Okayama
Discover Okayama
Okayama (Japanese: 岡山市 Okayama-shi) is a major transit hub for western Japan. But with white peaches, a brooding black castle, and the famous garden of Kōrakuen, there are plenty of reasons to catch a later train and get out of the station to explore. Among the attractions of Okayama, only Kōrakuen is widely known. Many travelers only pass through on the Shinkansen as they travel between Kansai and Hiroshima without giving Okayama any thought. But one key unlocks the city's unique charm: Momotarō, the Peach Boy.
What to Experience in Okayama
Taste of Okayama...
Kibi dango (吉備団子) are sweet millet-flour dumplings. According to the legend, Momotaro gave his companions kibi dango, and they helped him defeat the demons. Whether or not you'll like kibi dango enough to run off and fight demons will vary by personal taste, but they certainly are a tasty treat. The name is a bit of a pun too, as kibi means both "millet" and the ancient kingdom of Kibi, which covered a large area of present-day Okayama prefecture. Not surprisingly, going along with the "peach boy" theme, one of the famous fruits grown in and around Okayama is the white peach (白桃 hakutō). Okayama is also well known for grapes (葡萄 budō), particularly muscat, which have been grown here since 1886 and command 95% of the Japanese market. Known as the "Queen of Fruits", they're priced to match at ¥2000 to ¥10,000 a bunch, while pione grapes can go for as little as ¥1000. The best season to eat muscats is the beginning of October, but the best choice for a souvenir are the grape sherbets, jellies, and wines, which keep for longer and are easier to get through customs. Mamakari (ままかり), a herring-like fish, is another specialty that can be enjoyed throughout Okayama, as they are fished from the Seto Inland Sea. Another local delicacy is sawara (鰆), a white-fleshed fish translated into English alternatively as "trout" or "horse mackerel".
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Okayama into what it is today.
Okayama's documented history tends to get overshadowed by its folklore history, but of course it exists. The area has been one of the most important in Japan for centuries. In ancient times, the modern city was part of the Kibi Kingdom (吉備国 kibi no kuni). Situated between the Yamato to the east and Korea and other Japanese tribes to the west, the Kibi Kingdom excised a great amount of control over trade between the regions. At its peak, the Kibi Kingdom was said to have been equal in power to the Yamato and the large kofun (burial mounds) that still exist in the Kibi Plains are a testament to that. In 645 AD the Kibi Kingdom was dissolved into four separate provinces; Bingo, Bitchu, Bizen, and Mimasaka. Most of modern Okayama City fell within Bizen Province. Development of the area into a large, unified city is accredited to Ukita Naoie who built up the domain as a castle town with Okayama as its capital. It was the same year he commissioned Okayama Castle to be constructed, although it was not completed until 1597. The Ukita continued to rule until they found themselves on the losing side in the Battle of Sekigahara. Kobayakawa Hideaki, who betrayed Ukita Hideie at Sekigahara, was given control of Okayama but he died after only 2 years as its leader, so the territory was awarded to Ikeda Tadetsugu, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandsons....
Climate
Okayama is known as the "Land of Sunshine". The city is guarded by mountains which often take the rainfall before it can reach the city, so compared to the surrounding prefectures and most of the country, Okayama has more sunny days. It is not uncommon for it to be raining in the surrounding areas while Okayama is merely cloudy or even sunny. Likewise, snow is uncommon in the winter. The Okayama dialect (岡山弁) is quite different from standard Japanese, with several vocabulary and sound-related distinctions. Some examples of its unique points include changing the standard da copula to ja (e.g., daijoubu da ("I'm/It's okay") is raku ja in the local dialect. Some other common Okayama-specific vocabulary include words like eroo or buchi (standard Japanese: totemo, meaning "very"), bokkee and banko (standard Japanese: sugoi, meaning "great/amazing") and oidensee (standard Japanese: irasshaimase, "welcome").
