Okayama Prefecture is home to many attractive spots such as “Kurashiki,” where Chugoku region’s most spacious white walled warehouses are lined up, and the town of “Okayama Shi” which is home to Okayama Korakuen Garden, known as one of Japan’s 3 great gardens. The prefecture is known to have sunny weather very often and is also called “the sunny country.” For those visiting for the first time FUN!JAPAN has gathered together the top 3 ranking spots to announce! We will go over not only the basics but also information and trivia you want to know ahead of time! We will also go over the “Discover West Japan” Setouchi area pass which will allow you to explore the Okayama area efficiently!
#3 - Japan’s First National Park, Okayama’s Best View: Mt. Washu
Japan’s first national park, Setonaikai National Park is home to the famous Mt. Washu. The name “Mt. Washu” was given to the mountain looking “like a great eagle spreading its wings, projecting itself over the Seto Inland Sea.” With an elevation of approximately 133 meters to the summit, you can see over 50 different islands of various sizes across the water for a spectacular view. The Great Seto Bridge which connects Okayama and Kawaga also provides a magnificent panoramic view. This spot is also one of Japan’s top 100 best sunset viewing spots.
Highlights and Specialties
(Image provided by Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation)
If you’re looking for a superb view, head to Mt. Washu’s summit “Shoshuhou.” Instead of a heavy mountain climb, you can enjoy an easy-going hiking trip here. At the summit there are 2 observation decks at the “Mt. Washu Rest House” and at the “Mt. Washu Visitor Center.” From here you can gaze at the islands over the Seto Inland Sea, along with the Great Seto Bridge. It is even possible to view the Shikoku region on the other side of the sea!
More Ways to Have Fun
Once you’ve visited Mt. Washu, visit the theme park “Brazilian Park Mt. Washu Highland” where you can view the Great Seto Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea while riding some attractions like merry-go-round for kids or the many other thrilling attractions that are available! Among them is the famous “Sky Cycle” where you pedal a bike ride 16 meters up in the air, equivalent to being up on a 4-story building! You can enjoy the view of the Great Seto Bridge while looking up- but look down and you’ll get shivers down your spine! Riding on the outside (right side) is said to be more thrilling!
“Brazilian Park Mt. Washu Highland”
- Access: From JR Kojima Station a 10 minute bus ride to “Washuzan Highland Yuenchi Ekimae”and a short walk
- *Bus is not covered by Setouchi area Pass
#2 - Walk Through a Japanese Garden at “Okayama Korakuen Garden” One of Japan’s Great Gardens
(Image provided by Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation)
Okayama Korakuen is one of Japan’s 3 great representative gardens along with Kenrokuen of Ishikawa Prefecture and Kairakuen of Ibaraki Prefecture. The beauty of the garden contrasts splendidly with the Okayama Castle in the background. The garden covers a large land mass of 140,000㎡ and is great for taking a stroll. In 1952 the garden was deemed as a Tokubetsu Meisho or “Special Place of Scenic Beauty”and now has nearly 820,000 annual visitors.
Highlights and Specialties
“Ryuten,” a building within Korakuen is a unique structure. The first floor consists of no walls and contains a water way through the center with 6 stones, allowing a stream to flow through it. In the center of the garden is the Yuushinzan Hill, where you can enjoy the colors of nature from the azalea to autumn tree colors. This scenery has gotten 3 stars from the Michelin Green Guide Japan and is breathtaking!
More Ways to Have Fun
“Gensou Teien” or the “Garden of Illusions” happens 3 times a year during the spring, summer, and fall where the garden is lit up with beautiful lights in the evening. The light up during the fall is especially alluring, with the vibrant colors of autumn truly creating a dream like atmosphere. In the spring time there are around 50 different cherry blossom trees including Yoshino cherry trees that blossom, making the grassy area around here perfect for cherry blossom viewing.
