Capital of a Japanese prefecture, Okayama is home to the Okayama Castle, Korakuen Garden and the Hayashibara Art Museum. The city is divided into four areas. The northern area is called Kita-ku, and this is where most of the city’s population resides. To the east you will find Higashi-ku, the central area of the city is called Naka-ku, and the south is referred to as Minami-ku. These four areas make up Okayama, and here’s what you can see and do in this city in Japan.
What are the best places to visit in Okayama
1. Okayama Castle
Although it had to be completely rebuilt after the bombings of World War II, the replica that was made in the mid-1960s retains its essence, even with some additions. The reconstructed castle next to the Asahi River and is a must-see if you are in Okayama since Korakuen is next door.
It is one of the two castles with the black exterior, so they also call it the “Raven Castle”. Ukita Naoie, the daimyo who commissioned it, had chosen this color to mock Himeji Castle and its immaculate white.
It was in 1996 that some golden shachihoko gargoyles were added. They adorn the roofs of Japanese castles to celebrate the four-hundredth anniversary of its construction.
The building contains six floors of exhibits featuring samurai armor and items from different eras.
2. Okayama Korakuen Gardens
The Korakuen Gardens, along with the Okayama Castle, are the main tourist attractions of the city. The green and colorful area belonged to the feudal lord in the late 17th century. It was not until the late 19th century that they became the property of the government of the area and were opened to the public.
Its large 14-hectare expanse has plum, cherry and maple trees, plus a tea and rice plantation, ponds and small streams, several paths and trails, a small knoll with beautiful views of the park and even a onsen foothill to relax on.
It has three stars in the Michelin Green Guide and is also a place of historical and cultural interest.
3. Kibitsu Shrine Sanbi Ichinomiya
The temple has its origins in a legend about a demon that terrorized coastal villages. They came to the Imperial Court for help and Kibitsuhiko was sent to help them. The warrior won after an arduous battle against the demon called Ura. As a result, now, at the foot of Mount Nakayama in Kibi, stands the Kibitsujinja Shrine, which enshrines Kibitsuhiko.
To the northwest of the shrine, you’ll find the remains of a Korean-style mountain castle called Kinojo Castle, which they are still excavating for investigation.
It is open from 4:30 am to 6:00 pm.
4. Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
The museum preserves a collection of many excellent works of art with the theme of “a connection to Okayama Prefecture.” The ‘Art of Okayama’ exhibition, which displays these works, offers different Japanese paintings and writings every month and different Western arts and crafts every three months. In addition, they have special exhibits and themes through which you can enjoy works from a variety of eras and genres.
On Mondays it is closed, but the rest of the days of the week it is open from 9:00 to 17:00, allowing admission until 16:30. Admission per adult is 350 yen. Elementary, junior high and high school students can enter for free, while university students pay a fee of 250 yen. Seniors 65 and older pay 170 yen per ticket.
5. Handayama Botanical Garden
Created in 1953, the garden’s expanse takes advantage of a hillside overlooking the city. The botanical garden currently contains some 3,000 species of woody and herbaceous plants from Japan and abroad.
Open daily (9:00 to 16:30) except Thursdays and there is an entrance fee. You can reach it by bus, bicycle or bus from the station.
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What to see around Okayama
1. Ki Castle
Situated on top of Kinojo Mountain, it is considered a national monument. Parts of the castle have been reconstructed in the early 2000s. It is a Japanese castle of the k?goishi type, built in the late 7th century by the Yamato Imperial Court.
According to legend, a demon named Ura once ruled the province of Kivi from this castle. Hence the very name of the place means “castle [of] demon” (“ki” is another reading of kanji for oni).
Surrounded by 1.7-mile-long walls, Ki Castle contains typical aspects of an early medieval castle or fortress, from watchtowers to smithies, along with a variety of defensive systems. They have found a number of archaeological artifacts there, including pottery, iron tools, and weapons.
2. Saijo Inari
Known as one of the three main Inari in Japan, along with Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine and Toyokawa Inari Temple.
The temple is the setting for Japan’s most famous folk tale, “The Legend of Momotaro”, Kibi Plain features a series of burial mounds created more than 1500 years earlier.
3. Inujima Seirensho Art Museum
The Inujima Seirensho Art Museum was built around the idea of “using what exists to create what will be.”
What stands out most about the site is its environmental system. The Inujima Seirensho Art Museum creates an environment where nature is the main concern, using a sophisticated water purification system that takes advantage of the filtration properties of plants. Among other measures, they planted the vegetation suitable for Inujima, according to the results of an environmental study.
Entrance to the public is from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, and the last entry must be before 4:00 pm. Visiting the art museum costs 2100 JPY, which includes admission to Inujima “Art House Project” and is free for children under 15 years old.
4. Lake Kojima
Lake Kojima, far from the city, was created to secure irrigation water and protect the levels of direct recovery to salt water. Therefore, the government built a reservoir, which was completed in 1959 and named Kojima-ko. It was the first freshwater lake in Japan that they built at the mouth of a river.
What to do in a day in Okayama
The first point of interest you have to visit if you are only in Okayama for one day will be one of the best gardens in all of Japan. You can walk from Okayama station to Korakuen garden. It will take you about 25 minutes. But if you are short of time, you can get from Okayama Station to Shiroshita stop in eight minutes. There you get off and walk for 10 minutes to the garden.
From the gardens you can go to the Okayama Castle, and eat in the center at some of the restaurants we recommend below.
Where to stay in Okayama
- The OneFive Okayama: If you are looking for something central, you can stay at The OneFive Okayama Hotel. It is located near Okoyama Castle and the night is around €20 per room. It has 208 non-smoking rooms, laundry facilities and an air-conditioning systems.
- Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama: With a good location for sightseeing and restaurants, the hotel averages between €50 and €70 a night. It is on a tree-lined street, a 5-minute walk from Okayama train station, 2 km from the castle and 3 km from the 18th-century K?raku ornamental gardens.
- Smile Hotel – Okayama: the average price does not exceed 60 euros per night. It’s close to around Okayama Castle with bars on the Nishikawa Canal and the flowers and folklore at Kibitsu Shrine.
- Hotel Maira: This three-star hotel is located around Okayama Castle, near the bars on the Nishikawa Canal and the flowers and folklore at Kibitsu Shrine. It’s in the Kita district, a 9-minute walk from Okayama’s bustling train station and 2 km from K?raku-en Gardens. The nightly rate is around 55 euros.
Where and what to eat in Okayama
Once you’ve decided what to see in Okayama, you need to try its cuisine.
- Ippudo is a restaurant specializing in ramen, and the average price there is 30 euros. It was founded in 1985 in the Daimyo Hakata neighborhood of Fukuoka, one of the epicenters of ramen and the birthplace of the popular Hakata style ramen.
- En: sushi restaurant that won 2 stars in Okayama Michelin 2020.
- Teppan Ku-Ya okayama: Located in front of Okayama station, it apparently started as a small takoyaki stall in 1998. You can try sea urchins, octopus and even a delicious peach steak.
How to get to Okayama
The airport is about 35 minutes north of the city center. Several buses can get you downtown from the airport to the Okayama Station.
Two streetcar lines, the Higashiyama and Sekibashi will get you around there. They depart from the Okayama station. Within the city, you can get around at a flat fare of ¥100 per trip; streetcars are covered by some of the local tickets.
What should you know before traveling to Okayama
It is important to know the conditions of traveling to Japan before learning what you can see in Okayama. According to the latest update at the end of May 2022, it is still mandatory to present a negative COVID-19 test before leaving the country, and quarantine for 7 days upon arrival.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Okayama
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- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
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