OKAYAMA PREFECTURE

GUARANTEED LOWEST RATES

OKAYAMA MAIN CITIES and TOWNS

Kurashiki is a historic city which has some well preserved merchant areas. Kurashiki is located close to Okayama.

Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture Chugoku, on the southern coast of Honshu. Okayama is famous for having one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Korakuen Garden, the beautiful black Okayama Castle, and historical town Kurashiki.

OKAYAMA CASTLES

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is a hilltop style Japanese Castle located in Takahashi (Okayama Prefecture) and is famous for being the Japanese Castle built at the highest altitude above sea level. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is a different castle to the similarly named Matsuyama Castle. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, also known as Takahashi Castle, was originally built on a near by mountain in 1240AD. It was then moved to its current site on Mt Gagyu in 1331. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle was then almost completely redesigned and rebuilt in 1683. Although the castle fell into disrepair it has been restored to close to its 1683 condition.

Okayama Castle, Okayama, is popularly known as Crow Castle as it is painted a striking black. Okayama Castle is located next to Korakuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

Tsuyama Castle is a Japanese Castle in Tsuyama Okayama Prefecture. Tsuyama Castle was first completed in 1444, then under went major expansions between 1603 to 1616. Tsuyama Castle was then largely demolished in 1874. The donjon of today's Tsuyama Castle is a 2005 reconstruction.

OKAYAMA MUSEUMS and ART GALLERIES

Ivy School is an Art Gallery in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

Japanese Folk Toy Museum has a wide range of collection of folk toys made throughout Japan from 18th to 20th century. There are a gallery, shop and cafe near the courtyard. Japanese Folk Toy Museum is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

Opened in 1948, Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft has a collection of objects made by ordinary people for daily use including pottery and glasses. Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

Momotaro is a famous Japanese folk tale based in Okayama. He fought against demons with assistant of a dog, monkey and pheasant. Opened in 2007, Momotaro Karakuri Hakubutsukan is a museum where you can learn everything about Momotaro.

Established in 1930, Ohara Museum of Art is the first Japanese private western art museum. From western oil paintings to modern Japanese art, and oriental to eastern antiques, Ohara Museum of Art has a wide range of artwork. The collections include 'Annunciation' of El Greco and 'Water Lily' of Claude Monet. Ohara Museum of Art is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

Yumiko Igarashi is one of the most famous Japanese Manga artists. Yumiko Igarashi Museum has a collection of her works and various figures as well as a shop. The Yumiko Igarashi Museum is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

OKAYAMA LANDMARKS

Built in 1716, Inoue House is the oldest house in Kurashiki Bikan Area. Inoue House is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Kojima Torajiro was a Western-style painter who also collected the artworks for Ohara Museum of Art on behalf of the owner, Ohara Magosaburo. You can see his works at here in Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall, in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

'Kurabou' is an abbreviation of 'Kurashiki Boseki' which is one of the oldest and largest fiber manufacturer in Japan. The company was established in 1888 in what is now called Kurabou Memorial Hall, which is part of Kurashiki Ivy Square. You can learn the history of Kurabou as well as fiber industry in Japan here at Kurabou Memorial Hall, in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

Kurashiki Ivy Square is a group old red brick buildings covered with ivy, in the Kurashiki Bikan Area, used to be a spinning factory built in 1889. Now they are turned into a hotel, restaurants, museums and a few galleries selling crafts.

Opened in 2009, Kurashiki Monogatarikan is a community center both for the locals and tourists to the Kurashiki Bikan Area. The buildings were built in 18th century. Various events are held throughout the year.

Ohashi Family was a wealthy merchant in Kurashiki in Edo Period. Built in 1796, this house has a large gate, which also functions as a terraced-house and fire prevention structure such as clay walls and clay warehouses. Ohashi House is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Yurinso (Ohara House Annex) is the second house of the Ohara family, built by Magosaburo Ohara for his wife. The uniquely baked roof tiles look green when viewed from certain angles, and it is therefore called the 'Green Palace'. Yurinso is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area.

OKAYAMA GARDENS and PARKS

Kakuzan Park, located in Tsuyama Okayama Prefecture, is famous for its cherry blossom and considered one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Kakuzan Park also features the reconstructed Tsuyama Castle.

Korakuen Garden is one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens. Korakuen Garden is located next to Okayama Castle, Okayama. Korakuen Garden is designated as a "Special Place of Scenic Beauty".

OKAYAMA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS

Originally built in 1917, this western style building used to be Kurashiki Town Hall. Kurashiki Kan now serves as a tourist information center for the Kurashiki Bikan Area. It is designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property.

OKAYAMA THEATRES and CONCERT HALLS

Music Box Concert Hall, located in the Kurashiki Bikan Area, presents 30-minute concerts on 30 antique organs, pianos and music boxes from Europe, US and Japan. Each concert starts on the hour every hour.

OKAYAMA LAKES and BAYS

Kurashiki River in the Kurashiki Bikan Area in Okayama Prefecture was busy with the traffic of many cargo boats in the Edo Period. Today you can take the nostalgic Kurashiki River Boat ride to experience the old days in Kurashiki Bikan Area.

OKAYAMA TRAIN STATIONS

JR Kurashiki Station is the main train station servicing the popular history Kurashiki Bikan Area.