Okayama Korakuen
- Access: 25 Minute walk from JR Okayama Station
#1 - Head to Kurashiki for the Retro Japan You've Been Searching For!
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter has plenty of sights to see, from the kibune boats going up the Kurashiki River, the storehouses with their iconic white plaster walls, to the main street that have old private homes lined down the streets. Originally grounds controlled by the Edo Shogunate, Kurashiki was an area where stocks of goods were gathered. Kurashiki Kawahan has many town houses and warehouses that were built during the Edo and Meiji periods. This area has been designated as a district for preserving historical buildings. Many spots use the buildings with the design of the old days intact, while remaking the interior for the public to visit and admire.
Highlights and Specialties
Kurashiki City is known for manufacturing and selling domestic products such as jeans. If you visit, be sure to go by Kurashiki Denim Street and check out its many jean shops! The shops don't only sell jeans- you can find an assortment of products made of denim, from pen cases and pouches, and even kimonos made of denim! Pick some up as souvenirs!
More Ways to Have Fun 1 & 2
1. Travel Through Time by Riding on a Riverboat or Rickshaw
The most recommended way of exploring Kurashiki is by riding the riverboats! Gaze at the streets lined with the gorgeous white buildings as the boat is gently rowed down the river. Try and imagine what things may have been like during the Edo period. Another way of enjoying the scenery is by riding the rickshaws. While riding the rickshaw, you get a higher view, allowing you to see the old buildings and the Kurashiki River from a different angle.
2. Experience Interesting Cuisine in the Form of Denim Buns and Denim Burgers!
(Image provided by Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation)
Kurashiki Denim Street has interesting food items, from the denim colored "Denim Buns" to the the beautiful blue hamburger buns that are used for the "Denim Burgers." There are also shops with "Denim Squash" a soda with a pretty blue gradation. It is visually impactful, but the food items also taste great. Grab some to go for a snack while you take a stroll through the streets!
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area
- Access: 8 minutes from JR Kurashiki Station
Lodging Recommendations for Beginners
Okayama Kurashiki WASHU BLUE RESORT Kasago: Stay with a Panoramic View of the Great Seto Bridge and Seto Inland Sea!
This inn is located on the hill of Mount Washu, and is known for its amazing view. It has the only natural hot spring in the area and is famous for its "Honey Pearl Bath." For evening meals, a luxurious buffet is prepared with both Japanese and Western dishes along with desserts, with many of the ingredients taken from the Seto Inland Sea. A famous attraction is the live cooking that takes place where Japanese style meals are prepared with kobachi bowls. Following the origins of domestic jeans from "Kojima," there is also a blue themed "Washu Denim Room" worth staying in as well!
Okayama Kurashiki WASHU BLUE RESORT Kasago
- Access: 7 minutes by car from JR Kojima Station
The best way to get around Okayama Prefecture - Discover West Japan's Setouchi Area Pass
There are plenty of wonderful places to visit in Okayama Prefecture, so many so that you might not be able to choose just one. If you're looking to travel with ease, the Setouchi Area Pass is your best bet! This pass offers unlimited travel via shinkansen, train, and buses (some excluded) over a 5-day period throughout Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and other areas within Setouchi, so it's a must-have for first-time and seasoned travelers! We'll introduce the best way to use this pass in a separate article, so don't miss it!
For more information on the Setouchi Area Pass:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/setouchi/
Links to related articles:
Okayama Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Okayama Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Okayama Experts! (for Previous Visitors)
- Check Out FUN! JAPAN's Top 3 Places to Eat in Okayama Prefecture!
Hiroshima Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Hiroshima Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Hiroshima Experts! (For Previous Visitors)
- Check Out FUN! JAPAN's Top 3 Places to Eat in Hiroshima Prefecture!
Yamaguchi Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Yamaguchi Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Yamaguchi Experts! (For Previous Visitors)
Okayama and Hiroshima Prefecture:
sponsored by West Japan Railway Company
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