Nishiyama in Old Bitchu Area

Sparse mountain town off the beaten track in Takahashi

Chris Cooper Aug 14, 2012 - 1 min read

View of the reservoir en route to Nishiyama

A Romantic Western Town, I think they mean Western Japan rather than the Wild West, this poster also seems to be from 1999

An unkept shrine covered in vegetation, possibly destroyed by recent heavy rain

Memorial stone near the secluded reservoir

View from the top of the mountain at Nishiyama campsite

If you look closely, you can make out the white dots of farmers working on the fields

Make sure you have enough petrol, this petrol station is no longer in service, my friend and I had to drive to Tojo to get petrol because it was the nearest place and we were very low!

I set out from Takahashi to Bitchu's Nishiyama having seen one picture of a view from one of the lodges they have there on a tourist map. The road is winding and fairly long but it's a beautiful drive on a nice day. You drive by a seclusive reservoir, up the mountain to a camp site with fantastic views from the top. There are tennis courts and a park that to be honest have seen better days, but you will probably have them all to yourself. Was this once a vibrant holiday destination? I'm not sure, but it's a nice drive.

Chris Cooper @chris.cooper

I moved to Japan in 2010 to become an English teacher. I came with little knowledge or preconceptions about Japan and thought I would just see what it was like. I found out I love it here, the job, the people, the culture, the life, I want to spread the word about what a great country Japan is to...