Spots in Okayama City / Around Korakuen Area

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Okayama City / Around Korakuen

Category

Okayama Korakuen

4.5

1728 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

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.

One of the great gardens of Japan. To truly appreciate the beauty of this garden, go when the weather cooperates. They designed this park for all four seasons. The summer area was beautiful this...
Okayama Castle, Castle Tower

4.0

1172 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

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.

Impressive castle from the outside. The museum on the inside does not have any English translations so I didnt have the opportunity to understand the exhibits and stories
Kibitsu-jinja Shrine

4.5

382 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Kibitsu 931

A Shinto shrine primarily dedicated to Kibitsu-hiko-no-mikoto, a prince who subjugated rebels and brought peace and order to this area as one of the four mighty Shido Shogun. Kibitsu-hiko-no-mikoto is also known as the model for the legend of Momotaro, one of Japan’s most popular folktales. The shrine is one of the largest in the old San’yodo area. The front shrine and main shrine, built in the hiyoku irimoya-zukuri style, are designated National Treasures, and were rebuilt in 1425 by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Must-see highlights include the shrine’s roughly 400 meter long covered gallery, and the various flowers which grow on the grounds year round. The shrine is famous for the Narukama Shinji, a ritual in which the whistling of a steaming iron pot is used for fortune telling purposes. The nearest station is Kibitsu Station.

A hidden gem located in the middle of nowhere but definitely worth the visit. The shrine sits atop a hill that offers a great scenery. The temple complex includes a long corridor. The shrine can be...
Kibitsuhiko-jinja Shrine

4.0

160 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Ichinomiya 1043

This shrine is located at the foot of Kibi no Nakayama in the Ichinomiya area of Kita Ward, Okayama City. The main shrine building is on the site of the residence of Okibitsuhiko no mikoto, who suppressed Kibi no Kuni, and has him as the principal shrine god. The shrine is also called “Asahi no Miya” (shrine of the morning sun) because the sun rises directly in front of the main torii gate and enters the mirror in the shrine on the summer solstice.

When I went there in the morning, the weather is cold. It has nice scene to capture photos. We can also check small pond in front of this temple. If you are interested, you can insert 100 coin at the...
Saijo Inari (Saijo Inari-san Myokyoji Temple)

4.0

127 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Takamatsuinari 712

A Nichiren Buddhist temple located in Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture officially known as the Saijo Inari-san Myokyoji Temple. Founded around 785 by the great priest Ho’on, despite being a Buddhist temple rather than a Shinto shrine, the Saijo Inari is considered one of Japan’s three largest Inari temples. The temple survived the anti-Buddhist movement of the Meiji period unscathed. Permitted to engage in rituals syncretizing Buddhism and Shintoism, the temple is a rare example of an Inari “shrine” which follows Buddhist traditions. The temple grounds are marked by Shinto torii gates and the main temple building is built in the Shinto jingu style. Since ancient times, the temple has been believed to grant worshipers a variety of benefits, including prosperity in business, better fortunes, and traffic safety.

i dont remember how we came to visit this temple, rebuilt in 1600. its not in my notes. it was raining on our second day in okayama, so we hired a cab and off we went. we were staying at the...
Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

4.0

64 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Tenjinchou 8-48

"Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art is located along Prefectural Route 400 in Tenjin-cho, Kita Ward in the city of Okayama. It collects and exhibits the works of traditional illustrators, traditional Japanese painters, Western-style painters, craftspeople, sculptors, and other artists who have a connection with Okayama. In addition to the permanent collection ""The Art of Okayama,"" in which the objects on display are changed periodically, and special exhibitions, the museum also sponsors events such as lectures about art and workshops."

Looking over some previous reviews, I learn that the museum has a collection. The reason I mention this is because on my visit today, there was nothing to be seen from said collection, as they were...
Ikeda Zoo

3.5

69 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Kyouyama 2-5-1

This zoo is located in the Kyoyama area of Kita Ward, Okayama City. Besides being able to observe various animals such as giraffes, bison, capybaras and red pandas, you can also enjoy interacting with them through giving them bait. In addition, a steam locomotive from Ikasa Railway and passenger cars from Saidaiji Railway are on display. The zoo also holds different events throughout the year including a summer school and night zoo in the summer.

