11 Wonderful Things to Do in Okayama, Japan

Okayama is overlooked by most visitors to Japan, but it has a lot to offer those looking to get a little off the beaten track.

The city is home to one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan and is especially lovely to visit during cherry blossom season.

We found many beautiful sakura spots to enjoy without the crowds of Kyoto or Tokyo.

It’s also a fantastic, affordable base for exploring the area. Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture, known as the Land of Sunshine.

You can visit Kurashiki, a picturesque canal-side historic quarter, and cycle through rice fields to quiet temples on the Kibiji Bike Trail.

As Okayama is on a bullet train line, it’s easy to explore further afield to places like Hiroshima and Himeji Castle.

It’s an ideal base for visiting Naoshima Island, known for its contemporary art galleries.

We spent six days in Okayama and managed to visit many places without having to move our luggage every few days.

Staying right next to the station at Hotel Granvia Okayama made day trips especially convenient.

Here are our picks for the best things to do in Okayama and beyond, as well as tips on where to stay and the best vegetarian places to eat. At the end, there is a handy map with everything mentioned.

Contents

• How to Get to Okayama Japan
• Top Things to Do in Okayama City
• Day Trips from Okayama, Japan
• Okayama Hotels
• Okayama Vegetarian Food
• Okayama Japan Map
• Is Okayama Worth Visiting?
• More Japan Posts

How to Get to Okayama Japan

Okayama is located on a shinkansen (bullet train) line, so it’s easy to reach quickly and comfortably from major Japanese cities including Hiroshima (40 minutes), Osaka (50 minutes), Kyoto (1 – 1.5 hours), and Tokyo (3 – 4.5 hours).

You can check train times and prices on the Navitime website or app. 

We had a Japan Rail Pass for our stay in Okayama, which made it affordable to take shinkansen rides to places like Himeji.

See my guide to the Japan Rail Pass for everything you need to know. Prices have gone up so it won’t always save you money these days.

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Top Things to Do in Okayama City

1) Okayama Korakuen Garden

The most famous Okayama attraction is Korakuen Garden, which is known as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan (along with Kenroku-en in Kanazawa and Kairaku-en in Mito).

This large landscape garden was first created in 1687 by the feudal lord for entertaining his family and guests.

It features many classic elements including a large pond with stone bridges and small shrines and a lookout point up a hill. There are also extensive lawns, a cherry blossom grove, tea and rice fields, a cluster of bamboo, and a teahouse.

Allow a few hours to explore it all.

It was beautiful in spring, and autumn would also be lovely with the trees turning red.

In August, and again in mid to late November, an Okayama must-see is the late night opening event when the garden is illuminated with lights and candles.

If you are visiting in sakura season (when we visited in early April), I also recommend taking a walk along the nearby Asahi River Sakura Road.

There are 200 cherry trees along the banks of the river, and at the height of the season, they are illuminated at night and food stalls are set up.

2) Okayama Castle

Across the Asahi River from Korakuen Garden is Okayama Castle, which you’ll see if you enter the gardens by the south gate and from certain points in the gardens.

It’s known as Crow Castle because of its black outer wall.

It was originally completed in 1597 but was destroyed in World War Two; the current castle is a reconstruction (as is the case for most Japanese castles).

We just enjoyed the view from outside. Inside, you can find displays about the castle’s history and the opportunity to dress up as a feudal lord or princess or make Bizen pottery.

3) Handayama Botanical Garden

Our absolute favourite cherry blossom spot in Okayama wasn’t Korakuen or the Asahi River, but the magical Handayama Botanical Garden.

This hillside garden has views of the city and an incredible 1000 cherry trees—they stretch on and on and you feel fully immersed in the blooms.

Best of all, this hidden gem is not very crowded (even on a sunny weekend in full bloom).

There are plenty of grassy areas to lie back and gaze at the flowers or enjoy a picnic.

We had a blissful afternoon here and it was by far our favourite sakura spot in Japan.

We loved viewing the Kyoto cherry blossoms, but it was far more crowded and you can’t relax in the same way as you can here.

4) Nishigawa Canal Park

The Nishigawa Canal Park isn’t a top Okayama tourist attraction, but it is a pleasant place for a jog or stroll, especially in cherry blossom season.

The canal runs through the city and is lined with flowers, cherry trees, and sculptures with benches to sit and enjoy them.

5) Look for Momotaro (Peach Boy)

You can’t visit Okayama without seeing Momotaro (Peach Boy) everywhere.

He’s the hero of a famous Japanese folk tale about a boy who was born out of a giant peach and grows up to fight demons alongside his sidekicks, a dog, monkey, and pheasant.

You can see the Momotaro statue outside Okayama station and look out for his image on colourful manhole covers throughout the city.

