Okayama

Travel Guide

• Bizen Osafune Sword Museum

  

  06.07.2018

• Japan’s Most Beautiful National Parks

  

  21.06.2018

• What to Do in Ushimado

  

  19.06.2018

• Shopping on Okayama’s Jeans Street

  

  05.10.2017

• Inujima

  

  11.09.2017

Filter by Category：

• Traveling
• How-To
• Nature
• Culture
• Leisure
• Shopping
• Events
• Food&Drink

Best Events

• Festivals

  

  • Bicchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori
  • Uraja

• Cherry Blossom

  

  • Tsuyama Castle

• Fireworks Festivals

  

  • Kasaoka Port Matsuri Fireworks Show
  • Tsuyama Noryo Gongo Festival in Yoshii-gawa River

Top Things to do

• Kimendai Lookout Rest Area

  Okayama Pref. Maniwashi Hiruzenshimotokuyama 1109

  This observation deck, at an altitude of 900 meters, is located in the middle of the Hiruzen Daisen Skyline. It is a scenic spot overlooking the magnificent mountains of Mt. Daisen, Mt. Karasugasen, Mt. Zouyama and Mt. Giboshi. At sunrise and sunset during the autumn when the difference in temperature is great, visitors can enjoy the beautiful contrast of the morning sun over the sea of clouds.

• Okayama Korakuen

  Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Kourakuen 1-5

  This Japanese stroll garden is located in Okayama City and named one of the Big Three Japanese Gardens. Construction of the garden began in 1687 by Tsunamasa Ikeda, Lord of Okayama, with its initial completion in 1700. Since this time, it was beloved and enjoyed as a place of relaxation for the feudal lord and as a place of interaction with the retainers and people of the domain. One can see the footprints of history through the structural remains preserved in the expansive 144,000 square meters area and enjoy blooms in each season dotting the park. The Korakuenmae bus stop is the closest public transport stop.

• Okayama Castle, Castle Tower

  Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Marunouchi 2-3-1

  Okayama Castle was constructed over a period of eight years by Ukita Hideie, one member of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Council of Five Elders, and was completed in 1597. It is also called “Crow Castle” for its external appearance, as the castle tower walls have black lacquered siding which was a characteristic of this era. The three-tiered, six-storied watchtower-style castle tower is a pentagon of unequal sides and is said to imitate the castle tower of Oda Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle. The castle tower, which was a National Treasure, was lost due to wartime fires but was rebuilt in 1966.

• Yumeji Art Museum (Honkan)

  Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Naka-ku Hama 2-1-32

  The museum was opened in 1984, near the Korakuen Garden in commemoration of the 100th birthday of Yumeji Takehisa. Here, in addition to the hanging scrolls drawn by Yumeji, the main building has about 3,000 items including watercolors and oil paintings, letters and books and other materials. In addition to the permanent exhibition where about 100 works can be seen, exhibitions introducing Yumeji’s art from various viewpoints is held several times a year. At the museum cafe, you can have fancy European baked raisin cookies called Garibaldi which were a favorite of Yumeji.

• Okayama Prefectural Museum

  Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Kourakuen 1-5

  Here, the cultural heritage of Okayama Prefecture from primitive through modern times is displayed in an easy to understand manner. In addition to the main attraction, the Akakawa Odoshi yoroi red leathered armor, a national treasure, valuable cultural artifacts are preserved and displayed. Twice a month, a curator provides presentations on the exhibits. This museum is located in the outer garden of Korakuen.

• Ajitsukasa Nomura

  Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Heiwachou 1-10 Nomura Building 1F

  Located a seven-minute walk from JR Okayama Station is a long-established deep-fried pork cutlet restaurant established in 1931. Their speciality is a pork cutlet on a bed of rice covered with a special demi-glace sauce as well as the normal pork cutlet and rice covered with beaten egg. The restaurant has 2/3 child size and 1/2 grandchild size portions and is recommended to those who want to try a variety of flavors. Some of the menu can be ordered as take out.

• Amatsu-jinja Shrine

  Okayama Pref. Bizenshi Imbe 629

  It is a Shinto shrine with some 1,000 years of history famous for enshrining the patron god of the birthplace of Bizen ware. The path approaching the shrine, the shrine’s roof tiles, and even the guardian lion-dogs are all Bizen ware. The walls on the path to the shrine are also lined with tiles contributed by pottery artists. The shrine grounds also contain numerous Bizen ware talismans such as depictions of the Chinese zodiac and the Seven Gods of Fortune. Bizen ware ema (votive tablets) are also sold at the shrine.

• The Ohashis’ House

  Okayama Pref. Kurashikishi Achi 3-21-31

  This building has the architecture of a merchant’s house and is located in Kurashiki City. The Ohashi family were large land-owners who made their fortune developing fields for drying salt and fields for growing rice in the late Edo period. The house has a Nagaya-mon gate which faces the street, while the main house is arranged with features such as having a front garden which is separated by a gate. The house was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1978.

• Ohara Museum of Art

  Okayama Pref. Kurashikishi Chuou 1-1-15

  Located in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, this museum was Japan’s first private museum dedicated to Western art. The museum was built by Kurashiki industrialist Magosaburo Ohara in 1930. The Main Gallery, styled like a Greek temple, remains as it looked when the museum first opened. Inside, works by master Western painters such as Cezanne, Degas, and Renoir are on display. Several gallery concerts are held each year, a tradition which began in 1950.