National Bihoku Hillside Park

Bihoku Hillside National Government Park is the first national government-managed park in the Chugoku region. The park utilizes rolling hills and covers an area of 340 hectares (approximately 3.5 km east-west and 1 km north-south), making it nearly the same size as Central Park in New York. Inside the park are several themed areas, including the "Great Lawn Plaza" with around 40 large playground structures, sledding at the "Kids’ Slope," the traditional village "Hiba no Sato" where visitors can try straw crafts and soba-making inside thatched-roof farmhouses, the "Kyu no Mori" featuring a giant cloud-shaped trampoline called the "Wata-gumo Dome," and "Tsudoi no Sato" with ground-golf courses and other recreational facilities. Seasonal flowers and winter illumination events are also very popular. The park includes an auto campground called "Bihoku Auto Village," making overnight stays a great option for leisurely exploration. Visitors arriving on foot from JR Nanatsuka Station can also stay in cottages or trailer houses. Meals may be brought in, or enjoyed at on-site restaurants, and on sunny days, picnicking on the grass is especially pleasant. Because the park is vast, renting a bicycle is highly recommended for sightseeing.