Start at Bitchu-Takamatsu Station and head to the Kokubun-ji walking course!
If you turn south at the Takamatsu Junior High School intersection, it's a straight road. When you go under the expressway, you come out to the Ashimori River, where a flock of winter ducks has arrived. You can observe kingfishers on this river. In front of the Nakamura Bridge, you can see a mound shaped hill. The first destination is the Tsukuriyama-kofun Burial Mound. During the rice harvest, egrets gather near the combine harvesters. The Tsukuriyama-kofun Burial Mound (Shinjō, Okayama City) is a keyhole-shaped burial mound, the fourth largest of its kind in Japan. From the road next to the parking lot, you can climb up the stone steps to the top of the mound. Cherry trees have been planted where the mound used to be a field.

After passing by the ramen and Japanese soba noodle shops, head north into the pine forest. In the forest, there are black painted signs explaining the history of the area scattered about. Neatly remaining here are foundation stones that evoke the presence of the ancient temple that once stood here. The temple grounds were reportedly massive, with a length of 108 meters east to west and a width of 225 meters north to south, rivaling those of the temples in Nara. Walk about 300 meters to the northwest on the path south of the Kokubu-niji Nunnery Ruins to reach the Kibiji Folk Museum.

Walking along the path on the north side of the forest by the pond from the Kibiji Folk Museum, you will find the Matsui well on the north side of the pond. Although it is an old well that is no longer used today, it is said that a Waka poem composed by Fujiwara no Mochiakira during the Daijōsai ceremony at the enthronement of Emperor Go-Shirakawa has been passed down. The waka goes like this:
　　　"Our hearts are bound tightly,
　　　　　Matsui's crystal waters, clear,
　　　 Reflect only you,
　　　　　Like the eternal shadow we share."
You can feel that it was once a famous spring water. With the cosmos flowers to your left, you can enter the Kōmori-tuka tumulus from the south side of the forest. This mound is a keyhole-shaped mound that utilizes a natural hill from the late 6th century, and you can enter the interior of the stone chamber. The stone chamber is magnificent.

Upon entering the gate, there is a thatched-roof guest hall in front, the main hall to the east, and the priest's quarters and reception hall to the west. In the garden to the west, a carefully-cultivated pine tree stands tall, and behind it, the five-tiered pagoda pierces the blue sky. The Old Sanyodo Road runs along the southern side of Kokubun-ji Temple and was likely an important transportation hub.

If you walk along the bicycle path from Kokubunji and cross the two-lane Route 429, you will see Sakuzan-kofun Burial Mound facing the west side.
If you have time, visit Sumōtori-yama tumulus about 700 meters to the south. You'll recognize it by the large pine tree towering over the rice paddies. Although there is now only one pine tree, it's a magnificent one, so take a look. This is a rare rectangular burial mound in Japan. A dohyo, or sumō wrestling ring, was set up on the west side of the mound, and it's said to have been named Sumōtori-yama because sumō wrestling matches were dedicated during the autumn festival of the guardian deity.

The foot of the hills surrounding the Sakuzan-kofun burial mound is dotted with stone statues that have been enshrined. Beside each statue is a plaque bearing the name of one of the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. When asked about the history of the statues, locals explain that they were erected during an outbreak of disease in the area, though the exact timing is unclear. Each statue is maintained by a different family. Walking among them gives one the sense of undertaking a pilgrimage to the 88 temples of Shikoku.
After crossing the two-lane bypass, walk along the ditch and you will come to a corner where there is a pachinko parlor on the street leading to the city hall. Just a short distance westward is a Japanese confectionery shop called Hirakawa where you can buy manju, a traditional Japanese sweet, as a souvenir. Passing the Aoyama in clothes store, turn north at the next traffic light and you will find Soja-gū Shrine 400 meters ahead.