Museums and galleries in Okayama

Museums and galleries in Okayama

1. 
   SeeCastle

   Okayama Castle

   岡山城 Okayama-jō

   Popularly known as Crow Castle (烏城 U-jō), it is so named for its striking black color, rare among Japanese castles (which tend to be white, like neighboring Himeji Castle). Only a few protruding bits and the occasional lucky fish-gargoyle (金の鯱 kinnoshachihoko) are gilded. With the exception of one external turret, the current version dates from 1966, but the outside is much more accurate than most Japanese castle replicas, as the original blueprints were used to rebuild it. In the tower is a museum documenting the castle's history, although English explanations are few and far between. On the first floor of the castle, you can also make your own Bizen pottery for an extra fee.

   Closed · opens 9 am·¥300 (except during special exhibits) · Built 1346
2. 
   SeeMuseum

   Animo Museum

   アニモ・ミュージアム

   A museum established to honor Okayama native and Olympic marathon medalist Yuko Arimori. Here you can see her silver medal from Barcelona, bronze medal from Atlanta, and other Olympics memorabilia.

   Closed · opens 10 am·¥300
3. 
   SeeMuseum

   Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

   岡山県立美術館

   A large museum housing approximately 2,000 works by famous artists throughout Okayama Prefecture. The museum's permanent exhibition features art dating back as far as the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), such as work by the priest Sesshu and the swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, as well as Bizen pottery and works by more contemporary artists.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥350, discount with student ID
4. 
   SeeMuseum

   Okayama Prefectural Museum

   岡山県立博物館

   An excellent museum with a variety of artifacts excavated from various areas throughout Okayama Prefecture from prehistoric artifacts to the Edo and Meiji Periods. Some highlights of the museum are the famous Bizen swords and Bizen pottery. It's just outside the main entrance to Korakuen, so it's well worth a stop.

   Apr-Sep: Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00, Oct-Mar: Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00·¥250
5. 
   SeeMuseum

   Okayama Orient Museum

   岡山市立オリエント美術館

   An interesting museum of Middle Eastern art. The special exhibit details art and trade between China and Persia. If you can speak conversational Japanese, talk with the friendly docents; they will present some highly interesting explanations and background. However, the dates and areas are clearly marked, and the artifacts themselves are interesting enough that you don't need to have a guide to enjoy them.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥300 adults, discounts with student ID
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   SeeMuseum

   Yumeji Art Museum

   夢二郷土美術館

   A museum featuring the works of Okayama-born artist Yumeji Takehisa, a well-known artist throughout Japan. He is best known for producing paintings and sketches of beautiful women, and many such works are on display in the museum.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥700 · Wi-Fi
7. 
   SeeMuseum

   Hayashibara Museum of Art

   林原美術館

   A small museum which houses the private collection of the Ikeda Family, the former Lords of Okayama. The collection features Japanese and Chinese works, primarily calligraphy and scrolls. Pottery, beautiful textiles, samurai armor, and other works may also be on display; however, because the museum is not large enough to display the entire collection at once, the exhibits are rotated often.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥500
8. 
   DoPark

   Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Grounds

   岡山県総合グラウンド

   The Multipurpose Grounds contain a wide variety of sports facilities, including a pool (only open in July and August), tennis courts, a baseball field, gymnasium, and track and field area. It is also home to City Light Stadium where the J-League soccer team Fagiano Okayama plays. Other local teams and university teams also use the facilities. If you're interested in watching sports, check the schedule of events. There is also a small Sports Museum near the stadium. The phone number listed here is for the stadium however, each facility has its own phone number. If you need to contact a specific facility, check the website for its number.

   Hours vary by facility, event, and season·Prices vary by activity or event
9. 
   SeeHistory;local museum

   Okayama City Museum

   岡山シティミュージアム

   Formerly known as the Okayama Digital Museum, the permanent exhibit uses modern technology to showcase the city's history, local culture, and nature, but it's the special exhibits that attract most visitors. The special exhibits cover a wide range of subjects from classic famous art exhibits to interactive exhibits for children. To determine whether or not this museum is of interest, it's best to check their website to see what will be featured during your visit.

   Closed · opens 10 am·Prices vary depending on the exhibit
10. 
    SeeLiterature museum

    Kibiji Literary Museum

    吉備路文学館

    Displays of original works and transcripts from famous authors from the Okayama area. It helps to have Japanese reading ability and an interest in Japanese literature, of course. It's just north of the city center, a couple blocks east of the Nishi-gawa Canal.

    Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00·¥400
11. SeeRailway museum

    Okaden Museum & Mitooka Eiji Design

    おかでんミュージアム＋水戸岡鋭治デザイン

    The Okaden Museum is a museum dedicated to Okayama's Okaden tram. Inside you can see the tram's "station master" cat, Momo along with videos, train models, and artwork. Overall, it's more of a fun place to take children who like trains/the tram than a museum. It really doesn't have any objects or information but instead features train and other toys that kids can play with. It's at the terminus of the Higashiyama Line so outside there are out-of-use trams and you can also see the trams coming and going.

    Closed · opens 10 am·¥1000

12. SeeScience museum

    Sci-Pia Science and Humanity Museum for the Future

    岡山県生涯学習センター 人と科学の未来館サイピア

    A small space museum with various exhibits about space study, telescopes, and satellites among other things. The main draw is the planetarium which has viewings at specified times throughout the day with various videos and themes changing throughout the year.

    Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·Museum free, Planetarium ¥300

13. SeeHistory museum

    Ancient Kibi Cultural Properties Center

    岡山県古代吉備文化財センター

    A small museum housing artifacts from the ancient Kibi Kingdom. Although the information is all in Japanese, one does not need to be able to read the information to appreciate the artifacts, which are mainly clay figurines and pottery. It is located.

    Closed · opens 9 am·Free

14. See

    Japanese Fossil Museum

    日本化石資料館 nihon kaseki shiryōkan

    A small museum showcasing fossils found in Japan, particularly ammonite. They request that you call beforehand if you intend to visit.

    Wed-Sat Mon 10:00-17:00·Free

15. See

    Kitchoan Museum

    源吉兆庵本店

    A museum that features a variety of pottery, including bizen-yaki and ceramics made by the famous artist Rosanjin. Other types of art are also featured. A second location in Okayama was opened within walking distance of Okayama Station. They also have a museum in Kamakura.

    Closed · opens 10 am·¥600

16. 
    See

    Kōrakuen Garden

    後楽園

    The name means "Garden of Pleasure After", a reference to a famous Confucian quote stating that a wise ruler must attend to his subjects' needs first and only then attend to his own. Construction started 1687 and was completed 13 years later. Despite slight changes, Korakuen largely keeps its form from the Edo era, with waterfalls, tiny shrines, teahouses, miniature maple forests, a lotus pond, and even a greenhouse filled with orchids and cacti. The rare red-crested white cranes are another notable feature. They are released for flying exhibitions on special occasions throughout the year. The large wooden building called the Enyo-tei was used to host daimyo (feudal lords), Emperor Meiji, and other members of the imperial family. The view from the veranda (usually off-limits to the general public) is considered the best in the park, and the strategic location of trees and hills/mounds in the park act as a natural frame. A local ordinance prevents high-rise buildings that would encroach on this view. The roof of a temple can be seen on the side of the distant Mt. Misaoyama, but it was built to enhance the view from the porch. There are two entrances to the garden: across from the Okayama Prefectural Museum, and across the Moon-Viewing Bridge (月見橋 Tsukimi-bashi).

    Closed · opens 7:30 am·¥400
17. See

    Manekineko Art Museum

    招き猫美術館

    A museum devoted entirely to the famous good luck cats seen in many shops and restaurants throughout Japan.

    Thu-Mon 10:00-17:00·¥600

18. Do

    Okayama Dome

    岡山ドーム

    A multi-purpose space for events from indoor sports to an exhibition of embalmed bodies. It is also the site of Okayama's biggest monthly flea-market.

    Wed-Mon 9AM-9PM·Prices vary depending on the activity. For use of the sports facilities, you pay per hour

19. See

    Site of Takamatsu Castle

    備中高松城跡

    While very little remains here of any part of the castle, it has great historical importance. In 1582, Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated the ruling Mori Clan by diverting a river to flood the castle. The moat still exists, and is filled with lilies that bloom in the summer. You can also still see some of the old waterways. There is even a small museum with some artifacts and information on the site.

    Grounds always open, museum 10:00-15:00·Free

20. See

    Yahata no Sato

    やはたの里

    Three interesting yet completely unrelated sites. First up is a Yogurt Factory (ヨーグルト工房) where you can see how they make yogurt and then taste it, too. From there, the Toy Museum (おもちゃの宿) has displays of traditional Japanese toys and some for children to play with. Finally, there is the Killifish Research Center (めだかの学校), which studies the fish of the same name. Yahata no Sato is most enjoyable for those travelling with kids, particularly if they understand Japanese.

    Closed · opens 9 am·¥300, yogurt ¥150 extra

21. 
    SeeArchaeological site

    津島遺跡

    Tsushima Site (津島遺跡, Tsushima Iseki) is an archaeological site with the traces of a Yayoi period settlement, located in the Izumi neighborhood of Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, in the San'yō region of Japan. It was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1971, with the area under protection expanded in 2002.
22. SeeArt gallery

    アートスペース油亀

    北区出石町2丁目3-1

23. SeeArt gallery

    ギャラリーかしく

    1 Chome-3-52 Omotecho

24. SeeArt gallery

    玉山名史刀

    北区田町1丁目1-1 101

25. 
    SeePerson museum

    Inuyakido Memorial Hall
26. SeeArt gallery

    Gallery Gloss and Coffee

    2 Chome-10-18 Tondacho

27. SeeArt gallery

    Satellite

    2 Chome-8-17 Hokancho

28. SeeArt museum

    三沢美術

    北区表町2丁目7-53

29. SeeArt gallery

    上之町會館

    9-39 Tenjincho

30. SeeArt gallery

    円山ステッチ

    834-1 Maruyama

31. SeeArt gallery

    岡アートギャラリー

    2 Chome-2-38 Hama

32. SeeMuseum

    政田民俗資料館

    岡山県岡山市東区政津１０３２−３

33. SeeArt gallery

    石原田園ギャラリー

    東区政津1054-2

34. SeeArt gallery

    Esprit Nouveau Gallery

    表町 2-3-62 B三共ビル2F

35. SeeArt museum

    Inujima Seirensho Art Museum

    東区犬島327-5

36. SeeArt gallery

    アートスペース テトラへドロン

    表町1丁目9-44

37. SeeArt gallery

    禁酒会館ギャラリー

    北区丸の内1-1-15

38. SeeArt gallery

    芸舎

    北区辰巳18-108

39. SeeMuseum

    gallery A-zone

    2-3-10

40. SeeArt gallery

    神道山まることセンター

    岡山市北区尾上神道山

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Okayama (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).