City guide · 岡山 Okayama
Okayama
Castle town of Okayama Prefecture: Crow Castle, Korakuen, and the gateway to the Seto Inland Sea
Okayama is the capital of Okayama Prefecture and an important hub on the Sanyo Shinkansen. The prefecture is known as the "Land of Sunshine," with many sunny days a year, good for unhurried walks. The black Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden across the river from it are the city's signature sights, and the castle-town streets and the island scenery of the Seto Inland Sea are not far from the city center. Other places worth a visit in the city: the cultural district around the castle, home to the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, the Okayama Orient Museum, and more, easily combined with the castle and garden for a half-day walk; and Saidaiji Kannon-in, whose naked festival, Eyo, held on the third Saturday of February each year, has more than 500 years of history.
History
How the city came to be
Okayama is the castle town of Okayama Castle: in 1573 Ukita Naoie moved into Ishiyama Castle and began rebuilding it, and in 1597 his son Ukita Hideie completed the keep of Okayama Castle; Ikeda Tsunamasa began building Korakuen Garden in 1687, and it was completed in 1700. The city was established in 1889; the keep burned down in an air raid in 1945 and the city was rebuilt after the war; the keep was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1966, and the city became a designated city in 2009.
- 1573Ukita Naoie moves into Ishiyama Castle and begins rebuilding it and laying out the castle town
- 1597Ukita Hideie completes the keep of Okayama Castle
- 1687Ikeda Tsunamasa orders the construction of Korakuen Garden
- 1700Korakuen Garden is completed
- 1889The city of Okayama is established
- June 29, 1945Okayama is hit by an air raid, and the castle keep burns down
- 1966The keep of Okayama Castle is rebuilt in reinforced concrete
- 2009The city of Okayama becomes a designated city
Stories
Stories of the city
Tsuda Nagatada builds Kōraku-en
History · Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle
Kōraku-en was a retreat for Ikeda Tsunamasa, the second lord of the Okayama domain, and its construction was led by his retainer Tsuda Nagatada. Work began in 1687 and the garden was largely complete by 1700. It was first called "Go-kōen" and only took the name Kōraku-en in 1871.
The Asahi River becomes a moat
History · Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle
When Ukita Hideie rebuilt Okayama Castle, he rerouted the main channel of the Asahi River so that it ran along the castle's north and east sides as a natural moat. The new course later caused flooding, which led to the digging of the Hyakken River for flood control. Kōraku-en on the east bank, though a garden, was also expected to help guard the castle.
Crow Castle and White Heron Castle
History · Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle
Okayama Castle's walls are clad in black-lacquered weatherboards, which earned it the name U-jō, the "Crow Castle"; it is also called Kin'u-jō. It is often contrasted with the white-walled Himeji Castle, the "White Heron Castle."
Before you go
Rules to know in Okayama
There is no tipping in Japan
Do
- Say thank you with 'arigatō gozaimashita'
Don’t
- Pressing loose change on staff
Japan is a no-tipping country and bills usually include service; if you press a tip on staff, some will politely refuse.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese table manners
Take off your shoes when you see a genkan (entrance step)
Do
- Take off your shoes at the entrance of homes, some restaurants, temples and hot-spring facilities
- If unsure, look for a shoe rack or slippers at the entrance
Don’t
- Stepping onto tatami or indoor wooden floors in shoes
It is seen as very rude.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board
Do
- Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
- Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
- Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility
Don’t
- Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train
Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
White-walled storehouses and willows line the Kurashiki River as sightseeing boats glide past, and the Ōhara Museum of Art, Japan's first privat…
Naoshima
An art island in the Seto Inland Sea: Tadao Andō's architecture, Monet's water lilies at the Chichu Art Museum, and light on the sea.