Moopon

1. Once visitors exit immigration and customs at Kansai Airport, visitors will be on the 1st floor. Follow the signs for “Railways”, taking one of the 4 escalators or 3 elevators to arrive at the 2nd floor.

2. Once on the 2nd floor, follow the signs to one of several walkways and walk across the road to Kansai-airport Station. Visitors need to exit the air terminal building to arrive at the JR Station (two separate buildings connected by a walkway). Two train companies use Kansai-airport Station: JR (blue/green) and Nankai (orange). Only JR can take visitor to the platform Haruka departing from. DO NOT use Nankai.

3. Before entering tickets gate, find JR Ticket Office where visitors can purchase ticket or reserved ticket for JR train.(there is a huge sign in English above their head).JR ticket office staff may or may not speak English, but they can read place names and train types written in the Roman alphabet. 

4. With one’s tickets, go through JR ticket gate and take an escalator to get to Platform 4.

Raikyuji Temple (頼久寺, Raikyūji) is a temple of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism in Takahashi's old town.
The temple once served as the residence of Kobori Enshu, a local feudal lord who was also active as a renowned architect, garden designer and tea ceremony master.
Kobori Enshu or Masakazu  designed famous castles, palaces and gardens across Japan, especially in Kyoto.

Some of his most famous projects include the renovation of the local castle and the design of Nagoya Castle, Sumpu Castle and numerous gardens across Japan including those at the Sento Palace, Nijo Castle, Kodaiji Temple and Daitokuji Temple.

Kobori Enshu also designed the dry garden at Raikyuji Temple.
The garden incorporates elements such as islands representing a crane and turtle (symbols of longevity and health) and borrowed scenery, which he commonly employed in his designs.
Visitors can view the garden from the temple building.   
                                                                            
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed : No closing days
Admission: 300 yen
 

Haibara Samurai Residence
This large restored samurai residence was home to the Haibara family, who were high ranked samurai during the Edo Period. Visitors can explore the residence's many tatami rooms, kitchen and toilet, and view the gardens.           

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: December 29 to January 3 
Admission: 400 yen (also includes entry to Orii Residence)                                        

Ikegami Merchant House
This was the home of one of Takahashi's most powerful merchant families during the Edo Period. The restored building served as a residence, storefront and soya sauce factory and today houses a museum displaying the methods and tools used to produce soya sauce.    
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: December 29 to January 3 
Admission: 300 yen
                                   
Takahashi Folk Museum
Located in an atmospheric Meiji Period building, the Takahashi Folk Museum is packed with nearly 3000 tools, appliances and other items and memorabilia collected over the past centuries. The second floor displays portable shrines that were used in local festivals.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: December 29 to January 3 
Admission: 300 yen

Takahashi Historical Museum
The Takahashi Historical Museum is located a few blocks south of the station. The museum displays a permanent exhibition on the city's history and culture including several intricate dioramas explaining the construction of and life in the castle town. A separate exhibition hall displays artworks created by Takahashi citizens.
                                                         
The sights around Takahashi's old town are easily explored on foot and lie within a few minutes walk of each other and within a 10-15 minute walk from Bitchu-Takahashi Station. The Youme Town Shuttle Bus (100 yen) and Takahashi City Loop Bus (160 yen) loop through the town about once per hour

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30) 
Closed: Tuesdays (or following day if Tue is a holiday), December 28 to January 4 
Admission: 300 yen

Yumeji Art Museum features the artwork of Takehisa Yumeji.  Yumeji was born in Okayama Prefecture.  The museum was built in commemoration of the 100 anniversary of his birth.

Yumeji developed the Art Nouveau style in Japan at the turn of the century.  He is famous for his displays of wistfully posed ladies in his paintings, on prints and screens.  The various examples of his artwork can be seen at this rather small museum.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum will be closed the following day)
Admission: 700 yen
English Information: Very Limited

Located in a former guest house of Okayama Castle, the quaint and small Hayashibara Museum of Art focuses on collections of traditional Japanese art, including displays of folding screens, kimono, pottery and swords. The founders are the owners of a successful local business, the Hayashibara family.

Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry is at 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum is closed the following day) as well as during New Year holidays. There are irregular closures between exhibitions
New Year holidays and irregular closures between exhibitions
Admission: 500 yen (an additional fee may be needed for special exhibitions)
English Information: Limited