Tamano: Art, Island Connections, and Miyama Park

At Uno Port in Tamano, art and ferry connections come together: ferries serve Naoshima, Teshima, and Shodoshima from here, and the port is one of the venues for the contemporary art project Setouchi. In the surrounding municipal area, a park with play and water-play areas, a garden with six themed gardens, and a shrine with local lore add to the range of day trips. When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what your trip will focus on: island connections and harbor art offer a different experience from green spaces or a shrine visit.

Artworks at Uno Port

From 2013, Uno Port was one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale. Numerous individual artworks can be seen along the piers, including Uno no Chinu, a giant sculpture of a black sea bream. The work was created for the first Setouchi Triennale in 2010 and is exhibited at Uno Port.

Materials washed ashore around Uno Port and collected mainly from Kojima Lake were used to create Uno no Chinu. Colorful empty cans, plastic bottles, and other discarded household items are also among the materials. This mix of materials connects the sea creature motif with reused objects and the coastal environment. As artworks may change with new installations, the works on the pier may also vary. If you are visiting for a particular work or a Triennale event, check the current event dates and conditions before your visit.

Ferry Connections and Getting to the Port

Ferries run from Uno Port to Naoshima, Teshima, and Shodoshima. This means that harbor art and island destinations can each be a focus of your trip. Which crossing fits your plans depends on your travel date; check the current timetable. Uno Port is about a 10-minute walk from Chikko Ginza Station. This is an approximate time, and routes may change. Check the current route before setting out.

Park, Seasonal Blossoms, and Food

Miyama Park, in the surrounding municipal area, offers a variety of play and open spaces. Wanpaku Hiroba is a playground, and there are also lawn, open, and water-play areas. Cherry blossoms and picnics are possible at Mimik-chan Plaza in spring. This gives you a range of outdoor activities to consider when planning your day, rather than focusing the outing solely on art at the port.

Miyama Park also has places to eat: vegetables and fresh fish are sold directly, and there are takeout options and restaurants. Individual vendors may change. If food options are important for your outing, check what is currently available in advance.

Garden and Shrine in the Municipal Area

Miyama English Garden offers a different focus. It comprises six themed gardens and was designed by British garden designer Peter Thurman. If you are interested in landscaped gardens, you can plan a visit as a separate destination. Choosing between the garden and the park comes down to different interests: the former centers on themed gardens, while the latter has play, lawn, and water-play areas.

The Tamahime Shrine is also located in the surrounding municipal area. Toyotamahime-no-Mikoto is enshrined there and is regarded as a sea guardian deity and a deity for safe childbirth. An approximately five-minute mountain path leads from the shrine grounds to the upper sanctuary of Goryu Inari Shrine. According to local lore, a ball of fire that had leapt out of Tateishi fell there. From this spot, you can look out over the townscape of the Tama district in Tamano City. If you are interested in religious traditions and local stories, you can plan to visit the shrine, learn about the legend, and take in the view together.

Choose a Vacation Rental Based on Your Travel Plans

When choosing a vacation rental, it is worth comparing options based on the outings you have planned. If Uno Port and its ferry connections are your focus, the approximate walking time from Chikko Ginza Station is a useful guide. If Miyama Park, the English Garden, or the shrine is a priority, include these destinations in your plans and check the routes to each one.

Discover more destinations: Kurashiki, Nishiawakura, Maniwa, Hayashima, Mimasaka, Setouchi, Okayama, Tsuyama

Return to the main travel guide: Okayama Prefecture.