Bitchu's Little Kyoto and its Beautiful Sky Mountain Castle
Bitchu-Takahashi, or Takahashi for short, first developed as a castle town at the base of Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle.
The “Bitchu” part of the name is added to avoid confusion with other places with the same name, Bitchu being the surrounding region. Takahashi is distinguished for its Matsuyama Castle, which is the oldest original castle in Japan and is the only mountaintop castle remaining. The castle is often referred to as the "castle in the sky" because it seems to float magically above the cloud-covered mountains, Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture is extremely popular among castle enthusiasts. Having been in a state of disrepair for many years, the buildings were restored through the efforts of the local community.
The city is also known for its preserved Old Town, which sits at the base of the mountain. Majority of the town’s attractions are all within walking distance, and the area can be easily explored on foot. This includes Raikyuji Temple, which has a Zen garden that was designed by the famed Kobori Enshu. The Takahashi Old Town was once a thriving castle town of craftsmen, merchants, and samurai. Its historic streets possess a few restored merchant and samurai homes that are open to public. There are many old-style streets here including "Bitchu's Little Kyoto" which is an area with great style and is also a temple and a couple of museums for visitors to learn of the town’s local history and culture.
The “Bitchu” part of the name is added to avoid confusion with other places with the same name, Bitchu being the surrounding region. Takahashi is distinguished for its Matsuyama Castle, which is the oldest original castle in Japan and is the only mountaintop castle remaining. The castle is often referred to as the "castle in the sky" because it seems to float magically above the cloud-covered mountains, Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture is extremely popular among castle enthusiasts. Having been in a state of disrepair for many years, the buildings were restored through the efforts of the local community.
The city is also known for its preserved Old Town, which sits at the base of the mountain. Majority of the town’s attractions are all within walking distance, and the area can be easily explored on foot. This includes Raikyuji Temple, which has a Zen garden that was designed by the famed Kobori Enshu. The Takahashi Old Town was once a thriving castle town of craftsmen, merchants, and samurai. Its historic streets possess a few restored merchant and samurai homes that are open to public. There are many old-style streets here including "Bitchu's Little Kyoto" which is an area with great style and is also a temple and a couple of museums for visitors to learn of the town’s local history and culture.
