Things to do in Okayama Japan: Castles and Culture
Okayama Japan is a medium-sized city in the south of Japan. It is full of peach innuendos, famous castles, and shrines. As we didn’t know much about the city we decided to go on this day trip with Kati (Michael’s sister) and Jarren (Michael’s brother) who happened to be in Japan. Let’s visit Okayama through our lens.
Three…Two…One…Ikou!
Kibitsu Shrine
Kibitsu Shrine is an ancient shrine just a few train stops outside of Okayama. It dates back to the early 1400s and is famous for having a massive 360m long tunnel along the mountainside, with beautiful flowers. This temple is the site of the mythical slaying of Ura, the demon from the tale of Momotaro the Peach Boy, one of Japan’s most famous myths of which the town is very proud.
As we walked up to the shrine, the details jumped out at us, and we felt like we were in an anime. The construction is ancient, and the serene gardens and intricate design had us in awe. Because it was the new year, the shrine was very active. Inside there were people praying and giving coins as offerings.
Although it is not the largest shrine, it is definitely the biggest in the region. We spent about an hour and a half, but you could easily spend longer if you are a fan of Japanese religion, as the shrine is quite large and has several stations to learn about the Shinto religion. There are several smaller gardens and temple complexes, as well as a smaller shrine across the street called Uga Shrine with a lovely pond and garden.
We highly recommend this shrine if you only have time for one shrine in Okayama, as it is huge and renowned for its beauty. This was Michael’s first time at an Asian shrine, and it was a great introduction.
Afterward, we took the train back to Okayama station and grabbed a bite to eat at Saboten, a popular chain for tonkatsu in Japan. The food was amazing, and like many Japanese train stations, Okayama Station has lots of food options and convenience stores. Outside of the station is a statue of the famous Momotaro.
Okayama Castle
Okayama Castle is the key point in the city. Dating back to the 1600s, the castle was destroyed in 1945 during World War II and reconstructed. You can still see many of the original walls of the castle as you walk the grounds. The main tower is the focal point and can be seen from far away throughout the city, making it one of the best photo spots in Okayama.
We were struck by the architecture and history of the building. The site was used as far back as 1350. The castle has a look between a shrine and a tower with its beautiful tiered roof design.
Okayama Castle is relatively small, but it is a high point of the city and worth a visit. You can expect to spend 30 minutes to an hour. The area is easily accessible by street car which runs from the train station down past the castle. The street car only accepts transportation cards and coins.
Okayama Korakuen
Just across the river from Okayama Castle is Okayama Korakuen. The garden was constructed during the Edo period and features beautiful rolling hills, temples, an aviary, and calming ponds. There are many events throughout the year so be sure to check the event schedule on their website to prepare for your visit.
We’ve been to many parks throughout Asia and this one felt special. Even though it was winter the park had several beautiful flowers and stunning ponds. It was a very relaxing way to experience a small Japanese city.
Because it is right across from Okayama Castle we recommend doing these two activities together. You can expect to spend about an hour at the gardens, more if you’re able to attend an event. Note that this is not a park and you are not allowed to sit down in the grass, so plan on a nature visit, not a picnic.
AEON Mall
We ended our day at AEON Mall. AEON is a popular chain of malls in Japan, and this is the main one just a block away from the train station. This is a large mall with plenty of shopping, food, entertainment, and events.
We stopped to get conveyor belt sushi. Unfortunately, due to troublemaking teens, Japan no longer has open conveyor belt sushi like this. These days the sushi still comes on a conveyor, but only what you order and directly to you. We are glad to have experienced the original conveyor sushi when we did. The experience is uniquely Japanese and was a fun time, the sushi was good as well, but let’s be honest, were weren’t there for quality sushi.
Afterward, we went to an arcade to try our hand at Taiko Drum. This is a very popular rhythm game where you beat a drum along to a song. It’s hard but fun, and Jarren appeared to be a master at it, leaving us in the dust.
Lastly, we went to Starbucks to hang out before Kati and Jarren had to take their train home. Overall, the mall was very nice and had lots to do. Not only is it close to the station but was a great place to hang out after the sun went down. After one last “Kanpai!” we headed back to the station and saw them off.
Final Thoughts
Okayama is very different from the main cities in Japan. It’s just large enough to have plenty to do for a few days, but small enough to feel cozy and livable. We really enjoyed our time, and think it would be a great day trip from Osaka.
