Published date: May 27, 2025
Okayama Mitsui Garden Hotel | A Light Stay for a Night, The Starting Point for Kojima
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
It was a moment of stepping into a drizzly time in southern Japan (yes, did it suddenly rain when I stepped out of the station?)
Fortunately, I could head straight to the Mitsui Garden Hotel from the bustling Okayama Station, and outside the window was the silhouette of the city washed clean of dust, while inside were scenes of tranquility, comfort, and the interweaving of Japanese simplicity.
This HafH partner accommodation is located about a 2-minute walk from Okayama Station, conveniently providing a safety net for travelers rushing to catch their trains. The lobby has a slight touch of Japanese design—understated and unpretentious—but every detail makes you feel gently cared for, and even as a solo guest, I felt extraordinarily secure.
I love the public bath. At the moment I soak in it, all the fatigue I carried from Taiwan seems to dissolve into the steam, as if embraced by a silent hug.
Experiences during the trip
Although Kojima is not a name often mentioned on tourist maps, I was captivated by a photograph of 'the bicycle floating in the air' and resolutely dedicated a day to this gentle yet unfamiliar town.
Traveling from Okayama Station to Kojima on the JR takes about an hour, and the scenery outside the window gradually shifts from urban to coastal. Upon arrival, one can feel that time seems to slow down there, and the air feels a bit lighter. I took the bus in front of the station to head to today's destination: Washuzan Highland Amusement Park.
The amusement park is not large, but it has something that others cannot compare to: the vast Seto Ohashi and the Seto Inland Sea.
As soon as I entered the park, I headed straight to the 'sky bicycle', gently progressing along the suspended track, pedaling while trying to calm my racing heart. The sea breeze caressed my forehead, and the distant sea and bridge looked like a moving watercolor painting; though a bit nervous, my heart felt clearer than ever. Such scenery can only be understood by experiencing it personally.
Then I took the Ferris wheel, and during the slow ascent, I saw the blue of the whole Seto Sea and the tranquility of Kojima. Though I didn’t particularly try other attractions, these two alone were worth the price of admission.
⚠️ Small reminder: On-site tickets are approximately 3,800 Yen, I recommend bringing cash; the last bus back is at 17:30, so make sure to plan your departure time early!