Sōja, Japan
総社市
Sōja is a town of 69,030 people in Okayama, Japan, founded in March 22, 2005.
Why visit Sōja
Townapedia lists 46 museums and landmarks, 33 parks and trails, 220 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 32 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Chugoku Gakuen University, Kawasaki Medical School, Ohara Museum of Art and 箭田大塚古墳.
Weather in Sōja
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Sōja
Sōja (総社市, Sōja-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023, the city had an estimated population of 69,428 and a population density of 330 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 211.90 square kilometres (81.82 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Sōja (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Sōja on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do32
Chugoku Gakuen University
School · 9.4 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Kawasaki Medical School
School · 7.3 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare
School · 7.1 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Kurashiki Sakuyo University
School · 13.0 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts
School · 13.7 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Okayama Gakuin University
School · 12.2 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Okayama Prefectural University
School · 3.4 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Okayama Shoka University
School · 13.8 km
Higher education institution in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
20 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks46
Ohara Museum of Art
Museum · 9.0 km
Art museum in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
34 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds33
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21 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes220
本格手打ちうどん とも作
Restaurant · Noodle · 7.4 km
1, 倉敷市
Tu-Su 11:00-15:00,17:00-20:00
208 more on the map.
History
The Sōja area is part of ancient Bitchū Province and was the center of the ancient Kingdom of Kibi. The Tsukuriyama Kofun, the 10th largest burial mound in Japan, and the mountain-fortress of Ki Castle are among the many surviving relics of that period. During the Nara period, the Bitchū Kokubun-ji and provincial capital were located in what is now Sōja. The area prospered in the Muromachi period onwards as a "temple town" at the gates of the Bitchū-no-kuni Sōja-gū from which it derives its name.
Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Sōja was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 and was raised to town status on February 26, 1896. Sōja was elevated to city status on March 31, 1954. On March 22, 2005, the villages of Yamate and Kiyone (both from Tsukubo District) were merged into Sōja.
From the History section of Sōja on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship46
Shopping64
Gas and EV charging18
Schools, colleges and libraries48
Healthcare57
Map of Sōja
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Okayama Airport (OKJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 km away.
- Kurashiki 10 km south, about 10 min by car
- Yakage 15 km west, about 15 min by car
- Takahashi 17 km northwest, about 17 min by car
- Tamano 25 km southeast, about 25 min by car
- Wake 39 km northeast, about 39 min by car
- Fukuyama 41 km southwest, about 41 min by car
- Utazu 42 km south, about 42 min by car
- Marugame 44 km south, about 44 min by car
- Tonoshō 44 km southeast, about 44 min by car
- Tsuyama 48 km northeast, about 48 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bitchu Kokubunji 1, by Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hyakujūshi Bank Sōja Branch, ラハール, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chūgoku Bank Sōja Branch, ラハール, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Okayama Shoka University, Cardshw at Japanese Wikipedia, Public domain
- Kurashiki Ohara Art Museum02nt3200, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Kawasaki idai01, The original uploader was Setouchi at Japanese Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kawasaki university of medical welfare 1, tatushin, Public domain
- Okayama Prefectural University, Original uploader was Cardshw at ja.Wikipedia, Public domain
- Kinojo Nishi mon area, by Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bitchu-kokubunji zenkei, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Tsukuriyama Kofun, Soja air, Unknown author, Attribution
- Kurashiki City Masu Elementary School, あかしょうびん, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 倉敷安養寺本堂, Tatushin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iyama Hofukuji 04, by Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kawasaki medical school hospital 1 2007.9, tatushin, Public domain
- Yataotsuka 02, by Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuriyama Kofun, Okayama air, Unknown author, Attribution
- Senzoku Kofun, funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Obosan Kofun (Kurashiki), funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- まちかど郷土館1, 高塚玲, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kurashiki City Okada Elementary School, エヴァンズの秘書, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kurashiki City Mabi hometown History Museum, エヴァンズの秘書, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ushitora Onzaki Shrine main shrine (Kurashikishi), エヴァンズの秘書, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 酒津公園 - panoramio (1), Yoshio Kohara, CC BY 3.0
- Kinojo, enkei-2, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Chugoku Gakuen University, Original uploader was Cardshw at ja.wikipedia, Public domain
- Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Bakkai at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Okayama Gakuin University and Okayama College 2007, Nmaeda at Japanese Wikipedia, Public domain
- Kawasaki medical school2, Koniken, Public domain
- 岡山県立大学, Arabrity, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 川崎医療福祉大学, Hotaka kondo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuriyama Kofun (Soja), zenkei, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Tatetsuki Funkyu-bo, funcho, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- ZAG ZAG Kasaoka Tomioka, ja:User:Sanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bitchu Kokubunji, zenkei, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Yata Otsuka Kofun, funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Kurashiki Municipal Masu Elementary School 2023 Aug 17 11-15-03 AM, Nesnad, CC BY 4.0
- Ezaki Kofun, funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Ushitoraonzaki Shrine (Kurashikishi), エヴァンズの秘書, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Soja -03, Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0
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