Maniwa: Katsuyama, Fermentation and Cycling

The highlights range from the historic Katsuyama Preservation District to cultural and recreational activities throughout the wider Maniwa area. You can plan your trip around what you’d like to do.

Historic Streets in Katsuyama

Maniwa’s historic Katsuyama Preservation District combines traditional shops with old houses. Its streets stretch for one kilometer along the river. On a walk, you can visit craft shops, cafés, or the local brewery; in addition to its historic setting, the district offers opportunities to discover local crafts and drinks. The district serves as a sightseeing base for Maniwa City. It is a five-minute walk from Chugoku-Katsuyama Station. A train route from Shin-Osaka Station via Okayama and Tsuyama to Chugoku-Katsuyama Station is described. Check the current timetable for your travel date if you plan to take this connection.

Fermentation Culture and Regional Cuisine

A fermentation culture has been maintained for generations throughout the wider Maniwa area, thanks to its clean water and cold climate. This includes soft water from the Asahi River, moderately hard water from the Bicchu River, local Omachi rice, wild grapes, and milk from Jersey cows. The regional food culture includes Japanese fermented products such as sake, miso, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, as well as cheese, wine, and craft beer. Traditional methods are passed down through the generations. For travelers interested in food, this offers a look at both the ingredients and the artisanal knowledge behind the different products. The contrast between soft and moderately hard water, along with the range of ingredients from rice and fruit to milk, shows that the fermentation culture is based on several different resources.

Maniwa Haccos offers a way to experience this culture through visits. The group consists of seven Maniwa artisans connected across industries through fermentation. During visits to their workshops and breweries, you can sample fermented foods and drinks. This lets you experience fermentation not only through individual foods, but also through the people and industries that work with it.

Group Tour and Cycling

Another focus is Maniwa’s biomass economy and sustainable lifestyle. The one-day Maniwa Biomass Tour for groups offers an overview of the subject. It runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for a total of six and a half hours. Keep this time frame in mind when including the tour in your daily plans.

Cycling in Maniwa is described as suitable for both beginners and experienced cyclists. Several bicycle rental options are listed for Maniwa; check whether rentals are available for your dates before making plans. The 30-kilometer Hiruzen Cycling Road runs through the municipality as a loop around the highlands. By comparison, the streets of the historic Katsuyama district stretch for one kilometer along the river. These are two different options for planning your trip: a walk through a historic streetscape or a longer cycling loop.

Discover more destinations: Tsuyama, Nishiawakura, Asakuchi, Okayama, Mimasaka, Tamano, Hayashima and Kurashiki.

For the main travel overview: Okayama Prefecture.