Achi

Plan for a short uphill walk or a taxi if you want to skip the stairs, since the shrine sits on Tsurugata-yama above Kurashiki Bikan District. It is usually quieter than the streets below, and from the grounds you can look out over the town and its tiled rooftops. The main approach includes steep stone steps, so comfortable shoes help.

People come here for Achi no Fuji, the large wisteria trellis, which is best in mid-April, though timing can vary. The shrine also has a notable main hall, a large rope, seasonal flower displays at the water basin, and rabbit carvings by the gate. The office opens at 9 a.m., so go later if you want omamori, goshuin, or the glass-ball omikuji.