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsIf you choose to fly to Kansai International Airport (KIX), there is a bus that departs every 2-3 hours that can take you directly to Okayama from the airport in 3 hr 40 min for ¥4750. It is faster (2 hr), but more expensive (¥8320 reserved seating), to take the JR Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka, and transfer to the Shinkansen to Okayama station (2 or 3 stops on the Nozomi or Sakura; trains likely bound for Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata or Kagoshima-Chuo). Not only is this option faster, JR services are much more frequent than the bus. Okayama is a major stop on the San'yo Shinkansen. All trains passing through Chugoku stop at Okayama. Nozomi trains depart Tokyo at 20-minute intervals between 6:00 and 20:30, reaching Okayama in as little as 3 hr 13 min (¥17660 reserved); one Hikari per hour makes the trip in 4 hr 15 min (¥17130 reserved; free with the Japan Rail Pass). Hikari and Sakura trains also make frequent runs, stopping at Okayama between Osaka, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Fares for public transport can either be paid in cash or by using an IC card. All major Japanese IC cards including Pasmo, Suica and Icoca are accepted. There is also a local Hareca Card that gives a generous 2% bonus when topped up, but it cannot be used anywhere outside Okayama and is thus not a great option for visitors. If paying cash, board trams and buses at the rear, take a boarding ticket, and pay your fare at the front when you disembark. The driver will not give change, but there is a machine on the tram that will change coins. Prepaid bus cards can also be used on the trams. Two convenient tram lines of Okayama Denki Kido run from the east side of JR Okayama Station. The Higashiyama line runs along Momotaro-Odori to Okayama Symphony Hall (stopping at "Shiroshita" tram stop, which is the closest stop to Okayama Castle), and then turns south towards the prefectural government office before winding towards the terminus.
Where to Stay
Additional budget options are available in Kurashiki, which is a 15 minute train ride west of Okayama. The two Internet cafes close to Tenmaya Bus Station, Megalo and Popeye, are open 24 hours and allow customers to stay overnight for around ¥2000. Showers and light snacks are available, though there isn't much space for luggage. There are a couple internet cafes near Okayama Station. Others are scattered about the city. There are post offices on both sides of Okayama Station as well as by Shiroshita Tram Stop that are convenient for travelers. Open weekdays only. Okayama is also home to the Central Post Office, which is open later on weekdays and also has weekend and holiday hours. Okayama is a good place to launch day-trips to most of Chugoku and even Shikoku, as it is the regional transportation hub. Within Okayama prefecture you will find: And in neighboring prefectures, but within day-trip distances are:
Money & Budget
Kibi dango (吉備団子) are sweet millet-flour dumplings. According to the legend, Momotaro gave his companions kibi dango, and they helped him defeat the demons. Whether or not you'll like kibi dango enough to run off and fight demons will vary by personal taste, but they certainly are a tasty treat. The name is a bit of a pun too, as kibi means both "millet" and the ancient kingdom of Kibi, which covered a large area of present-day Okayama prefecture. Not surprisingly, going along with the "peach boy" theme, one of the famous fruits grown in and around Okayama is the white peach (白桃 hakutō). Okayama is also well known for grapes (葡萄 budō), particularly muscat, which have been grown here since 1886 and command 95% of the Japanese market.
Language & Talk
The Okayama dialect (岡山弁) is quite different from standard Japanese, with several vocabulary and sound-related distinctions. Some examples of its unique points include changing the standard da copula to ja (e.g., daijoubu da ("I'm/It's okay") is raku ja in the local dialect. Some other common Okayama-specific vocabulary include words like eroo or buchi (standard Japanese: totemo, meaning "very"), bokkee and banko (standard Japanese: sugoi, meaning "great/amazing") and oidensee (standard Japanese: irasshaimase, "welcome"). Though the Okayama dialect is used by men and women, it is thought (even by some locals) to sound somewhat "rough", and even unladylike when used by younger women.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Okayama
Okayama, Japan
A boat travels through the canals of Kurashiki in Japan. October 2023.
a pagoda in the middle of a lake surrounded by trees
people riding white and brown boat during daytime
Beautiful garden with a lake and clear sky.
concrete bridge by the sea
a row of buildings sitting on the side of a street
Traditional japanese castle surrounded by lush green trees
brown wooden round table with black round ornament
a garden filled with lots of fake flowers
Okayama, Japan
A boat travels through the canals of Kurashiki in Japan. October 2023.
a pagoda in the middle of a lake surrounded by trees