The cages for some of the animals were perhaps a bit too small however the cages were spotless, the water for the animals was spotless. It is a bit of hard walking uphill however despite being...
Takamatsu Castle Park Museum

3.5

62 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Okayama-shi Kita-ku Takamatsu 558-2

Takamatsu Castle Ruins are located in Takamatsu, Kita Ward in the city of Okayama. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the Chugoku region on the orders of Oda Nobunaga in 1582, he attacked this castle and conquered it when a member of his staff, Kuroda Kanbei, suggested flooding it. Nowadays, the area around the ruins of the castle is set aside as a historic park. A museum in the park exhibits materials related to the former castle.

戦国期の物語や大河ドラマに必ず出てくる場所です。豊臣秀吉の水攻めで有名です。公園の案内がなかったら、農地の一角ぐらいで通り過ぎてしまいそうです。有名の場所のわりには普通の農村地帯の風景の一角だったので、やや拍子抜けがありました。駐車場は整備されていて、国道からも案内があります。公園になっていて一角に資料館がありました。
Kirin Brewery Okayama Factory

4.5

40 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Higashi-ku Setochoumantomi 678

"A beer brewery located in front of Mantomi Station in Mantomi, Seto Town, Higashi Ward, Okayama City. As a factory tour, they are offering ""Factory-Only Special Experience, KIRIN ICHIBAN Brewery Feel-the-Taste Tour"". This is a tour that beer-loving adults can enjoy by experiencing the taste of KIRIN ICHIBAN Brewery Draft Beer and its unique specialty. You can also try ""KIRIN ICHIBAN Brewery Draft Beer"" directly from the factory."

Kirin beer factory can bookie to. 3 months in advance easy to get to on public transport approx 25 min from Okayama on local line, they had a shuttle bus waiting to collect us. Even thought the main...
Yumeji Art Museum (Honkan)

4.0

62 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

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.

Each of his drawings are very beautiful and I enjoyed so much! After that I went to the cafe in this museum.
Handayama Botanical Garden (Okayama City)

4.0

47 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Houkain 3-1

This botanical garden is located in the hilly area of Mt. Handa in Okayama City. Characterized by the 3,200 kinds of 150,000 plants (plum trees, cherry trees, Luoyang peonies, azaleas, roses, etc.) planned to bloom throughout the year in the 110,000 square meter garden, it was opened to see plants, for recreation and as a place of rest. Famous particularly as a cherry blossom viewing spot, approximately 800 Yoshino cherry blossoms are in full bloom from late March to early April, and you can enjoy flower viewing together with trees that are over 100 years old. In addition, it is known for the Ipponmatsu Kofun burial mound near the top of the garden that is a valuable cultural property.

This is an easy place to visit from Okayama station by bus 77 from platform 13 for 150 yen. Bus journey is about 15-20 mins and its a short 5 min walk to the garden entrance. We did not take the...
Okayama Orient Museum

4.0

69 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Tenjinchou 9-31

"A museum which contains many ancient works of Oriental art from Mesopotamian civilizations and other areas. The museum is located a 15-minute walk from the east entrance of JR Okayama Station along Prefectural Route 42. The museum was originally opened to house 1,947 works of art donated by Okayama University. The museum's collection continued to grow thanks to donations and loans and today the facility manages around 4,800 pieces of ancient art. The museum's collection primarily consists of earthenware, glass, and porcelain mosaics. The museum's centerpiece is its ""Relief of Protective Spirit, Apukallu"" Assyrian relief created in Iraq in the ninth century BCE."

I am a big fan of museums devoted to archaeology. I knew this one would be a small one, with limited English explanation, but it was advertised all around the city, both in Japanese and English, I...
Okayama City South Village

3.5

37 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Minami-ku Kataoka 2468

Okayama City South Village is an agricultural park located along Prefectural Route 22 in Kataoka, Minami Ward in the city of Okayama. It offers do-it-yourself crop picking, including strawberries, with the specific crops varying from season to season. Visitors can also experience the art of Tole painting. The park also contains a grassy lawn, a swimming pool that is open only in the summer, a karaoke facility, restaurants, and a lodging facility that is modeled after a Spanish farmhouse. The market is open 365 days a year and sells fresh farm products and freshly caught fish. A flea market is held in the park at regular intervals.

サウスヴィレッジの中にあるマーケットには地元の野菜をはじめ、たくさんの加工食品などが並びます。休日にはフリマなどが開催され、たくさんの人でにぎわいます。
Okayama Prefectural Museum

3.5

31 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

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.