Okayama Prefecture is known for its delicious white peaches, so don’t miss these if you visit in summer (you can also pick your own peaches at nearby farms).

The Momotaro folk tale features kibi dango (millet dumplings) and these local sweets are now a popular souvenir from Okayama.

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Day Trips from Okayama, Japan

Okayama City itself has enough sightseeing to occupy you for a day, but what we loved most about it was its convenient location for exploring many other destinations.

In addition to the places below, you could also visit Osaka and Kobe from Okayama. Kyoto is also possible, but I think it warrants a longer stay.

If you have a Japan Rail Pass (like we did), all of these trips are covered by it (except for the ferry to Naoshima).

See our post Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth It? for more details.

6) Kurashiki

Kurashiki is the most popular Okayama day trip and it’s only a 15-minute train ride away.

It’s the city’s Bizan Historical Quarter that attracts visitors. This picturesque area features traditional Japanese houses and a canal lined with weeping willow trees.

The area dates back to the 1600s when it was an important location on Japan’s rice trade route. Rice was brought there on barges on the canals and then kept in storehouses before being shipped off to the cities.

The storehouses with their white walls and black tiles have been preserved and are now shops and cafes.

We arrived at 7.30am to avoid the crowds and loved strolling the quiet canal and backstreets. By 9am it was much busier.

We only spent a few hours here, but you could spend longer if you want to shop (many shops don’t open until 10am), take a boat ride on the canal (from 9.30am, in Japanese only) or visit the Ohara Museum (2000 yen, closed Mondays) known for its collection of Western masterpieces including Picasso and Gauguin.

If you are visiting in sakura season, we found some lovely cherry trees in Ivy Square and up a hill at the Achi Shrine.

7) Kibiji Bike Trail

One of our favourite days in Okayama was spent cycling the Kibiji Bike Trail.

This 22km (13.5 mile) cycling route goes through the Kibi Plain between Bizen-Ichinomiya and Soja Stations—one-way bike rentals are available at the stations.

It’s an easy, mostly flat, and well-signposted ride through rural areas, small towns, and rice fields.

There are a number of temples, shrines, ruins, and burial mounds to visit along the way.

Even on a sunny Sunday the path wasn’t busy and we only saw two other foreigners all day. In early April, there are some lovely off-the-beaten-path sakura spots.

The whole route took us 4.5 hours with a number of stops and breaks.

We focused on the three main shrines and temples. At Kibitsuhiko Shrine we came across a wedding with a bride in an extravagant white kimono and a small farmer’s market.

Kibitsu Shrine is a huge complex on a hill. At the bottom there’s a picturesque pond with bridges and a red pagoda. To reach the main shrine you follow a long wooden corridor.

Our final stop was Kokubunji Temple which features a lovely five-storey pagoda.

We bought a speciality peach soft-serve ice-cream and joined the locals picnicking under the cherry blossoms.

The bike ride is an easy trip from Okayama and is a pleasant escape from the cities with a chance to see some temples and shrines that mostly only locals visit.

I recommend taking a picnic, although there is a Lawson convenience store on the route and a few restaurants.

8) Naoshima Art Island

Naoshima is a rural island that has been transformed into a contemporary art hub.

We spent a wonderful day cycling to art museums and outdoor artworks (including the famous Yellow Pumpkin) while enjoying sea views. We even found a tasty vegan lunch at Aisunao.

It’s a unique place and a fantastic combination of art and nature.

See our Naoshima itinerary for all the details you need for this Okayama day trip.

9) Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is considered the most impressive castle to visit in Japan and it is certainly our favourite.

It’s very easy to visit from Okayama in just 20 minutes on the shinkansen (bullet train).

It’s one of the few Japanese castles that was never destroyed and the complex dates back to 1609. It’s known as White Heron Castle due to its white walls.

Himeji is worth visiting at any time of year, but it is especially stunning in spring when the many cherry trees on the grounds bloom and the Japanese come for hanami picnics.

Usually, I recommend visiting Himeji as soon as it opens at 9am as there can be long queues to enter the main keep.

As we wanted to see the special sakura night illumination, we chose to visit in the afternoon and stay into the evening instead.

By waiting until 3.30pm (last entry is at 4pm), we were able to enter the keep without queuing, although the top floor with views of the grounds was rammed.

Before we visited the castle we had a lovely vegetarian set lunch at Sakura Saku (closed Mondays/ Tuesdays), which has views of the castle from its tatami mat rooms. 

We then visited the Koko-en gardens which are next to the castle and worth visiting. The extensive castle grounds are also a lovely place to stroll.

After dark we enjoyed the special night light show and wandered through all the hanami picnics.

Some groups were impressively organised with generators and plastic tables; all featured plenty of beer and sake.

10) Hiroshima

Hiroshima is an essential stop for many visitors to Japan in order to pay their respects at the site of the atomic bomb and visit the excellent Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

We visited Hiroshima on our first trip to Japan, so we didn’t visit this time, but it’s an easy day trip from Okayama.

