🗺️ Katsuyama Town Scenic Preservation Area

In the past, the town of Katsuura flourished due to the "Katsuyama Castle" and served as a transportation hub where the Izumo Road and waterways converged. The ancient streets are lined with many shops and warehouses decorated with white lattice walls. In 1985, it was first designated as a "scenic preservation area" by Okayama Prefecture. Notable historical buildings in the area include the Katsuyama Local Museum, the Katsuyama Samurai Residence, and the former residence of the Katsuyama feudal lord, Miura. Along the banks of the Asahi River, approximately 700 meters long, remnants of the Takase-bune docking area used during the Muromachi period for transporting goods have been preserved. Vessels transporting local products, salt, and daily necessities once intertwined here, and along the riverbank, you can see stone walls made of piled stones and houses with white walls. Traditional buildings such as old sake breweries, ancient houses, and samurai residences, as well as workshops, cafes, and art museums converted from old houses or warehouses, are scattered throughout the area, making it perfect for a stroll. Many shops hang "noren," a symbol of Katsuyama, at their entrances, adding vibrant colors to the streets. The first shop in the Katsuyama area to hang a noren and create this trend is the "HINOKI Natural Dye Workshop and Art Museum," which sells not only noren dyed with natural materials but also TOTO bags, coasters, and other items.

The neighborhood retains many houses with white walls and grid windows, as well as grid-patterned warehouses. The remnants of the Takasebune dock are left by the riverside. There are many cafes and natural dye shops to explore.