I came with a study-buddy for a special Nichiren exhibition that displayed many excellent Buddhist artworks. What a pity that the arrangement was poor and without a concept, the items just put into...
Hayashibara Art Museum

3.5

49 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Okayama-shi Kita-ku Marunouchi 2-7-15

The title says it all, this is a small museum that has a great variety of exhibitions. Check what is being exhibited before going. It is a fun and interesting place to check out while in Okayama
Manekineko Museum of Art

4.0

30 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Kanayamaji 865-1

This art museum for manekineko (beckoning cats) is located in the Kinzanji area of Kita Ward, Okayama City. Besides the permanent exhibition of 700 manekineko of various shapes and materials from traditional ones from throughout Japan to ones made by modern artists, it also holds temporary exhibitions related to manekineko. In addition, there is an adjoining museum shop that sells original manekineko goods.

ドライブがてら寄ってみました。名前の通り、外観も内観も猫だらけで可愛い感じ。広くないのでさくっと見回れます。招き猫の絵付けが出来るのが良かった。
Saidaiji Temple

4.0

38 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Higashi-ku Saidaijinaka 3-8-8

About a 10-minute walk from the Saidaiji Station on the Ako Line, this temple is said to be established in 751 when Princess Fujiwarano Minataru of Kuga manor built a thatched hut in Kanaoka-no-go in which she placed a thousand-armed Kannon deity. Within the precinct are many things to see, such as the three-tier pagoda that is a prefectural Important Cultural Property, a Korean Bell that is a National Important Cultural Property, and the ushidama deities, which are a Tangible Cultural Property. Every year the Eyo - Hadaka Festival is held on the third Saturday of February, which is considered to be one of Japan's three unusual ritual festivals. Having its roots in the Nara period, during this festival brave male believers garbed only in loin clothes compete and scramble for a treasure stick in the main temple.

Went to Saidaiji in the morning partly to check the place out before the festival in the evening and also to collect the previously reserved ¥5,000 ring side seat ticket from Saidaiji office of...
RSK Rose Garden

4.0

15 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Natsukawa 1592-1

RSK Rose Garden is a botanical garden located along Prefectural Route 73 in Natsukawa, Kita Ward, in the city of Okayama. The main attraction is 15,000 rosebushes of 450 varieties that bloom from mid May to mid-June and from mid-October to late November, but visitors can also admire plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, peonies, and wildflowers that bloom over the course of the four seasons. There is a restaurant in the garden, Shogin-an, which serves soba noodles made with 100% buckwheat flour.

広い園内に色とりどりの薔薇が満開に咲いています。ベンチが至る所にあり、ゆっくり眺めれました。暑い日でしたが、木陰で休んでいると、風と共に薔薇の香が漂って何とも言えない心地良さでした。
Okayama City Museum

4.0

30 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Okayama Pref. Okayamashi Kita-ku Ekimotomachi 15-1

Okayama City Museum is located near the west exit of Okayama Station in Ekimotomachi, Kita Ward in the city of Okayama. The concept behind it is “to record, preserve, exhibit, and promote the history, present day, and glories of Okayama.” The permanent exhibit, “The History and Culture of Okayama,” displays materials about the natural environment as well as the history and culture of the city, and there are also time-limited exhibitions and art exhibitions.

JR岡山駅とはデッキで繋がっているビル内に有ります。戦国時代にこの地を支配した宇喜多直家・秀家の資料も展示されています。
Omizu-en Garden

3.5

31 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okayama Okayama-shi Kita-ku Ashimori 803

This feudal lord garden was built on an estate belonging to the Kinoshita clan, which once ruled the area when it was known as Ashimori Domain. The garden is situated along the Ashimori River north on National Route 429 traveling from JR Ashimori Station. The garden is believed to have been created in the early 18th century. An excellent example of a Kobori Ensyu-style excursion garden built around a central pond, the garden has been designated a Place of Scenic Beauty by the prefecture. 5,500 square meters in size, two islands (Tsurushima and Kameshima) float in the pond, which is itself surrounded by maples and cherry trees. Each year around November the maples turn crimson, creating magnificent scenery. The area is also a great place for those interested in strolling amidst historical sites; the childhood home of Kinoshita Rigen and a samurai residence can be found nearby.

今迄有料のお庭と思っていたのですが、出入り自由のお庭でした。紅葉が綺麗と言うので行ってみました。紅葉の時期は11月20日前後あたりです。観光駐車場は狭いので、川原の方が広々と停められてお勧めです。

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Okayama Areas

Overshadowed by Hiroshima to the west and the Kansai region to the east, Okayama is an easy spot to miss but a nature-rich gem where the Seto Inland Sea laps at its toes and peach and grape farms complete its interior. One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, Koraku-en in Okayama city is well worth a visit before progressing to Kurashiki, where preserved wooden Edo buildings line the picturesque canal.