Okayama (prefecture)
Discover Okayama (prefecture)
Okayama Prefecture (岡山県 Okayama-ken) is in the western Chugoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. With more sunny days and fewer rainy days than most other prefectures, Okayama is nicknamed the Land of Sunshine (晴れの国 hare no kuni). When it's raining in the surrounding prefectures, it is not uncommon for Okayama to be merely cloudy or even sunny, which is great news for travelers. The weather has also made Okayama a famous fruit region. Muscat grapes and peony grapes are well-known local fruits. Peaches are also particularly famous. The prefecture has produced a handful of its own varieties of white peaches which are often considered to be the best peaches in the nation. Peaches are also special as Okayama is also known as the place where the Momotaro (Peach boy) folktale originated. Those with an interest in the story can visit many sites associated with it around the capital, and those with an interest in the fruits should seek out one of the many fruit parfait restaurants and cafes.
Taste of Okayama (prefecture)...
As you might expect from a grape-growing region, Okayama is famous for wine (at least in Japan). The Sapporo Okayama Winery in Akaiwa is a popular place to sample and purchase local wines. There is a Kirin Beer Factory in Okayama, as well, which can be toured. For hotels, Okayama has an abundance of choices, with options for all budgets. Kurashiki also has many options. For most tourists in the southern part of the prefecture staying in one of these two cities will be most convenient, although there are accommodations available in most of the other cities, as well. In the northern region, Tsuyama has the most options. There are also hotels and ryokans in each of the famous onsen areas for those who want to relax in a more traditional setting.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options34.756944133.8552781 Okayama Airport (岡山空港 OKJ). Has flights to Tokyo (1 hr), Sapporo (2 hrs) and Naha (2 hrs). There are also international flights to Shanghai and Seoul (both 1.5 hrs), Dalian, Beijing, and Guam. Okayama is a major train hub in Western Japan. All trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line stop at Okayama Station. Kodama trains also stop at Shin-Kurashiki Station in Kurashiki. Anyone traveling by train from Shikoku must travel through Okayama from Sakaide on the Marine Liner. The Chugoku Expressway passes through Tsuyama and Niimi in the north, and the Sanyo Expressway travels through the southern portion through the Bizen area (including Okayama City) and southern Bitchu area. The Chugoku Expressway begins in Nishinomiya and the Sanyo Expressway branches off from it in northern Kobe. Both terminate in Shimonoseki in the west. Okayama Station is connected to nearly every part of the prefecture....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Okayama Station is connected to nearly every part of the prefecture. The Tsuyama Line connects it to the northern Mimasaka Region, the Hakubi Line goes up to the northern parts of the Bitchu Region and the Sanyo Line serves the rest of the Bitchu area, as well as the Bizen area. Nearly every station in the prefecture can be reached either directly or with one transfer from Okayama Station. A vast majority of the prefecture's sites are accessible by train. Many places in the prefecture that are not located near train stations can still be accessed by bus. Buses can be used to reach all three of the famous Mimasaka onsen. There are also buses to other famous areas, including the Hiruzen Highlands, Hattoji, and the historic village of Fukiya. In spite of the implications of its name, which translates to mean "Hilly Mountains" or "Hills and Mountains", Okayama Prefecture has some great and very flat cycling options.
Where to Stay
For hotels, Okayama has an abundance of choices, with options for all budgets. Kurashiki also has many options. For most tourists in the southern part of the prefecture staying in one of these two cities will be most convenient, although there are accommodations available in most of the other cities, as well. In the northern region, Tsuyama has the most options. There are also hotels and ryokans in each of the famous onsen areas for those who want to relax in a more traditional setting.
Language & Talk
Most people of Okayama speak standard Japanese. There is an Okayama Dialect, but it is weaker than the Kansai or Aomori Dialects. 34.756944133.8552781 Okayama Airport (岡山空港 OKJ). Has flights to Tokyo (1 hr), Sapporo (2 hrs) and Naha (2 hrs). There are also international flights to Shanghai and Seoul (both 1.5 hrs), Dalian, Beijing, and Guam. Okayama is a major train hub in Western Japan. All trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line stop at Okayama Station. Kodama trains also stop at Shin-Kurashiki Station in Kurashiki. Anyone traveling by train from Shikoku must travel through Okayama from Sakaide on the Marine Liner.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Okayama (prefecture)
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky
Okayama, Japan
Historic japanese gate with trees and blue sky