Sights and landmarks in Okayama
168 sights worth seeing in Okayama: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 168.
Sights and landmarks in Okayama
SeeCastleOkayama 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
SeeMuseumAnimo 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
SeeMuseumOkayama 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
SeeMuseumOkayama 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
SeeMuseumOkayama 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
SeeMuseumYumeji 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
SeeMuseumHayashibara 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
SeeGardenHandayama Botanical Garden
岡山市半田山植物園
A botanical garden filled with various types of flowers. It's particularly beautiful during the spring cherry blossom season; however, one can easily enjoy this garden anytime of the year. It's a 10-minute walk from Hokaiin Station on the JR Tsuyama Line. There are also buses from JR Okayama Station.
Wed-Mon 09:00-16:30¥308
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Ikeda Zoo
池田動物園
Ikeda Zoo offers many of the typical zoo animals: elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, and a variety of birds and monkeys. The most unique animals here are perhaps the tapirs and the red pandas. It's a short distance northwest of JR Okayama Station.
Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-17:30, Nov-Mar: daily 09:00-17:00¥1080 for adults, ¥840 for high school students, ¥630 for middle school and elementary school students, and ¥315 for children over 3 years of age
SeeHistory;local museumOkayama 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 amPrices vary depending on the exhibit
SeeLiterature museumKibiji 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
- 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
- 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 09:00-17:00Museum free, Planetarium ¥300
- 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 amFree
SeeMemorial点字ブロック発祥の地
Tactile paving (also called tenji blocks (点字ブロック), truncated domes, detectable warnings, tactile tiles, tactile ground surface indicators, tactile walking surface indicators, or detectable warning surfaces) is a system of textured ground surface indicators found at roadsides (such as at curb cuts), by and on stairs, and on railway station platforms, to assist pedestrians who are visually impaired. Tactile warnings provide a very distinctive surface pattern of truncated domes, cones or bars, detectable by a long cane or underfoot, which are used to alert the vision-impaired of approaching streets and hazardous surface or grade changes. There is disagreement between the design and user…
- SeeMemorial
Kibitsu Shrine
吉備津神社
Last rebuilt in 1425, this shrine is important for two reasons: it was once the head shrine of the entire Kibi Kingdom, and legend holds that Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto fought the demon Ura on this site. He shot arrows at the demon, but the demon evaded his attacks by throwing boulders at the arrows. Finally, the prince shot two arrows at the same time, hitting the demon directly in the eye (but not yet killing him - read on).
Free
- SeeMemorial
Kibitsuhiko Shrine
吉備津彦神社
This shrine, rebuilt in 1697, is dedicated to Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, and has a unique architectural style. To get there, turn right after exiting the station and cross the train tracks.
Free
- 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 10:00-17:00Free
- 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
SeeKōrakuen 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
- 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
- See
Omizuen Garden
近水園
One of Okayama's largest gardens, Omizuen belonged to Lord Kinoshita of the Ashimori Clan. The garden was designed in the style of Kobori Enshu, famous man of culture.
Tue-Sun 09:00-16:30Free
- See
RSK Rose Garden
RSKバラ園
Yet another excellent place in Okayama to view flowers (best in May and June). As the name suggests, this garden features roses, and it is the largest rose garden in Japan. Although the roses are the main attraction, there are also other blossoming plants, such as irises, peonies, and plum trees.
Closed · opens 9:30 am¥600
- See
Saidai-ji
西大寺
This is the location of the famous Naked Man Festival (see "Do" section). The priest Yasutaka founded this temple. It is said that while meditating in Hasedera Temple, an oracle came to him instructing him to repair the Kannon Hall in Bizen Kanaoka. He immediately departed for the West. On his way, he met a dragon deity carrying a rhinoceros horn who told him to build the temple and then vanished. The priest did as he was told and called it Saidaiji (犀戴寺) "rhino temple", but the characters were later changed by retired Emperor Gotoba to its current spelling (西大寺) after prayer-writing revealed to him the new name.
Closed · opens 9 amFree
- See
Former Ashimori Domain Samurai Residence
旧足守藩侍屋敷遺構 kyu ashimori-han samurai yashiki ikou
This building was once the residence of one of the most influential samurai in the region.
Tue-Sun 09:00-16:30Free
- See
Former Ashimori Merchant, Fujita House
旧足守商家藤田千年治邸 kyu ashimori-shouka fujita sennenji tei
Formerly a soy sauce factory, visitors can roam the building and see the tools used to make soy sauce.
