Making the most of Tamano
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Sightseeing
Shibukawa Beach (20-min bus ride from JR Uno Station to Marine Hotel). Last Su of Jun to last Sun of Aug. A calm white sand beach with pine trees, about 1 kilometer long. Excellent for windsurfing or sailing year-round. Free parking. Showers, lockers, changing rooms are only available during the official season, though you might be able to enter the beach in the off-season.
Shibukawa Marine Aquarium: Includes 180 species, most of which are native to the nearby Seto Inland Sea. Adult ¥500, child ¥250.
Chinu - the Black Sea Bream of Uno, Uno Port. Sculpture by Yodogawa-Technique. A colorful sculpture created from recycled cans, bottles, and household items. Artwork No. 182 of the Setouchi Triennale Art Festival. Free.
Nearby places
Miyama Park: A 200-hectare park with over 300 species of trees, including cherry blossom, Japanese plum, camellia, azalea, and maple trees. Includes and English garden. English garden ¥200.
Setouchi Onsen Tamanoyu (5 mins on foot from JR Uno station), [email protected]. 10:00-23:00 daily (closed for maintenance every third Tuesday of the month). A natural hot spring spa with the widest variety of open-air baths in Okayama prefecture overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Traditional Japanese building with baths, spas, lounges, and an authentic Japanese restaurant (vegetarian meals available). Free Wi-Fi, English speaking staff, accepts major credit cards. The onsen reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone heavily intoxicated or with tattoos, however overseas visitors with tattoos are able to enter on the presentation of a valid…
Money
The currency in Japan is the yen. It comes in denominations of ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, as well as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.
ATMs in Japan are becoming more useful, and most can be used to withdraw funds from overseas accounts. Post offices also offer ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted at a majority of stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but if you plan on spending any time in rural areas, be sure to carry sufficient cash. Japan is still very much a cash society and some stores, hotels and restaurants-regardless of location-refuse credit cards.
Don't tip, as it's considered rude!