Okayama

A unique geographical location

A unique geographical location With 700,000 inhabitants, Okayama is the capital of the prefecture. The Okayama region has its little reputation in Japan: the weather is good all year round! The mountains separating the northern part of Chûgoku from its southern part would retain all the clouds in the north of the island, consequently sparing the southern part of any rain. The region has specialized in the cultivation of varied fruits, the stars of which are peaches and grapes, respectively momo and budô in Japanese.

More than the sun, it is above all the geographical location of the city of Okayama that has made it such a prosperous city. It is in fact located on the north coast of the Seto Sea, at the crossroads of three rivers (Yoshii, Asahi, and Takahishi) and on the Sanyo road, which connects the Kyoto region to the Hiroshima region: a real crossroads.

In addition, the Great Seto Bridge, which measures 1,400 meters in length, connects the city to the island of Shikoku, making it one of the main crossing points between the two islands of the archipelago.

Peach is the flagship fruit of the region and it can be found absolutely everywhere in Okayama. Those that can be tasted today are not, however, 100% Japanese peaches, which are very hard and small, but the result of a cross made with Chinese peaches introduced in Japan in 1875. Tasteful and juicy, the Okayama peaches are a real pride for the locals.

The legend of Momotarô

But the city is also linked to one of Japan's most popular legends associated with the Okayama region. This is the story of Momotarô, a little boy sent to earth from the sky in place of the nucleus of an enormous peach to brighten the days of an old childless couple. One day Momotarô decides to go fight a demon and his band who are tyrannizing the region. On the way, he meets a monkey, a dog, and a pheasant who agree to help him in his quest. With their help, he confronts and defeats the demon, recovers his treasure, and finally returns to his adoptive parents, with whom he ends happy days.

Thus, everywhere in the city, travelers coming to visit Okayama will find the little Momotarô and his three companions. Statues and motifs representing it are scattered throughout the city and are a very popular subject for photography.

Okayama, city of the kings of Kibi

Okayama was once the center of Kibi, an independent kingdom established in the 4th century AD. Temples and remains of this disappeared kingdom are located in the northwest of the city and can be visited by bicycle. Thus, the Kibi road, which connects Okayama to the small town of Sôja, is indeed very popular with the Japanese themselves, who come for bike rides on this 15 km cycle path, thus taking advantage of the microclimate of the region, but also fields of cosmos (splendid pink flowers) or orchards of the plain.

This bike ride in the Kibi plain is above all an opportunity to discover many historical sites, including tumuli and sanctuaries.

Not to be missed in the Kibi region:

• Kibitsu Shrine, which was the main shrine for the entire Kibi Kingdom.
• Tsukuriyama Kofun (tumulus), built in the 5th century and is 24 meters high. It is surrounded by 6 other tumuli.
• Bitcû Kokubun-ji temple, which has a beautiful pagoda.

Places to visit in Okayama: the cultural area of the city

Apart from the rather lively station district, the most interesting area of Okayama is undoubtedly in Higashiyama, to the east of the city. This district is home to a cultural zone, which includes the two most famous sites of the city: Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. You will find gardens, castles, and museums along the Asahi River.

Within in the same area, you will find three exciting museums: the Okayama Museum of the Orient, the Okayama Prefectural Museum, and the Okayama Prefectural Art Museum (not to be confused!).

The Prefectural Museum displays a variety of artifacts found in different areas of Okayama Prefecture, ranging from prehistoric artifacts to the Edo (1603-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods. The art museum, meanwhile, exhibits 2,000 works by famous artists from the prefecture. The Musée de l'Orient, in another register, is interested in the art of the Near and Middle East.

In addition, from Okayama, it is possible to reach Naoshima, the island of art, the castle of Matsuyama, the picturesque village of Kurashiki, and the small ports of Tomonoura and Onomichi.

To see in Okayama:

• Okayama-jô castle
• Bikan district, Kurashiki
• Kurashiki town
• The Seto Inland Sea
• The Shikoku pilgrimage

Access to Okayama

Okayama is relatively easy to access via a medley of modes of transportation. Okayama Station in the capital is a stop on the Sanyo-Tokaido Shinkansen Line, so going to it directly from Tokyo can be done via high-speed bullet train. As a prefecture near the Kansai region, Okayama is a great place to visit following a trip to nearby major destinations. For many, a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Tokyo to Osaka is incomplete without a visit to Okayama. The Shinkansen is an option for this; however, local trains are also available. While they may take more time than the Shinkansen, they will be more affordable, and a leisurely trip through the Japanese countryside is a great detour.

Tickets can be bought individually out to Okayama, but there are also different travel pass options, including the all-encompassing National Japan Rail Pass, and regional passes, like the JR West All Area Pass and the Kansai Wide Area Pass, allow for unlimited access to JR-operated trains within the coverage area. 

Via car, from central Osaka to Okayama city is a bit under three hours, depending on the route. To get from central Kansai to Okayama, it entails cutting through Hyogo Prefecture and driving alongside the Setouchi Inland Sea Coast. 

Fly out to Okayama with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass

For many, flying out to Okayama is one of the more convenient options. From Haneda Airport, there are flights out to Izumo Enmusubi Airport in the nearby Shimane Prefecture as well as Okayama Momotaro Airport in the Kita Ward of Okayama City. One of the most economical options for air travel in Japan is the JAL Japan Explorer Pass, which covers multiple flights at a discounted rate and is ideal for travelers going to different parts of the archipelago. Japan Airlines is one of the most prominent airlines that services flights to and from Japan, and for their domestic flights, all the benefits of an international airline can be enjoyed while seeing the best of Japan. Read more details about the JAL Japan Explorer Pass here!