Okayama

Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chugoku region. The city is an important transportation hub, being the location where the Sanyo Shinkansen meets with the only rail connection to Shikoku. It is the site of Koraku-en, known as one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan, and the black Okayama Castle, which is ranked among the best 100 Japanese castles. The city is famous as the setting of the Japanese fable "Momotaro".

Okayama Castle

Completed in 1597 after eight years of construction, Okayama Castle is one of Japan’s top 100 castles.

Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden located in Okayama. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en.

Saijo Inari

Saijo Inari, founded more than 1,200 years ago, is one of Japan’s three top Inari shrines. A temple in reality, Saijo Inari includes an enormous torii (Grand Torii) and resembles a shrine while devoting itself to both gods and Buddha.

Kibitsu Shrine

Kibitsu Shrine was one of 23 sanctuaries in the mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-chusha

Hayashibara Museum of Art

The collection in this museum focuses on Japanese arts such as folding screens, kimono, pottery and swords.

The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

The collection of The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art focuses on artists with a connection to Okayama Prefecture, and the museum also features temporary exhibitions.)

Ujo Park

Ujo park is basically the park area near Okayama Castle - opposite the famous Kourakuen Gardens.

Bitchu-Takahashi old town

Takahashi developed at the base of Matsuyama Castle into a thriving castle town of samurai, merchants and craftsmen. Some of the historic streets close to the castle have been preserved, and a few samurai and merchant houses have been restored and opened to the public.

Kibi Plain

The Kibi Plain is a charming, rural flatland just outside of central Okayama City that is covered in sprawling fields and dotted with shrines, temples and small clusters of farmhouses.

Okayama Orient Museum

Okayama Orient Museum is a museum of Ancient Near Eastern, Roman provincial, Byzantine, Sassanian, and Islamic Art in Okayama.