[Okayama Travel Guide] Enjoy Its Charms with a Recommended Model Course & Useful Travel Tips!

Day 1 starts from Okayama Station.
To get from Okayama Station to your next destination, Okayama Castle, take the rare streetcar system known as Okayama Electric Tramway (nickname: Okaden).
One of its attractions is the wide variety of vehicle designs, including the futuristic “MONO” and the unique “Chuggington,” which are fun to look at even from the outside.

Your first destination is Okayama Castle (also known as U-jo or “Crow Castle”), known for its jet-black keep and walls.
Among Japanese castle architecture, Okayama Castle stands out for its unusual tenshudai, or castle tower base, which is an irregular pentagon said to have been modeled after Azuchi Castle.
When you look up at the castle tower from below, it appears distorted, but this is made possible by the watchtower-style structure of the keep.
You can feel its artistic quality throughout, so be sure to take a close look.

After visiting Okayama Castle, cross Tsukimi Bridge and head to the adjacent Okayama Korakuen Garden.
Counted among Japan’s Three Great Gardens, Okayama Korakuen Garden is a historic Japanese garden that Okayama proudly represents.
Created by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of the Okayama domain, this garden still conveys the beauty that represents the culture of the early Edo period (1603–1868).
Within the grounds, filled with lush scenery and tasteful buildings, you will likely feel relaxed in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
Events such as tea gatherings are also held regularly, so take the chance to experience Japanese culture.

After enjoying Okayama Korakuen Garden, leave through the main entrance, cross Tsurumi Bridge, and head to Izushi Korakuen Street.
This deep, history-packed spot condenses Okayama’s past into one area, lined with retro buildings blending Japanese and Western styles built from the Meiji period through the early Showa period.
Its atmospheric streets are filled with places where you can experience Okayama culture firsthand, including cafes, variety shops, and museums.
Part of its charm also lies in the hidden depth found in ordinary details such as signboard architecture and back alleys, and as you stroll, you are sure to come across some mysterious scenes.
By the time you finish exploring, it will be lunchtime, so enjoy lunch here while taking in the area’s historic atmosphere.

After lunch, walk to the nearby Omotecho Iriguchi bus stop.
Take a bus to Okayama Station, then board the JR Kibi Line to Bizen-Ichinomiya Station. From there, it is about a 3-minute walk to Kibitsuhiko Shrine.
Kibitsuhiko Shrine enshrines Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, said to be the model for Momotaro, as its main deity.
Please enjoy its solemn scenery, where shrine architecture of national-treasure class blends together with seasonal flowers and deep green trees.
On the summer solstice, when the morning sun rises directly in front of the torii gate, the view is especially beautiful, and the shrine is also called “Asahi no Miya.”
It is also famous as a power spot, and visiting Kibi no Nakayama, said to be the place where the deity descended, is also recommended.

After visiting Kibitsuhiko Shrine, head to nearby Kibitsu Shrine, another place closely connected to the Momotaro legend.
It takes 15 minutes from the nearest station of Kibitsuhiko Shrine to Kibitsu Station, and from there it is about a 10-minute walk.
Kibitsu Shrine still has buildings connected to demons and demon-slaying, such as the Kamadono Hall, allowing you to feel the legend firsthand.
Designated a National Treasure, Kibitsu Shrine’s main hall and worship hall are known for the distinctive Kibitsu-zukuri architectural style with its uniquely shaped roof.
Another highlight is its beautiful corridor, stretching for Approx. 400 meters and ranking among the longest in Japan.

Return from Kibitsu Shrine to Kibitsu Station and head to Soja Station.
From Soja Station, take a taxi for Approx. 30 minutes to reach Ki-nojo Castle.
This ancient mountain castle is believed to have been built in the late 7th century and is also said to be deeply connected to the Momotaro legend, but it is not mentioned in historical records and its history remains unclear.
Its mysterious nature, shrouded in many unknowns, and its ancient ruins fascinate visitors.
One highlight is the spectacular view from the West Gate, the symbol of Ki-nojo Castle.
When you imagine that people around 1,300 years ago also looked out at the refreshing view from inside this gate, you are sure to feel the romance of history.

