[OKAYAMA] Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden

Okayama was the original base I thought of when this plan of exploring the Chugoku region was just being formulated. Why Okayama? It could’ve been Hiroshima, but the train lines reaching as far as Tottori and Shimane seemed to be originating from Okayama. Unfortunately, planning closer to the trip date meant hotel prices already went up, and I couldn’t give up the 8-day hotel deal I already booked in Fukuoka via Agoda for half the price. And so it had been decided. Fukuoka would be the base. After all, with a Sanyo Sanin Area pass that covers the route between Hakata and Kyoto and everything in between, there really was no issue.

Okayama is right next to Himeji in Hyogo prefecture, serving as the gateway to the region of Chugoku if you are coming from Kansai. From Fukuoka’s Hakata station, travel time via the Sanyo bullet train is an hour and forty five minutes, which is impressive considering the over 400 kilometers separating the two. Since all trips in this Chugoku itinerary will be day trips from Fukuoka, I managed to recoup the cost of the JR Sanyo Sanin Area pass after just a return trip to Okayama, a total cost of JPY26,740 (~PHP 10,345) versus the ticket cost of JPY23,000 (~PHP8,900). If you are based in Kobe or Kansai, travel time goes down considerably.

And so, what is there to see in Okayama? Okayama is known for its peaches which I have no interest in. It is also said to be referred to as The Land of Sunshine because this prefecture enjoys more sunlight per year than most others. In terms of tourist attractions, Okayama has a castle with a facade of black and gold overlooking a river. The castle grounds are linked to an island by a bridge. That island is where Korakuen Garden is located, which is considered as one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens.

I decided to focus on Okayama the city in this tour of Okayama prefecture. There might be some other attractions in nearby cities and towns but I was on a tight schedule. From Okayama Station, you just have to cross the street and you will find the local tram there which will take you to the castle and the garden. The ride costs JPY240 (~PHP90) one way and takes a mere ten minutes. Alight at Shiroshita station and follow the signs pointing toward the direction of the castle. Once you reach the river, you will see the bridge. That river below bisects these two tourist attractions. The garden is to the left. The castle is to the right.

Wherever you go first is totally your choice. A combo ticket for both attractions can be purchased at either ticket counter for JPY720 (~PHP280). Purchasing them separately is also possible for a mere difference of JPY10 (~PHP4) which is negligible, really. Both attractions close at 5 PM, but I believe Korakuen opens an hour earlier in the morning at 8 AM. Again, you just have to cross the bridge to visit one from the other so this is no big deal. In terms of land area covered, take note that Korakuen is an entire island to itself, so you will definitely be spending more time there.

I opted for the castle first because I needed a refuge from the cold outside. Just like many other Japanese castles, Okayama’s was bombed during the war. Most of what is standing now is a replica completed in 1966. The interior has been converted into a museum, as is the norm. The lower floors offer activities mostly for kids as well as photo opportunities for children and adults alike. Most of the text displayed are in Japanese, so be sure to grab one of the English pamphlets at the entrance if you want to delve more into the castle’s history. What sets this castle apart, obviously, is its elegant black and gold exterior.

The island where Korakuen is on also houses a museum, which I no longer bothered to visit. It’s easy to see how this garden ended up as one of Japan’s big three. The design is just so zen. There are streams and small hills and everywhere you look you just see flora of various hues. I can only imagine how visually titillating the view is during autumn! The statue of Momo is on the southern tip of the island. The gap between the Asahi river and the eastern riverbank is narrow and somehow dry. Joggers and locals walking their dogs are a fixture on the other side.