Okayama Day Tour: Nagi Museum, Okutsu Valley & Hot Spring

Eight hours through art, canyon streams and a beautifying hot spring

A full-day bus tour from Okayama combining contemporary art, nature and thermal waters. You visit the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art with admission included, walk the 3-kilometer Okutsu Valley during peak autumn color, and soak at Okutsu Onsen, a historic hot spring famed for its skin-softening alkaline waters. A Chinese-speaking guide leads the group, and lunch featuring locally sourced black soybeans is provided. The tour runs eight hours and involves substantial walking through the valley.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore art, nature, and hot springs

• Visit Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art
• Enjoy lunch with black soybeans
• Walk through Okutsu Valley
• Relax at Okutsu Onsen hot springs

The experience

The day starts at Okayama Station and moves through three distinct stops that anchor the region's appeal. The Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art sits on a hillside where the building itself frames the landscape: its three rooms named Sun, Moon and Earth each open onto the surrounding views, so the architecture and the art work together. The museum draws crowds as much for its photogenic setting as for its exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and video installations, and admission is included in the tour price.

From there, the route heads to Okutsu Valley, a 3-kilometer stretch that runs through one of Okayama's top autumn foliage sites. The valley fills with Japanese maple and ginkgo trees from late October through mid-November, and the walk passes clear streams and dramatic rock formations called Ouketsu. This is the part of the day that demands the most walking and physical effort. The valley's natural beauty is the draw, but the terrain is uneven and the pace is steady. Lunch happens during or near this section and centers on black soybeans, a local specialty prized for their nutritional value.

The final stop is Okutsu Onsen, a historic hot spring in the same area, lined with traditional ryokan inns and known as one of the Mimasaka Three Hot Springs. Its alkaline waters are reputed to leave skin feeling remarkably smooth, which is why locals call it a "beautifying hot spring." You soak here to close out the day before the bus returns to Okayama. The guide speaks Chinese throughout, and the group size is shared. You travel with other guests rather than as a private party. Bottled water is provided on the bus, and the operator requests that you arrive 15 minutes early. The bus departs on schedule and does not wait for late arrivals.

What’s included

• Admission to the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art.
• lunch featuring black soybeans.
• bottled water on the bus.
• all transportation by bus from Okayama Station.
• and a Chinese-speaking guide for the full eight hours.

Options for this experience

2 options

Itinerary designed for Taiwanese nationalsGuide in Chinese · 08:45

From Okayama StationGuide in Chinese · 08:45

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:45

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 35

Live guideChinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you're in Okayama and want art, nature, and hot springs in one day. The bus handles transport and timing, but expect substantial walking through Okutsu Valley, so wear proper hiking shoes.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art actually like to visit?

The Nagi Museum merges modern art with its architecture and landscape views. Its three rooms (named Sun, Moon and Earth) each frame the surrounding natural scenery, so you experience both the exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and video art and the changing views outside. The building itself has become a popular photography spot, and the museum also hosts collaborative events featuring music and local cuisine.

How much walking is involved in Okutsu Valley, and what will I see there?

Okutsu Valley requires substantial walking across its 3-kilometer length, and the terrain includes uneven ground and rock formations. From late October to mid-November, the valley displays peak autumn foliage in Japanese maple and ginkgo trees. You'll pass clear streams and dramatic rock potholes called Ouketsu as you move through the valley, which is one of Okayama's most renowned autumn color destinations.

What are the black soybeans in the lunch, and why are they featured?

Black soybeans are a local specialty of the Okayama region, known for their nutritional and health benefits. The lunch dish highlights this ingredient and uses locally sourced beans, making it a way to taste the area's culinary tradition as part of the day.

What makes Okutsu Onsen different from other hot springs?

Okutsu Onsen is one of the Mimasaka Three Hot Springs and is famed as a "beautifying hot spring" because its alkaline waters leave skin feeling remarkably smooth. The hot spring sits in a nostalgic townscape lined with traditional ryokan inns and feels integrated with the natural surroundings of the valley.

Is this a private tour or will I be with other guests?

This is a shared group tour, so you travel with other guests rather than as a private party. The tour requires a minimum of 10 participants to operate. If that threshold is not met by one month before the departure date, the tour will be canceled.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks Chinese throughout the tour, making it accessible for Mandarin speakers. The tour departs from Okayama Station and includes all transportation by bus.