You could also combine the Peace Museum with a trip to Miyajima Island to see the iconic Itsukushima giant torii gate that appears to float on water.

11) Onomichi

Onomichi isn’t as well known as some of the other day trips from Okayama, but it’s well worth visiting, especially if you want to get off the beaten track.

We spent a few nights in Onomichi, but it’s easily doable as a day trip.

This seaport town has a relaxed vibe with temples to explore and scenic hillside views.

The highlight in town is the Onomichi Temple Walk, a 2.5km route up the hillside above town that passes 25 temples.

You don’t need to visit them all to get a taste. We started just inside Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street (a covered arcade), where there’s a sign on the left pointing towards the temple walk, and made our way to Tenneiji, which has a large pagoda.

Eventually you’ll reach a ropeway, which you could take further up the mountain if you don’t want to walk.

Our main reason to visit Onomichi was to cycle the Shimanami Kaido, a road and bike trail that crosses six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

We didn’t cycle the whole 70km (43 miles), but instead went 30km (19 miles) to Setoda and took the ferry back.

This was two hours of cycling on e-bikes, but including picking up bikes, stops, and ferries, I would allow seven hours for this trip, so get an early start on an Okayama day trip. You can rent bikes by the port.

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Okayama Hotels

Hotel Granvia Okayama (Our Pick)

We chose to stay at Hotel Granvia Okayama because of its convenient location and we’re so glad we did.

This huge four-star hotel is connected to the Okayama train station, so it couldn’t be easier to take day trips. It’s just a few minutes’ walk to the platforms and you don’t even need to go outside.

We stayed in one of the newer refurbished rooms on the 18th floor, which was nicer than most Japanese business hotels with a modern bathroom.

They were sold out of the larger double rooms so we had a smaller room with a semi-double bed which was a typical Japanese hotel room size.

It was a little small for a six-night stay with not a lot of storage space (there’s a wardrobe and a suitcase rack but no drawers), but I had just enough floor space for yoga.

We also had good WiFi, a desk, armchair, fridge, kettle, and air conditioning. There was no noise despite how close it is to the station.

At reception they had a useful cherry blossom report and the staff responded quickly to our requests for extra pillows and hangers.

We would definitely stay at Granvia Okayama again because the location can’t be beaten and it was ideal for following this Okayama itinerary.

Check the latest prices of Hotel Granvia Okayama here. 

Other Hotels in Okayama

Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama is also close to the station and is less expensive than Hotel Granvia Okayama. It features a public onsen. 

If you are looking for a hostel, Lazy House has twin rooms and dorms.

Search for more hotels in Okayama here. 

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Okayama Vegetarian Food

There aren’t a huge number of places to eat vegetarian food in Okayama, but there was enough to keep us going.

We often grabbed a snack (pizza slices, cheese bread, pastries) from the Vie de France bakery in the train station.

Search on Happy Cow for other veggie places in Okayama including CBD Green, a vegan cafe near the train station.

See our vegetarian Japan guide for more tips on avoiding meat and fish while travelling the country. 

Milenga (Indian)

Milenga is great for inexpensive vegetarian and halal food. The interior is simple but colourful, and in spring, you can see the cherry blossoms on the canal.

The Indian food is authentic and spicy. The thali is massive; I found the two curries with chapatis enough. The dosa tasted good but wasn’t very crispy—I’d stick with the curries instead.

Coco Ichibanya (Japanese Curry)

Ah, Coco Ichibanya, the saviour for vegetarians in Japan! This Japanese curry chain has a vegetarian option, and there’s a branch near Okayama station.

You can choose your toppings (we like vegetables and eggplant) and spice level (3 is pretty spicy).

It’s cheap, quick, and tasty.

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Okayama Japan Map

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Is Okayama Worth Visiting?

While Okayama might not be a priority if you are a first time visitor to Japan, I do think it’s well worth visiting for returning travellers or those on longer trips.

I hope this Okayama travel guide has encouraged you to give this less-visited city a go.

It’s an affordable and convenient base for exploring the area and has a few lovely attractions in the city.

In cherry blossom season, it’s especially worth visiting as you can enjoy the flowers without fighting the crowds.

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More Japan Posts

• 26 Cool Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan
• 31 Unforgettable Things to Do in Kyoto
• Naoshima Island One Day Itinerary
• 16 Unmissable Places to Visit in Japan
• 56 Best Things to Do in Japan for an Unforgettable Trip
• Two Weeks in Japan: A Detailed Itinerary

General Tips:

• Planning a Trip to Japan: Dos and Don’ts
• Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth it?
• Where to Stay in Japan: The Ultimate Guide to Accommodation
• Vegetarian Survival Guide to Japan

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