Nakayama Jinja 10.JPG
Article

33203 ／ つやまし

Okayama Prefecture

Tsuyama City

A gable-entry hall with a karahafu porch

Nakayama-zukuri, Nakayama Shrine

Photo by Reggaeman (CC BY-SA 3.0)

01 ／ Tsuyama Yogaku and Udagawa Yoan (津山洋学と宇田川榕菴)

Known as the Tsuyama domain physician who coinedterms such as "saibo" (cell) and "sanso" (oxygen).

津山洋学資料館外観 217 (50284883936).jpg
Photo by 津山市立図書館 Public Library of Tsuyama (CC BY 2.0)

The Tsuyama Archives of Western Learning displays materials on scholars of Western learning tied to Tsuyama, such as the domain physician Udagawa Yoan. Yoan is also known for choosing the characters for "coffee" (珈琲). The floor plans of the exhibition rooms are based on pentagons, evoking the "Five Peaks of Tsuyama Yogaku."

  • The Five Peaks: Udagawa Gensui, Genshin and Yoan, and Mitsukuri Genpo and Shuhei
  • Former Residence of Mitsukuri Genpo: national Historic Site (1975)
  • Exhibition room plans are based on pentagons

02 ／ Josai's Temple Quarter (城西の寺町)

Of the 15 temples that stood there by the mid-17th century,13 remain inside the preservation district.

Hongen-ji, Tsuyama 202303-1.jpg
Photo by 運動会プロテインパワー (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Josai consists of the temple quarter on the west side of the old castle town and a merchant quarter along the Izumo road, and was selected as a preservation district in December 2020. Hongen-ji, the Mori family's family temple, opens its mausoleum doors on July 7, the anniversary of Mori Tadamasa's death. The Matsudaira family's temple is Taian-ji.

  • Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings (selected December 2020)
  • 13 of 15 temples that stood there from the castle's building to the mid-17th century remain (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
  • Hongen-ji main hall: Important Cultural Property (2013)

03 ／ Tsuyama Danjiri (津山だんじり)

Parishioners of Tokumori and Osumi shrinesvied to build the danjiri floats, and pull them.

The Tsuyama Festival is the collective name for the autumn festivals of Osumi, Tokumori and Takano shrines. Each danjiri has a roof carried on four cypress or zelkova pillars and bracket sets, with carvings throughout. In 2025, 10 danjiri joined the Osumi Shrine festival and 18 the Tokumori Shrine festival.

  • Prefecturally designated Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property (1968)
  • Oct. 19, 2025: 10 danjiri at Osumi Shrine
  • Oct. 26, 2025: 18 danjiri at Tokumori Shrine

Living here

Tsuyama Castle rises in the middle of the city.

  • about 100,000 people

Tsuyama lies in northern Okayama, and about 1,000 cherry trees bloom at the Tsuyama Castle site (Kakuzan Park) in spring. To the north of the castle is Shuraku-en, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The population is 92,464 (September 1, 2026).

People living here
99,937people
20052020

−3.7% since 2015

110,569 → 99,937

Area
506.33km²

152.41km² of it habitable

2024

Households
41,213households

2.4 people per household

2020

Rent (average for rentals)
42,875yen

National average 60,630 yen

2023

Healthcare
9 hospitals ／ 91 clinics

10.0 per 10,000 people

2023

Area506.33km²Habitable land152.41km² ／ 30%
Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Population from 2005 onward (municipal boundary changed).2005-02-28 に合併。2005年調査から市域が変わっている。

Children waiting for childcare
—28 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy
—
Average annual temperature
—

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

ACCESS

Where you can go from here.

Tsuyama City in Japan35.069°N 134.005°E
TokyoTsuyama City
Tsuyama Station
津山駅2009
  • to OsakaHighway bus181min
  • to ShinjukuOvernight bus505min

Travel times follow 神姫バス公式『高速バス 津山・西脇-大阪線 中国ハイウェイバス』（西日本ジェイアールバスとの共同運行）の時刻表PDF。2026年4月1日改正（https://www.shinkibus.co.jp/sys/timetables/377/download）と2026年10月1日改正（同 /400/download）の両方を pdftotext で読み、上り（津山→大阪）の『津山駅発』の行と『大阪駅JR高速バスターミナル着』の行を便ごとに引いて引き算した。特急504便＝津山駅 9:00発→大阪駅 12:01着（4月改正）／7:00発→10:01着（10月改正）＝181分。特急502便は津山駅6:00発→大阪駅9:01着＝181分（行先はUSJ）。急行は200〜205分。両備バス公式『倉敷・岡山～新宿線（ルミナス・マスカット）』（https://www.ryobi-holdings.jp/bus/kousoku/r17shinjuku/）下り（2025年10月1日改正）：バスタ新宿 21:30発→津山駅 5:55着＝8時間25分＝505分（24:00まで150分＋5:55の355分）。 (checked 2026-09-30). They vary by time of day.

Shape

Borders 7 municipalities across 1 prefectures.

Territory of Tsuyama City
Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (N03)

North to south

35.9km

Okayama Prefecture
美咲町, 鏡野町, 勝央町, 奈義町, 真庭市
Tottori Prefecture
智頭町, 鳥取市

Tsuyama City isthis kind of town.

  1. 01The main hall of Nakayama Shrine, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, was rebuilt between 1537 and 1559 by Amago Haruhisa, and the grounds are open to visit freely. The structure with a karahafu (curved gable) porch added to a gable-entry hall is called "Nakayama-zukuri," and the Soja Main Hall and Tsuruyama Hachimangu Main Hall are also Important Cultural Properties.
  2. 02Tsuyama Castle was begun by Mori Tadamasa in 1604 (Keicho 9) and completed in 1616 (Genna 2). The site is Kakuzan Park and a national Historic Site. Because of stone-wall repair work, the city says parts of the main enclosure and the third enclosure are closed. Shuraku-en is a daimyo garden that was named in 1870 (Meiji 3).
  3. 03Two districts, Joto and Josai, are Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. At Tanokuma Hachiman Shrine stands a rural kabuki stage with a plate-type revolving stage, and Hondani in Minamikatanaka has a stand of Torafudake bamboo.

See the town as it is now.

Source: Wikidata (P2002, P2003, P2013, P2397)

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Tsuyama City official site ↗Wikipedia ↗

Similar towns

Next town Okayama Prefecture Misaki Town →A station roof with a turtle's head.