Okayama

1. Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle was constructed in 1597. It was destroyed during World War II and reconstructed in 1966. However, the moon viewing tower, Tsukimi Yagura, escaped destruction and dates to 1620.

2. Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden is next to Okayama Castle and is said to be one of the best three landscape gardens in Japan, along with Mito’s Kairakuen Garden and Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen Garden.

The feudal lord of Okayama ordered its construction as a place to entertain and receive important guests. It was completed in 1700 and later opened as a public park in 1884.

The 33-acre garden features a large pond, small rivers, walking trails, and a hill overlooking the garden. Unlike other gardens, it has spacious lawns, plum trees, cherry trees, maple trees, tea fields, and rice paddies.

3. Hayashibara Museum of Art

The Hayashibara Museum of Art is a small art museum located in an Edo period guesthouse of Okayama Castle. There are around 10,000 pieces, including paintings, pottery, armor, and swords.

4. Museum of Oriental Art

The Museum of Oriental Art has around 2,000 historical and artistic artifacts that reached Japan via the Silk Road.

5. Ohara Museum of Art

The Ohara Museum of Art was built in 1930 and features an extensive private collection of western and Japanese art. There are masterpieces by Picasso, Monet, Kandinsky, and many others. There is also a Craft Art Gallery with Japanese ceramics, textiles, and woodblock prints.

6. Bizen Pottery Museum

Imbe is the hometown of Bizen pottery. The Bizen Pottery Museum features local pottery. You can see pieces that were made over a thousand years ago and also modern pieces.