Visitors to Japan often go into a form of shock not long after they arrive. It is not the different language, cuisine, or social customs that are the cause, but, rather, the realization that Japanese cities are vast, crowded, hyper-modern jungles of humanity where life seems to be constantly on warp speed. The result, sadly, is often disillusionment that there is little of the "traditional" Japan left in major cities, combined with a sense of physical and psychological exhaustion.

Okayama Prefecture was one of the first prefectures to understand that many international visitors wanted both urban tourist centers like Kyoto and Hiroshima as well as the quiet beauty of the Japanese countryside. Located just over an hour from Kyoto and just under an hour from Hiroshima and blessed with what the Japanese Meteorological Agency says is the country's most balanced weather, Okayama met the demand from international tourists for a more pastoral experience by opening up the International Villa Group.

There are a total of five villas. Takebe Villa is located near the center of the prefecture, Fukiya is on the western side, Hattoji is on the extreme eastern side, close to the border of Hyogo Prefecture, and Shiraishi and Ushimado are located near the Seto Inland Sea.