Last Updated: Mar 31, 2024

Come to Kojima

Enjoy Jeans, Bridges & Cherry Blossoms

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

More and more, the prefecture of Okayama is starting to pop up on the radars of international visitors to Japan. Conveniently located on the way to Hiroshima, it seems many more people are getting wise to why one might want to visit this famously sunny part of the country. Rife with some truly wonderful attractions, Okayama is the perfect addition to any itinerary. Alas, while the prefecture may be seeing a surge in popularity lately, most of the demand for Okayama is centralized in the inner city areas.

Seeing as I am now again free from the curse of Okayama, I want to take a quick second to introduce you to the seaside area of Kojima. Often overlooked in favor of the far more famous trio of Okayama Castle, Koraku-en, and Kurashiki, Kojima is a true hidden gem that is sure to delight anyone who is looking to slow down and better savor Japan. Located right on the Seto Inland Sea, Kojima is an excellent area to explore via bicycle with friends and family.

As the Japanese speakers out there will be able to discern, the moniker Kojima actually references an island. Though these days you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything remotely resembling an isle, know that Kojima actually used to be one of the biggest land masses on the Seto Inland…