Okayama Guide: Why You Should Add This City To Your Japan Itinerary
Okayama (岡山市) is one of those cities that’s easy to overlook when planning a trip through western Japan, but it shouldn’t be. Once a castle town, Okayama is known for its cultural heritage, from its ties to one of Japan’s most famous legends to one of the country’s most beautiful landscape gardens. Conveniently located between Hiroshima and the Kansai region, it makes a perfect stop to break up the journey and it’s also well-connected to nearby destinations, making it a practical hub for a few easy day trips.
I’ve stayed in Okayama twice, and in this guide, I’ll share what I discovered along the way, along with practical tips to help you plan your own visit.
How to Get to Okayama City
The easiest way to reach Okayama is by shinkansen, arriving at Okayama Station:
From Hiroshima: it takes 40 minutes via the Sanyo Shinkansen and costs around ¥6000
From Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station): 50 minutes, around ¥6000
From Kyoto: 1 hour, around ¥7000
These routes are fully covered by transport passes like the Japan Rail Pass or other regional passes like the JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass or the JR Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass.
If you're looking for a more affordable way to travel, you could also consider taking an express bus or overnight bus to Okayama from Tokyo or other major cities. You can check out my Japan Saving Tips article to learn more about this way of traveling.
Best Things to Do in Okayama
1.Visit Korakuen Garden, One of Japan’s Three Great Landscape Gardens
Considered as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, together with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in Mito, Korakuen (後楽園) is a beautiful landscape garden dating back from the Edo period. The garden is very well kept, lush and has large open spaces. It also offers beautiful views of the nearby Okayama castle. There are cute bridges and peaceful walking paths and you can easily spend 1-2 hours exploring this vast garden or relaxing at a traditional teahouse.
Korakuen Garden Information
🕒 Opening Hours: 7:30am to 6:00 pm
🎟️ Price: ¥500
🌐 Website: Korakuen Garden
2. Admire Okayama Castle
Also known as Ujo, or “crow castle” due to its black exterior, Okayama Castle (岡山城) was originally built in the Edo period and destroyed during World War II. You can admire and visit its replica rebuilt in 1966. It’s personally one of my favorite Japanese castles: the castle looks impressive and beautiful from afar, siting on the banks of the Asahi River, it is less crowded than other castles in major cities like Osaka, Himeji or Hiroshima, you can visit the interior turned into a museum and admire views of Okayama city from the top floor.
✨ TRAVELY TIP: My favorite views of Okayama castle were from Ishiyama Park (石山公園) and the bridge connecting Korakuen and Okayama castle called Yuejian bridge.
Okayama Castle Information
🕒 Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (last admission at 5:00 pm)
🎟️ Price: ¥500
🌐 Website: Okayama Castle
3. Learn About Momotaro’s Legend
As you wander through Okayama city, you’ll quickly notice the many references to Momotaro, the hero of one of Japan's most well-known folktales. As soon as you exit the station, you will see a bronze statue of Momotaro and his fellow companions, a monkey, a dog and a pheasant. You’ll spot similar references throughout the city, from decorative manhole covers to statues, pamphlets, posters, and local souvenirs.
According to the legend, Momotaro, born from a giant peach discovered by an elderly couple, sets off on a journey to defeat a group of ogres on a distant island. Along the way, he befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, who join him in exchange for millet dumplings. Together, they defeat the ogres and return home with treasure, making Momotaro a symbol of courage, friendship, and generosity that still shapes Okayama’s identity today.
Other Things to See And Do Around Okayama
In addition, Okayama makes a great base for a few easy day trips, all within a short distance:
Kibitsu Jinja: Located just outside the city, this historic shrine is known for its long covered corridor and its connection to the Momotaro legend. It’s a quick and easy escape from the city that could be part of a 1-day Okayama itinerary.
Kurashiki: only 15 minutes by train, Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter is perfect for a relaxed half-day. I’ve really enjoyed exploring this area, with its canals, white-walled storehouses, cute shops and small cafés. I only spent a few hours and wished I could have stayed overnight, so I plan on visiting again to be able to write a detailed guide on Kurashiki.
Naoshima, an art island famous for the Yayoi Kusama pumpkins and Benesse Art Site. It requires a bit more planning, but it’s still doable as a day trip from Okayama, or as a stop on your way to Takamatsu and Shikoku traveling by ferry.
Kibitsu Jinja
Naoshima
Indeed, through the ferry stoping at Naoshima or by train, Okayama is also a convenient gateway to Shikoku:
Just about an hour away by train, Takamatsu is another city that I highly recommend visiting, known for its laid-back atmosphere, Sanuki udon, and beautiful garden.
Kotohira-gu shrine (Kompira-san), a beautiful mountaintop shrine with over 1,300 stone steps. Located in the town of Kotohira, it’s about 1 hour by train from Takamatsu.
➡️ Read more of my detailed itineraries and travel guides in Shikoku.
Where to Stay in Okayama
I stayed at Okayama Koraku Hotel and can recommend it as a convenient and comfortable budget-friendly option in Okayama. Alternatively, I’d also recommend Dormy Inn Okayama Hot Springs. It’s one of my favorite hotel chains in Japan, with an amazing value for the money. What I like most about this chain are the public hot springs, as well as the free night ramen and ice cream and other complimentary amenities.
➡️ For more accommodation options in Okayama, you can check Agoda and Booking to find the best deals and locations that suit your travel plans.
How to Get Around Okayama
A great thing about Okayama is that it’s compact and walkable. I personally just explored the city’s main attractions on foot, but local trains and buses make getting to places like Kibitsu jinja or Kurashiki easy. I used Google Maps to plan routes and check bus times.
Tips to Save Money in Okayama
If you’re planning to visit multiple attractions, it’s worth looking into combination tickets: you can buy a pass that includes entry to Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle, and nearby museums, which works out cheaper than paying for each separately.
For a broader range of activities, the Have Fun in OKAYAMA Pass 1 Week Free Pass gives you access to multiple attractions across the prefecture over seven days. You can purchase it together with the Kansai Wide Area Pass, a pass I’ve personally used to travel around the Kansai region. This 5-day rail pass covers unlimited travel on JR trains (including certain Shinkansen lines) across a wide area, from the Kansai region to Okayama.
Conclusion
I’ve visited Okayama twice and genuinely enjoyed each stay. The city’s main attractions are located close to each other, so it can be either a quick stop on your itinerary, or can be combined with exploring more of Okayama Prefecture or other nearby destinations. Hopefully, this guide has given you a few ideas and inspired you to add a place to your itinerary you might not have considered before.
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