OkayamaTravel

A Mountain Village with Crimson-Red Townscape Continues—the Perfect Finale to Your Journey

About this spot

In a mountain village at approximately 550 meters elevation, a townscape painted in unified crimson-red hues suddenly appears. This former mining town has a history of prosperity through copper mining and the production of bengara, a red iron oxide pigment. The townscape of Sekishu tile roofs in bronze-red tones and merchants' houses with bengara-colored lattices has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The former Katayama House (旧片山家住宅), the mansion of a merchant who grew wealthy as a bengara kiln operator, is designated as an important cultural property of Japan and conveys the lifestyle of merchants of that era to the present day. With many points of interest such as local history museums and the bengara hall, the entire town is like one great museum. The sunset hour, when the townscape bathed in evening light takes on an even deeper shade of red, is beautiful enough to be a fitting finale to your journey.

Tips

The drive from Takahashi downtown to here takes approximately 40-50 minutes; since the mountain road has many curves, drive with plenty of time. Park at the entrance to the townscape and stroll along the street. A combined admission ticket for places like the former Katayama House and the local history museum offers good value. Since there are many slopes, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.