Welcome to Okayama, Japan's sunniest prefecture

Boasting the fewest number of rainy days in Japan, Okayama is known as the land of sunshine.

Located in the Chugoku region at the westernmost end of Honshu, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, Okayama Prefecture is an off-the-beaten-track destination that packs in plenty of hidden gems for history buffs, foodies and shopaholics.

Getting to Okayama is a breeze. The prefectural capital, Okayama City, is on a shinkansen (bullet train) line which connects you to Tokyo in about four hours. Okayama Momotaro Airport also welcomes many domestic flights and is within reach of JR Okayama station in about 30-minutes by shuttle bus.

For your next trip, head to western Japan and stroll through one of the greatest traditional Japanese gardens in the country, island hop from one modern art masterpiece to the next and savor muscat grapes in your new pair of Okayama-made jeans.

Visiting Okayama’s past

Okayama Castle’s black exterior has earned it the nickname Crow Castle. Image: Kimon Berlin/CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

With its many historical buildings, Okayama is a great prefecture for history lovers.

Okayama Castle

Constructed at the end of the 16th century, Okayama Castle was built with its signature black facade and is known by many as Crow Castle. Although much of this has disappeared, parts of the main keep once included gilded edges, which gave the site another nickname: Golden Crow’s Castle.

Unfortunately, the castle was heavily damaged by Allied bombing during World War II. Much of the original design has been recreated in the decades since, however.

Enter the castle and learn about its history and role in the development of Okayama in the museum housed inside. Also, take a stroll through the surrounding Ujo Park for seasonal events, especially in the spring when more than 200 cherry trees erupt into full bloom.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Take a stroll through old Okayama in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Image: Suicasmo/CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

Situated along the Kurashiki River, the picturesque white-walled buildings of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter are perfect for history and culture fans alike.

Dating back more than 300 years, the oldest building is Inoue House which was once owned by a powerful family in the city’s administration. For a peaceful walk through greenery, stop by Shinkei-en, a villa built in 1896 with a garden and tea room that visitors can enjoy today.

If museums are your thing, be sure to check out the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum to dig deeper into the region’s past and Ohara Museum of Art, the first private museum featuring Western artwork.

Culture

Bizen ware, one of Japan’s six ancient kilns. Image: dekoの風/Pixta

Okayama has a number of cultural traditions to explore. From ceramics and Japanese gardens dating to the feudal era to 20th and 21st century art, the prefecture has a bit of everything for visitors.

Bizen ware

Joining Seto and Tokoname (in Aichi Prefecture), Echizen (Fukui Prefecture), Tamba (Hyogo) and Shigaraki (Shiga), Bizen City and the surrounding area is home to one of Japan’s six ancient kilns.

Bowls and roof tiles were first produced in the late-Heian period around 1,000 years ago in Bizen, a region facing the Seto Inland Sea in the southeastern part of the prefecture. Bizen ware is characterized by its lack of glazing, which results in a rough texture, earthy tones and the uniqueness of each piece.

To learn more about the centuries-old craft, head to JR Imbe station and find one of the hearts of Bizen ware production. There, you can delve into a wealth of information about Bizen ware with experiences within reach of the station. Or, if you’re not planning on venturing outside the prefectural capital, the Bizen ware Pottery Studio at Okayama Castle hosts ceramic-making workshops for people of all ages.

Okayama Korakuen

Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s "Three Great Gardens." Image: coward-lion/iStock

In addition to Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in Ibaraki, Okayama's Korakuen Garden is considered one of the three great gardens of Japan. With construction beginning as early as 1687, this traditional strolling garden has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period, despite requiring reconstructions following natural disasters and World War II.

Architecturally, it is especially renowned for the Enyou-tei House from which the daimyo would observe the garden and Renchi-ken and Ryuuten Rest Houses which have escaped destruction throughout the centuries.

While these features can be seen throughout the year, Korakuen also has a variety of seasonal perks. Visitors can enjoy plum blossoms in the Plum Grove in the early spring, irises in the Japanese Iris Garden in early summer and Japanese maples in the Chishio-no-Mori Grove in the fall.

Inujima Island

Artists transform Inujima’s industrial heritage into works of art. Image: Joshua Slade/iStock

Japan is home to over a dozen islands specially redeveloped with a focus on art. Inujima Island is one located in the prefecture and accessible via a 10-minute boat ride from Hosen Port on Okayama’s southern coastline.

Breathing new life into its old brick factories and warehouses, artists continue to transform the island’s post-industrial landscape. Explore works at the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum and Inujima “Art House Project” for a taste of what Japan's art islands have to offer.

Shopping for denim

Pick up a pair of jeans in the birthplace of Japanese denim. Image: Koshiro Kiyota/iStock

While Okayama isn’t a popular choice for international tourists, denim aficionados will want to make a stop in the prefecture. As a result of the American occupation of Japan and the growing influence of American culture after World War II, denim became increasingly popular with the baby boomer generation. As a key prewar cotton producer, the Kojima area of Okayama Prefecture’s Kurashiki district shifted their focus to denim production in the 1960s, becoming the birthplace of Japanese-made denim in the process.

Visit Kojima today and immerse yourself in Jeans Street where dozens of retailers and designers have set up shop. While you’re there, take in the area’s fun atmosphere, including its iconic row of denim hanging from buildings and cozy cafes to people watch.

More to Okayama

These are just a few of the local fruits you’ll find in your parfait in Okayama. Image: KEIZO/Pixta

Although Okayama is a little far from the main tourism centers in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, it certainly punches above its weight with things to see and do.

To round out our highlights, we’ve added a few more options to consider as you plan your next trip to the coastal prefecture:

• Sample homegrown fruits, like Okayama’s sweet white peaches as well as Pione and muscat grapes.
• Visit northern Okayama and don’t miss the open-air Yubara Onsen, the mountainous Okutsu Onsen and the historic Yunogo Onsen.
• Tour a winery in Tetta Town, which has a reputation for producing premium wine grapes.