Tue-Sun 09:00-16:30Free
- See
Saijo Inari
最上稲荷
Considered to be one of the Three Great Inari Shrines of Japan, Saijo Inari is a large shrine complex built on the side of Mount Ryuo. Legend has it that the shrine was commissioned by the priest Hoon-Daishi after prayers to Saijo (who came to him as a white fox in a dream) successfully cured two emperors of seemingly fatal illnesses. Buses run from outside the east exit of JR Okayama Station — disembark at 'Inariyama'.
Free
- 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 10:00-15:00Free
- See
Sogen-ji
曹源寺
A large Zen temple at the base of Mt. Misaoyama at the end of the path between Tendai-ji (right side) and Daiko-in (left side). It is a well known place for western Zen students. Free meditation sessions from 08:00-09:00 most Sundays are usually followed by a simple tea ceremony. The garden behind the temple is famous for having one of the largest cherry blossom trees in Okayama and a lake which beautifully reflects the tree and the surrounding countryside. This garden was designed by the same architect who built Korakuen. Although the mountain is near the center of the city, the area around it maintains a rural atmosphere. It can be very pleasant to hike over around this hill and visit the various small temples and shrines. If Zen meditation at Sogen-ji gives you a backache, you can relieve your aches and pains at a ganban onsen (rock hot spring.) This style of hot spring does not have a large bathing area but instead has gravel and hard rock beds where steam passes up from under you or down from above like a sauna.
Closed · opens 6 am¥100
- 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
- See
Bitchu Kokubunji
備中国分寺
The Kokubunji temples were designated by Emperor Shomu as provincial temples throughout the nation. This one represents the Bitchu area (western Okayama Prefecture). The 5-story pagoda, constructed in 1844, is one of the highlights of the Kibi Trail. The area surrounding the temple is known as the Kibiji Fudoki-no-oka Prefectural Forest Park. To visit without travelling the trail, catch a bus from Soja.
Free
- See
Hokai-in
法界院
One of the temples of the Chugoku 33 Kannon Temple Pilgrimage. It's a short distance from Handayama Botanical Garden.
Free
- See
Koikui Shrine
鯉喰神社
If you walk the trail with no prior knowledge of the area or the sites, Koikui Shrine will seem quite disappointing in comparison to the other shrines. However, Koikui is much more interesting than it appears. After the demon was shot by the prince's arrows, he transformed into a carp and swam away. The prince turned into a cormorant and followed him. Koikui Shrine is located on the site where the prince is believed to have caught and killed the demon.
Free
- See
Komori-zuka Burial Mound
こうもり塚古墳
Although the mound is quite small, it contains the one thing missing from the Tsukuriyama mound: a look inside the tomb. This tomb is believed to date back to the 6th century. Aside from this, not much else is known about it.
Free
- See
Tsukuriyama Ancient Burial Mound
造山古墳
Along the trail there are actually two burial mounds (古墳 kofun) with the name "Tsukuriyama" that can be distinguished only when viewing the characters used to write the names. The tomb on the Okayama side of the trail (造山古墳) is the most interesting. This burial mound, believed to have been completed in the fifth century, was the largest in the nation at the time it was built. Because the tomb within the mound has never been excavated, it is not certain who is actually buried here; however, it is believed to be one of the former rulers of the Kibi Kingdom, as tombs of this size were reserved only for those in the highest positions. Although the best view of Japanese burial mounds is always from above (to see the key-hole shape), at this mound, visitors are permitted to walk on top of it. Atop the mound there is a shrine.
Free
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.
- SeeArchaeological site
尾上車山古墳
Onoe Kurumayama Kofun (尾上車山古墳) is a Kofun period burial mound located in the Onoe neighborhood of Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, in the San'yō region of Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1972. It is also called the "Girigiriyama Kofun" (ぎりぎり山古墳).
- SeeArchaeological site
神宮寺山古墳
Jingūjiyama Kofun (神宮寺山古墳) is a Kofun period burial mound located in the Nakai neighborhood of Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, in the San'yō region of Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1959.
- SeeRuins
大多羅寄宮跡
The Ōdara Yosemiya (大多羅寄宮) was a Shinto shrine located in the Ōdara neighbourhood of what is now Naka-ku in the city of Okayama, in the San'yō region of Japan. The shrine no longer exists, but its ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1927.
- SeeArchaeological site
湊茶臼山古墳
1364-2 Minato
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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).