Soja

The city was named after this shrine.

Priest Sesshu, one of Japan's most famous painters, studied here as a child. There is a legend that he painted a mouse using only his tears, and it is here that this event is said to have taken place. Very nice leaves colors in autumn. Worth the detour if you are cycling the Kibiji cycling trail.

Although the mound is quite small, this burial mound offers you the opportunity to have a look inside the tomb. This tomb is believed to date back to the sixth century. Aside from this, not much else is known about it.

Kokubunji Temples are special temples that were designated by the Emperor Shomu as provincial temples. This is the provincial temple of the former Bitchu Province (western Okayama prefecture). The large five-story pagoda, constructed in 1844, is one of the highlights of the Kibi trail. The area surrounding the temple is known as the Kibiji Fudoki-no-oka Prefectural Forest Park. For those wishing to see this temple without travelling along the cycling route, you can take a bus from Soja Station.

Not to be confused with the more famous Tsukuriyama Burial Mound nearby in Okayama, the burial mound in Soja is differentiated only by the characters used to write its name: 作山古墳. Like the mound in Okayama, visitors are free to walk atop this mound.

This site is one of the sites linked to the Momotaro tale. It is said that the demon Ura used this castle as the base from which he would pillage the nearby village, and its name which literally translates to "Demon Castle" was coined from the legend. As a historic site, it is believed to have been constructed between the 4th-7th century and is one of the oldest castles in Japan. Earthenware and walls remain, along with a reconstruction of the west gate. There is a free visitor center that acts as a small museum about the castle and its history with models and artifacts.

A scenic gorge that is particularly popular in the fall when the valley is painted in red, yellow, and orange.

The recommended course is to start at Bizen Ichinomiya Station in Okayama and bike towards Soja, but you could also begin at Soja Station and bike the trail in the opposite direction. The trail is well-marked for travel in both directions. You can rent a bike at Soja Station for ¥1,000 for the day. After you've finished cycling the trail, return your bike at the bike center just outside of Bizen Ichinomiya Station (a straight walk from Kibitsuhiko Shrine, the last attraction along the trail if coming from Soja). The trail is 15 kilometers long, and while officially it takes two hours, if you stop and enjoy the sites it can make an enjoyable half day. For a list of the sites, refer to the Kibiji Area of the Okayama guide.