Maniwa

• Okayama Prefecture
  • Tsuyama
  • Takahashi
  • Niimi
  • Kibichūō
  • Misaki
  • Kagamino
  • Shinjō
• Tottori Prefecture
  • Kurayoshi
  • Misasa
  • Kōfu

Maniwa's climate varies greatly from north to south. The Hiruzen Highlands up north, due to being at a higher elevation, tend to be much cooler in the summer, with heavy snow in the winter, and temperatures often dropping into the negatives. However, further down south in Kuse to Hokubo, snow may fall in the winter but rarely accumulates, but the summers are hotter in comparison to Hiruzen.

Maniwa is also situated far in land, which means that typhoons often do not affect it as badly as seaside towns in Okayama. The mountains throughout the town create a barrier from extremely heavy winds, and so often rain is the biggest side effect of any typhoons passing nearby.

• West Japan Railway Company
  • Kishin Line
    • Mimasaka-Oiwake Station - Mimasaka-Ochiai Station - Komi Station - Kuse Station - Chūgoku-Katsuyama Station - Tsukida Station - Tomihara Station

The main station is Chūgoku-Katsuyama.

Although there is no direct train line to Maniwa from Okayama, travelers can take either the Tsuyama Line to Tsuyama, or the Hakubi Line to Niimi, and transfer to the Kishin Line at either of those stations.

• Expressways:
  • Chūgoku Expressway
    • Mimasaka-Oiwake Parking Area - Ochiai Junction - Ochiai Interchange - Maniwa Parking Area - Hokubō Junction - Hokubō Interchange
  • Okayama Expressway
    • Hokubō Junction
  • Yonago Expressway
    • Ochiai Junction - Kuse Interchange - Ueno Parking Area - Yubara Interchange - Hiruzen-Kōgen Service Area - Hiruzen Interchange
• National highways:
  • Route 181
  • Route 313
  • Route 482
• Main prefectural roads:
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 30 (Ochiai-Takebe)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 32 (Niimi-Katsuyama)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 55 (Yubara-Mikamo)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 56 (Yubara-Okutsu)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 58 (Hokubō-Kawakami)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 65 (Kuse-Chūka)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 66 (Ochiai-Kamogawa)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 82 (Kagamino-Kuse)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 84 (Katsuyama-Kurihara)
• Roadside Station
  • Hiruzen Plateau (蒜山高原, Hiruzen Kōgen)
  • House of Wind (風の家, Kaze no Ie)
  • Daigo Village (醍醐の里, Daigo no Sato)

• There is a direct bus from Okayama City which stops at: Hokubo Mizuta Bus Stop, Maniwa High School Ochiai Campus, Maniwa High School Kuse Campus, Maniwa City Office, Kuse Station, Chugoku-Katsuyama Station[7]
• There is also a local community bus- "Maniwa-kun" which runs daily throughout the city, with most stopping at the City Office.

80% of tourists visit the Hiruzen Highlands, which are known as one of the more popular resort areas in Western Japan. Due to its high elevation above sea-level, the highlands remain cool in the summer, whilst gains heavy snow in the winter, making it popular with local skiers. Hiruzen also is home to the largest Jersey Cow Farm in Japan, with the "Jersey Land" facilities giving tourists the ability to see the cows up close, milk them, and eat foods made from the Jersey milk. The highlands are also known for their "Cycling Road", a 30 km loop of well-maintained cycling paths, with various rental shops along the route.

Yubara Onsen is also a popular resort, with its numerous hot springs (onsen), and close proximity to Hiruzen. Its most well-known onsen, "Sunayu", has been designated one of the representative hot springs of West Japan, and sits at the base of Yubara Dam. It is a rare mixed-sex onsen, and is also free and open 24/7.

Maniwa is also home to one of Japan's Top 100 waterfalls, Kanba Waterfall. Standing at 110 meters tall and 20 meters wide, it is the largest waterfall in West Japan. It is also home to groups of Japanese monkeys, most often seen during the winter as they come to the valley floor in search of food.

Katsuyama is also an old castle town, which prospered as a stop along the Izumo Kaido, a trade route stretching from Izumo to Kyoto and Osaka. It was also a port, as the river stretches down to Okayama City, and would only take a day or so to reach on the shallow boats they used at the time. Natsume Soseki also stayed here during a war for a few weeks. The town dedicated a 600m stretch of streets to preserve as it would have been in the Edo Period, including the burying of powerlines and reduction of street lights. Currently, the town is known for its Noren curtains, which hang 24/7 outside most homes and shops, and are all made by Yoko Kano, a local artist.

Kuse, home to the main city office, is also known for the "Former Senkyo Elementary School." Built in a Western style in 1907, the school is no longer used day-to-day, and has become a tourist attraction. With certain dramas such as "Always" having been filmed here, it is often popular with fans of those dramas. Free to the public, the school also provides Japanese school uniforms you can try at no cost.

Further down south, Ochiai is most famous for the "Daigo-Sakura", a 1000+ year old cherry tree. Sat at the top of a hill deep in the mountains, this cherry blossom tree tends to bloom between mid-late April. A smaller tree, birthed from the original, sits close by on the hilltop. The name "Daigo-Sakura" came from former Emperor Daigo, who, when on his way to exile in the Oki Islands, stopped by this tree and apparently was most impressed by it.

Ochiai is also known for its yōkan, a Japanese sweet made from red beans (anko). In the shape of the narrow boats that used to carry goods down the river to Okayama, and with a light crust of sugar, these sweets are very popular as souvenirs from the city.

At the southernmost tip of Maniwa, Hokubo is most well known for its fireflies in June. One of the best breeding grounds in the prefecture, many tourists visit during this time to see the fireflies during their mating season.

• Hiruzen Omiya Obon Dance Festival (Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property)
• Katsuyama Festival (October 19–20)
• Kuse Festival (October 25–26)

• Yubara Onsen[2]

• 
  The old castle town of Mimasaka-Katsuyama
• 
  Kanba Waterfall
• 
  Yubara Onsen