Autumn leaves & Hot spring Okutsu Ko You head for 'Okutsu Ko.' You gather at Tsuyama station's bus terminal. You leave there by car at 11:00 am. Go along R53 to Okayama area. After a while, you can see a restaurant called 'Bamiyan' on the left. Turn right at this intersection. This street is called 'Yakko Douri.' You drive between many houses to the buildings. After that, you can see the 'Jodaibashi' intersection. Turn left at this intersection, and go straight. After a while, you can see the 'Innosho' intersection. Turn right at this intersection, and go straight. This is called R179. You keep drivind on the R179 between the rice-fields. After about 15 minutes, you go through a tunnel called 'Kumoi Tunnel.' Then you can see a big house and a wide parking lot on your left. This is 'Okutsu Sogo Annaijo' to guide Okutsu aria. You stop your car in the parking lot. There are many tables for tourists outside the big house. You have lunch you brought 'Bentou.' You can view a beautiful lake calld 'Okutsu Ko' there.
Okutsu Keikoku You leave there and head to the 'Okutsu Keikoku.' Go straight on R179 until you see 'Kagamino town Okutsu shinkou center' on your left. Turn right, go along the road between hills. You can see the river on your left. You can see beautiful autumn leaves on your both sides. Stop at the 'Ooketsu gun' parking lot. You can walk along the river and the water. All over the area, there are beautiful red and yellow autumn leaves. After a while, drive to the 'Ootsure bridge.' You stop at the parking space. You can walk watching the autumn leaves here and there. There are very beautiful views.
Hanabijin no sato You leave there, and you head to the hot spring called 'Hanabijin no sato.' Go straight along the road. You can see the big sign board of 'Hanabijin no sato' and you stop the car in the parking lot. Walk into the house and you pay the fare. Go into the bathroom. A public bath is separated into a use area for men and a use area for women. Men and women bathe separately.
Hot springs are called 'Onsen' in Japan and have these rules: ・ In an onsen, you should be naked. ・ Don't put your towel in the bath. ・ Don't stand while taking a shower. ・ This is a place of social gatherings.
There are some big baths, some outside baths and family baths there. This is a natural hot spling. You can take an hour there. You are able to have a relaxing time.
Michinoeki Okutsuonsen Next, you head to the 'Michinoeki Okutsuonsen' by car. You drive through the bridge, turn soon right at the intersection. Turn right at R179 intersection to Tsuyama area. You will see the sign board of 'Michinoeki Okutsuonsen' on your right. Stop your car in a parking lot. When you go in the house, you will find many tomatoes, honey, mushrooms, flowers, green-tea and so on. You can buy some souvenirs. You leave there to head the Tsuyama station's bus terminal. It takes 40 minutes to get to the bus terminal. This is a sightseeing tuor of about 5 hours. You can enjoy autumn leaves & a hot spring. (2019.12.21.)