The Smiling Boulder Nikoniko Rock and Panoramic Views of the Seto Inland Sea and Seto Bridge
About this spot
Though only about 200 meters in elevation, this mountain features Tamano's most scenic landscape, with granite boulders and oddly-shaped rocks lining the summit area. The most famous is "Nikoniko Rock" (ニコニコ岩), whose cracks and contours resemble a smiling human face. Below spreads the beautiful landscape of countless islands in the Seto Inland Sea, and on clear days, you can see all the way to the Seto Bridge (瀬戸大橋) and the mountains of Shikoku (四国). Well-maintained nature trails run from the parking lot near the summit, making it easy to walk with children. The site is also known as a paragliding launch point, and you may see paragliders gracefully taking off into the sky right before you.
Tips
You can drive nearly to the summit; the walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint takes about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on children near the rocks. Bring layers if it's windy coming off the sea.
Best time to visit
About 1.5 hours. Clear morning air provides crisp views all the way to the Seto Bridge and Shikoku's mountain ranges.
Access & map
〒711-0905 Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki City, Kojima Karakoto-cho 7-7
Model course featuring this spot
Tamano: Ojiga-take Mountain, Nikoniko Rock, and Shibukawa Coastal Scenic Route
Okayama
Explore features & model courses
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