Soja, Regional administrative center in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Soja is a city in Okayama Prefecture, located in the western center of Japan's main island. The urban area covers gentle hills, rice paddies and settlements along the Takahashi River, with a mix of low residential buildings and scattered commercial structures.
The area served as the administrative seat of Bitchu Province during the Nara period in the 8th century. Kokubun-ji temple, built by the government at that time, still stands on the eastern edge of town.
The name comes from a Shinto shrine where deities from across the province were once worshipped together. Today the area feels quiet and shaped by farming, with small shrines and temples appearing along the roads.
Train connections link the area to Okayama in the east and mountain regions to the north, while the expressway allows a quick drive to the coast. Most visitors explore the surroundings best by bicycle or car, since many points of interest sit outside the station area.
A cycling path connects the center to Okayama City over roughly 11 miles (18 kilometers) through flat countryside. Along the way you pass ancient burial mounds, farms with peach trees and several historical temples that are easily overlooked in daily life.
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