♨ Okayama · 2 days

Hiruzen Highlands, Okutsu Onsen & Tsuyama Castle Town

A 2-day drive across northern Okayama: the Jersey-cow pastures of the Hiruzen Highlands under Mt Daisen, the 1,200-year-old waters of Okutsu Onsen, and the castle town of Tsuyama, linked by 5 michi-no-eki roadside stations.

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5michi-no-eki stops

~80 kmdriving distance

2 dayssuggested

Hiruzen IC, Yonago Expressway→ Tsuyama / Kumenan (Chugoku Expressway back toward Okayama or Osaka)

Northern Okayama is the quiet side of the Chugoku mountains. The Hiruzen Highlands sit at about 500 m on old volcanic grassland, with Mt Daisen filling the skyline to the north and dairy pastures either side of the road — the Jersey herds here are among the largest in Japan, and every roadside stop sells the milk, soft-serve and yoghurt to prove it.

From the highlands the route crosses east to Okutsu Onsen, one of the three historic hot springs of the old Mimasaka province, where the Yoshii River runs through Okutsu Gorge — the best foliage on this drive. Then it drops south to Tsuyama, a proper castle town of stone ramparts, samurai streets and an old brewing quarter, before easing back to the expressway through the rice country of Kumenan. Public transport up here is thin, so the car is what makes the three very different landscapes into one trip.

Best season: Year-round; cool pastures in midsummer, gorge foliage late October to early November, snow tyres needed December to March. Distance is an estimate for the driving route between stops. 日本語版 →

The stops, in driving order

1
Michi-no-Eki Hiruzen Kougen 道の駅蒜山高原 · Okayama
Michi-no-Eki Hiruzen Kougen (道の駅蒜山高原) is a government-designated roadside station in 真庭市, Okayama, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, lodging and a park. There is free parking for about 50 cars. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kaze No Ie, Inu Kyou and Meruhen No Sato Shinjou.

Nearby: 🏛蒜山郷土館 (1.8 km) · 🌄Mt. Naka-Hiruzen (2.9 km)

🍜 Restaurant☕ Cafe🛍 Shop🛏 Lodging Details →
2
Michi-no-Eki Kaze No Ie 道の駅風の家 · Okayama
Michi-no-Eki Kaze No Ie (道の駅風の家) is a government-designated roadside station in 真庭市, Okayama, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 220 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hiruzen Kougen, Inu Kyou and Meruhen No Sato Shinjou.

Nearby: 🏛蒜山郷土館 (4.8 km) · 🌋二俣山 (5.9 km)

🍜 Restaurant☕ Cafe🛍 Shop⚡ EV Details →
3
Michi-no-Eki Okutsu Onsen 道の駅奥津温泉 · Okayama
Michi-no-Eki Okutsu Onsen (道の駅奥津温泉) is a government-designated roadside station in 苫田郡鏡野町, Okayama, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, EV charging, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 108 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00 定休日：水曜日（売店・お食事処）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Misasa ・ Rakuichi Rakuza, Kume No Sato and Inu Kyou.

Nearby: 📸奥津渓谷 (1.5 km) · ⛰Mt. Hanachigasen (6.2 km)

🍜 Restaurant🛍 Shop⚡ EV Details →
4
Michi-no-Eki Kume No Sato 道の駅久米の里 · Okayama
Michi-no-Eki Kume No Sato (道の駅久米の里) is a government-designated roadside station in 津山市, Okayama, Japan, registered in 2000 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a park. There is free parking for about 46 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:30–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kumenan, Okutsu Onsen and Daigo No Sato.

Nearby: 🏛津山市久米歴史民俗資料館 (2.1 km) · 🏛鏡野郷土博物館 (3.9 km)

🍜 Restaurant🛍 Shop⚡ EV📶 Wi-Fi Details →
5
Michi-no-Eki Kumenan 道の駅くめなん · Okayama
Michi-no-Eki Kumenan (道の駅くめなん) is a government-designated roadside station in 久米郡久米南町, Okayama, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a park and a baby room. There is free parking for about 88 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 〇レストラン営業時間11:00–15:00、休／火曜日・12月31日・1月1日〇店舗、売店営業時間10:00–16:00（日曜祭日–17:00）、休／火曜日・12月31日・1月1日〇休憩所利用可能時間10:00–16:00（建物外は24時間利用可能）〇情報コーナー利用可能時間10:00–16:00 【定休日】火曜日・12月31日・1月1日. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kamogawa Enjou, Kume No Sato and Ayana Chaya.

Nearby: 🏛誕生寺宝物館 (4.8 km) · 📸建部井堰（一の口井堰） (6 km)

🍜 Restaurant☕ Cafe🛍 Shop Details →

Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.

Customize this route →

Onsen baths and beds along this route (Chugoku · 7 with onsen / 5 with rooms)

Michi-no-eki in Chugoku with an onsen bath or rooms on site, ordered by how far they sit from this route. On a long driving day the practical move is to soak at the station, then take a room in the same town.

♨ All 143 michi-no-eki with an onsen bath 🛏 All 81 michi-no-eki with rooms on site ♨🛏 All 46 michi-no-eki with both onsen and rooms 📍 Every michi-no-eki in Okayama

Route tips

Hiruzen is a summer escape: pastures at 500 m stay cool in August, and the Hiruzen-Daisen Skyline gives the classic view of Mt Daisen's south face.
Okutsu Gorge peaks for foliage from late October into early November — walk the riverside path before soaking at the onsen.
Tsuyama Castle's Kakuzan Park is the one big sight on the southern half: stone walls on a hill above the town, with cherry trees in April.
December to March this is snow country — studless tyres are essential, and the highland roads above Hiruzen can close in heavy snow.

Before you drive

FAQ — Hiruzen & Okutsu onsen

How many days do you need for the Hiruzen & Okutsu onsen route?

2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 80 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.

Where does the route start and end?

It starts at Hiruzen IC, Yonago Expressway (about 2.5 hours from Osaka) and ends at Tsuyama / Kumenan (Chugoku Expressway back toward Okayama or Osaka). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.

When is the best season to drive this route?

Year-round; cool pastures in midsummer, gorge foliage late October to early November, snow tyres needed December to March.

Do I need to rent a car?

Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →

Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?

Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →