Okayama tourist information
Okayama is situated at the center of the Chugoku region (the southwest of main island of Japan). It is the center of administration and business for the prefecture, a central city of the Sanyo region (the Inland Sea Coast), and a crossroads for traffic between the San-in region (the Japan Sea Coast) and Shikoku Island. It thrived as a castle town from the 16th to 19th centuries. Okayama Castle, the Koraku-en Garden, one of the three major gardens in Japan, and a number of art museums and science museums are to be found here.
Okayama Castle, built in the 16th century, has another name: Ujo, or Raven Castle, because its exterior painted in black is associated with ravens. The castle tower was rebuilt later, but there are Tsukimi-yagura turret and other structures that are in their original state. The Koraku-en Garden, that took as long as 14 years to complete, is the first lawn garden in Japan and was created in the 17th century. It has an area of 133,000 square meters. It employs the view of the Okayama Castle outside the premise as part of the scenery that provides further depth in the view of the garden.
Okayama Prefectural Art Museum collects many pieces of artwork by artists from Okayama, and has a corner that displays famous Japanese swords, and a permanent exhibit of the works of Yasuo Kuniyoshi, who spent his life in the US. The Takehisa Yumeji Museum is popular with the exhibit of this poet/artist who represents the age of the early 20th century.
by Japan National Tourist Organization
Okayama aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Okayama aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Okayama.
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