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 is reached by a 20-min bus ride from JR Uno Station to Marine Hotel. From the last Su of Jun to the last Sun of Aug, this calm, roughly 1 kilometer white-sand beach with pine trees has seasonal facilities. It is excellent for windsurfing and sailing year-round, with free parking. Showers, lockers and changing rooms are available only in the official season, although beach access may be possible off-season.
Shibukawa Marine Aquarium has 180 species, most native to the nearby Seto Inland Sea. Admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for children.
At Uno Port, Chinu - the Black Sea Bream of Uno is a colorful Yodogawa-Technique sculpture made from recycled cans, bottles and household items. It is Artwork No. 182 of the Setouchi Triennale Art Festival and is free.
Nearby places
Miyama Park covers 200-hectare and has more than 300 tree species, including cherry blossom, Japanese plum, camellia, azalea and maple. It also has an English garden, which costs ¥200.
Setouchi Onsen Tamanoyu is 5 mins on foot from JR Uno station; contact [email protected]. It opens 10:00-23:00 daily, closing for maintenance every third Tuesday of the month. This natural hot-spring spa has Okayama prefecture’s widest variety of open-air baths overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, in a traditional Japanese building with baths, spas, lounges and an authentic Japanese restaurant offering vegetarian meals. Free Wi-Fi, English speaking staff and major credit cards are available. The onsen may refuse heavily intoxicated people or those with tattoos, but overseas tattooed visitors can enter on presentation of a valid…
Money
Japan uses the yen: ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, plus ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.
Most Japanese ATMs now allow overseas-account withdrawals, and post offices have ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted at most large-urban-area stores and restaurants, but take enough cash when visiting rural areas. Japan remains very much a cash society, and some stores, hotels and restaurants refuse cards regardless of location.
Tipping is considered rude, so do not tip.