After enjoying Ki-nojo Castle, take a taxi back to Soja Station.
From Soja Station, take a train to Kurashiki Station, Approx. 10 minutes away.
From Kurashiki Station, it is about a 15-minute walk to your next destination, the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is a popular area where you can enjoy elegant streetscapes that have continued since the Edo period (1603–1868).
Enjoy the illumination after sunset, when beautiful lighting wraps the town in a dreamy atmosphere.
As you walk beneath the willow trees lining the Kurashiki River, alongside white-walled storehouses and traditional Japanese houses, you can enjoy the area’s slow and peaceful pace.
There are many accommodations nearby, so stay at a hotel around Kurashiki Station on your first night.

Day 2 begins at the Ohara Museum of Art, located right next to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.
Opened in 1930, the Ohara Museum of Art is known as Japan’s first private museum of Western art.
Its collection includes about 3,000 outstanding works from across different periods and countries, centered on masterpieces of Western art and including paintings, sculptures, and crafts.
In particular, be sure to see the museum’s rare displays of El Greco’s Annunciation and Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, both of which are among the few in Japan.
The museum building itself is also a highlight, from its exterior reminiscent of an ancient Roman temple to its modern interior and carefully designed details throughout.

From the Ohara Museum of Art, head to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, just a 1-minute walk away.
On Day 2, take your time strolling through the quarter in daylight and enjoy shopping at Kurashiki-born brand shops throughout the area, including denim and glass stores, as well as souvenir shops.
There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy excellent food, so have lunch in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter as well.

After lunch, head to Achi Shrine, located on the summit of Tsurugatayama in one corner of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.
Within the shrine grounds are scattered giant and unusual rocks called bankyo and banza. In particular, the Tsurukame no Bankyo on the west side of the main hall is also known as an ancient garden.
There is also a Noh stage, a tall lantern said to have once stood along the Kurashiki River, and auxiliary shrines. From the ema hall on this 43-meter-high hill, you can look out over the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

Next, head to the Momotaro Karakuri Museum, located a 1-minute walk from Achi Shrine.
The museum focuses on the Momotaro legend that has been passed down for generations, featuring a large collection of exhibits such as historical nishiki-e prints, Japanese books, picture books, and toys, as well as a mini video theater where you can watch old Momotaro cartoons.
There are also hands-on attractions, so you can learn about the Momotaro legend in many different ways.

After enjoying the Momotaro Karakuri Museum, head to Kurashiki Ivy Square, about a 5-minute walk away.
With its beautiful exterior wrapped in red brick and ivy, Kurashiki Ivy Square is a multi-purpose cultural facility where you can try activities such as candle making and pottery.
There is also a shop selling local specialty products, making it a great place to look for souvenirs.
The facility itself is full of highlights, including arched ceilings and charming antiques, so you will likely enjoy it just by walking around.

From Kurashiki Ivy Square, walk to the Shimin Kaikan Mae bus stop and take a bus bound for JR Kojima Station.
If you get off at Kojima Shimin Koryu Center Mae bus stop, you will reach Kojima Jeans Street in around 1 hour.
Kojima Jeans Street is lined with more than 40 jeans shops, cafes, galleries, and more.
Enjoy shopping at stores that each showcase their own individuality, from denim with carefully crafted finishing, jeans made by fabric manufacturers with over 20 years of history, shirts that pair well with denim, denim suits, dresses made with denim, and denim goods shops.

Take a taxi from Kojima Jeans Street, and in Approx. 15 minutes you will arrive at Washuzan.
Known as Japan’s first national park, it is one of the representative scenic spots of Setonaikai National Park.
From Choshuho Peak at an elevation of 133 meters, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the beauty of more than 50 islands scattered across the Seto Inland Sea, along with the grand Seto Ohashi Bridge.
It is also known for its beautiful evening scenery and has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Sunset Spots.
To wrap up your trip, take in the spectacular scene of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and the islands floating on the sea lit by the setting sun.