Kibi Plain

What to know

The Kibi Plain (吉備路, Kibiji) is a charming rural flatland just outside central Okayama City, covered in sprawling fields and dotted with shrines, temples, and small farmhouse clusters. The best way to explore it is via a scenic cycling trail that passes several historic sights.

During the 4th century, the Kibi Plain was the heart of the Kibi Kingdom, an ancient clan that controlled much of modern Okayama Prefecture and rivaled the dominant Yamato Clan in today's Nara Prefecture. Scattered across the plain are historic remnants of the kingdom, including large burial mounds and shrines.

The kingdom is tied to the Legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko, a prince from the rival Yamato Clan sent to defeat a tyrannical ogre and pacify the Kibi Region. This legend later inspired the famous local folktale of Momotaro, about a boy born from a peach who defeats ogres terrorizing the countryside from a nearby island (sometimes linked to Megijima Island in Takamatsu).

A popular 17-kilometer cycling route runs through the Kibi Plain between Bizen-Ichinomiya and Soja stations. It loosely follows the Prince Kibitsuhiko legend and passes several important shrines, temples, and burial mounds. The route can be done in either direction, but it's slightly easier to start from Bizen-Ichinomiya Station. Bicycles can be rented at either station and dropped off at the other end or near Bitchu-Kokubunji Temple.

Bicycle rental shops are located in front of Bizen-Ichinomiya Station, Soja Station, and near Bitchu-Kokubunji Temple. They are open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from November to February); pick-up until 15:30. One-day rentals start at 1,500 yen, and dropping off at a different location costs an extra 500 yen.

Okayama and Bizen-Ichinomiya stations are connected by the JR Kibi Line (also called Momotaro Line) every 30 minutes. The one-way trip takes about 10 minutes, costs 210 yen, and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.