Prefecture guide
Okayama
岡山県
The sunny land of Korakuen garden, the canal quarter of Kurashiki and gateways to the art islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
- places to see
- 51
- town guides
- 3
- protected local foods
- 2
- traditional crafts
- 2
- Japan Heritage stories
- 8
Map of Okayama
Tap a pin to see the place, or a town name for its guide. You can switch on places to eat and stay too.
Places to see in Okayama
- Kita Ward, Okayama
Hayashibara Museum of Art
林原美術館A museum in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
備中松山城A castle in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Kinojo Castle
鬼ノ城A castle in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Bitchu Kokubun-ji Temple
備中国分寺A Buddhist temple in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Komorizuka Kofun
こうもり塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
- Tsuyama
Nakayama Shrine
中山神社A Shinto shrine in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Ibara City Hirakushi Denchu Art Museum
井原市立平櫛田中美術館A museum in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
- Kurashiki
Kurashiki Art Sword Museum
倉敷刀剣美術館A museum in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Bizen Kokubun-ji Temple Ruins
備前国分寺跡A historic site in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Yoshikawa-hachimangu
吉川八幡宮A Shinto shrine in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Odara Yosemiya Site
大多羅寄宮A historic site in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Hata Temple Pagoda Ruins
幡多廃寺塔跡A historic site in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Town guides in Okayama
The towns with the most to see, each with its own guide.
Taste of Okayama
Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.
Traditional crafts of Okayama
Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.
This week's weather (nearest forecast: Takamatsu)
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 27°CLow 20°C
Sun
25 Oct
Cloudy
High 25°CLow 21°C
Rain 90%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 23°CLow 17°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 24°CLow 15°C
Rain 50%
Warm: T-shirts and breathable clothes, plus a light layer for air-conditioned trains and shops.
Explore by interest
Japan Heritage stories
Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.
- Fukiya: the birthplace of Japan Red
- Japan's old schools: where a nation learned to read
- Kitamaebune: the merchant ships that made Japan's port towns rich
- Okayama, where the Momotaro legend was born
- The Six Ancient Kilns: pottery born and raised in Japan
- Wakanoura: a bay of views that inspired poets
Good to know
- Korakuen is one of Japan's three great gardens, next to Okayama Castle.
- Uno port in Okayama has ferries to Naoshima.
- Okayama is a Shinkansen hub with trains to Shikoku and the San'in coast.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Okayama?
Okayama is on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Hiroshima, so it is easy to reach from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It is also the hub for trains and buses to Shikoku and the rest of the Chugoku region, and the gateway to the art island of Naoshima.
What is there to see in Okayama?
Korakuen, one of Japan's three great gardens, next to black Okayama Castle; the old merchant canal district of Kurashiki; and Kojima, home of Japanese denim. In winter, the Naked Man Festival at Saidaiji Temple draws big crowds.
What should I eat in Okayama?
Okayama is fruit country. Try the soft white peaches and Muscat of Alexandria grapes in summer, kibi dango rice cake sweets, and in winter Seto Inland Sea oysters, often cooked into okonomiyaki.
More of Chugoku
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.