Mount Washu, Okayama, Japan
I made a quick stop in Kojima—famous for its jeans—but my main goal was to hike the Kaze no Michi trail and visit Mt. Washu (133m). The trail follows the old Shimotsui Electric Railway line, and though most of the railway is gone, signs still mark the former stations and track.
I started walking from near Kojima Station. About two-thirds in, I turned off the trail to head up Mt. Washu. The hike was easy, with paved paths and some stairs. From the top, the view of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and Seto Inland Sea was incredible. Since the bridge is 13.1 km long, you can’t see the whole thing from the viewpoints. I took a break at the visitor center where the friendly staff showed me photos and even gave me a certificate for completing the hike.
On the way back to Kojima Station, I stumbled upon a boat race and watched for a few minutes—it was a first for me and really interesting. With time to spare before my train, I grabbed some conveyor belt sushi to wrap up the visit.
Route Detail
Distance: 10.58km out & back from Kojima Station
Total elevation gain: 176m
Time: 2h 11m (total time with breaks 2h 33m)
Difficulty: Easy
Peak: Mt Washu 133m
Miscellaneous
Food ¥2610
