For a map of the area, visit the information center just to the right of Tsuyama Station.
Money & Budget
Tsuyama Neritenjin are clay figures of Neritenjin, the Shinto god of learning. In the past, they were made to worship. They are still made in Tsuyama, however for most people, they are simply a unique souvenir. Yokono Washi the traditional paper of the Yokono area is still produced in the same fashion in which it was once produced. The best place to purchase souvenirs are in the shops along Joto Street. The shops that align this street are locally owned and managed, with most of the merchandise being hand-made by the shop owners. Tsuyama is famous for it horumon udon (fried udon noodles with sauce and pork or beef giblets). The town also has two famous treats, the sweet-tasting Tsuyama Senbei and Tsuyama Manju.
Language & Talk
Although there is a dialect specific to Okayama Prefecture, it's not as strong or noticeable as some of the other dialects, but you will find it spoken in Tsuyama. One word that is specific to Tsuyama that is not even used in Okayama is bucchi which means "very". In standard Japanese, this word is totemo. Rather than using bucchi, in Okayama City they use bokke. Joto Street (城東) is Tsuyama's historic district. During the Edo Period, Tsuyama was an important stop along the pilgrimage route to Izumo Shrine. Joto Street was where the pilgrims would pass through and stay. The old houses have been preserved so that visitors can get a feel for what the city was like in its heyday as a castle town. Tsuyama Neritenjin are clay figures of Neritenjin, the Shinto god of learning.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Tsuyama
Osaka viewed from mountain summit.
"Saku Saku" Sightseeing train running between Tsuyama and Okayama
a train ready to depart from Tsuyama Station to Okayama Station
Two JK looking closely at the prints on the car of the train stationed at Tsuyama Station
A storefront in japan.
a town in the mountains
a blue bridge over a river with a mountain in the background
A quiet street lined with houses and utility poles.
A large building with a tree in front of it
white van parked beside brown concrete building during daytime
Osaka viewed from mountain summit.
"Saku Saku" Sightseeing train running between Tsuyama and Okayama
a train ready to depart from Tsuyama Station to Okayama Station