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.