Olive groves above an island-dotted sea
Ushimado is a small harbor town on the Seto Inland Sea, the calm sea between Japan's main island and Shikoku, reached from Okayama by a local train and a bus. Walk up to an olive grove on the hill for a view over the islands, then wander down the sloping lanes of the old port. Okayama is about 45 minutes from Osaka by bullet train, but buses to Ushimado are infrequent, so check the return times before you set out.
A hillside grove of about 2,000 olive trees, where you walk between the rows and climb to a lookout over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Entry is free. The way up the hill is steep, so wear comfortable shoes.
A small museum in a former police station from the late 1800s. It tells the story of the Korean envoys, official missions from Korea to the shogun, who stopped at Ushimado on their sea journey, and shows boat-shaped floats called danjiri that are pulled through town at the autumn festival. It is closed on Wednesdays.
A hillside temple that once lodged the Korean envoys on their way to the shogun, with a main hall designated a national Important Cultural Property. From its grounds you look down over the roofs of the harbor town. You can walk around the grounds freely.
A cafe in a converted house partway up a sloping lane, with a wooden deck that looks down over the rooftops to the sea. Sit with a coffee and take in the view after walking the old streets. It is closed on Thursdays.