Okayama

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Okayama (??) is the capital of Okayama prefecture in the Chugoku region of Japan, on the southern coast of the island of Honshu.

	okayama Travel Guide : 1 Get in 1.1 By plane 1.2 By train 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out 10 External links

Get in

By plane

Air service is offered into Okayama from several airports, including Tokyo, Sapporo, Sendai, Kagoshima and Okinawa. Buses make a 40-minute run to the Okayama train station (¥680).

By train

Okayama is a major stop on the San'yo Shinkansen route. All shinkansen trains stop at Okayama, and some even start or terminate here.

The most frequent services are the Nozomi trains that operate on the entire shinkasen route; trains depart Tokyo every 20 minutes or so. Hikari Rail Star trains also make frequent runs, stopping in Okayama on runs between Osaka and both Kokura Station in Kitakyushu and Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

There is also one Hikari train per hour that runs from Tokyo to Okayama, but it takes a bit longer since the train stops at all stations after Nagoya.

Okayama is also the starting point of express trains across the Seto Inland Sea to Takamatsu and other destinations on the island of Shikoku. Many of these trains are timed for seamless connections from Nozomi train arrivals.

Note that you cannot use Nozomi trains with the Japan Rail Pass.

Get around

A convenient tram line runs east from JR Okayama Station along Momotaro-Odori until Okayama Castle, then turning south towards Seidaiji.

See

Okayama's main sights are all clustered in a large park on the eastern side of the side. From Okayama station, just take the tram three stops east to Joka to get there.

• Korakuen Garden (???) is one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens and hence Okayama's number one attraction. The name means "Garden of Pleasure After", a reference to a famous Confucian quote stating that a wise ruler must attend to his subjects' needs first and only then attend to his own.The construction of this garden started 1687 and was completed in 1700 for the time being. After that at times the local lord initiated slight changes but Korakuen largely keeps its form from the Edo era. There is an extensive set of records documenting the history of the gardens. Another famous thing about this garden are the ?red-crested white cranes? kept in captivity. There are only 61 cranes in Japan and 8 of them are in Okayama. From January to April is the best season to watch the cranes. They are well cared for and put on flying exhibitions in the park area at special times throughout the year. Entering through the South Gate, the first impression is that of a giant lawn, crisscrossed with wide paths and the occasional teahouse to break the monotony. But the interesting stuff is lurking on the sides: waterfalls, tiny shrines, miniature maple forests, a lotus pond, even a greenhouse filled with orchids and cacti. Cross the Moon-Viewing Bridge (Tsukimi-kyo) from the front of Okayama Castle to get in. Entry ¥350, open 8 AM to 5 PM daily.

• Okayama Castle (??? Okayama-jo) is popularly known as Crow Castle (?? U-jo), so named because unlike every other castle in the country (except Matsumoto's, which shares the nickname) it has been painted a striking black, only a few protruding bits and the occasional lucky fish-gargoyle (?? kinshachi) gilded. Destroyed in WW2, with the exception of one authentic turret the current version dates from 1966, but at least the rebuilders were considerate enough to install an elevator while they were at it. In the tower is a museum documenting the castle's history, English explanations are few and far between but at least you can practice your court Japanese with a soap opera on video. Entry into the main donjon ¥300, open 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

• Oriental Museum is worth a quick stop. Entry is 600 yen, but those with a student ID can receive a discount. The special exhibit details art and trade between China and Persia. If you can speak conversational Japanese, talk with the friendly docents; they will present some highly interesting explanations and background that bolsters what would otherwise be a rather dry tour. A full walk through both floors of the museum should take no more than an hour.

Do

Buy

Bizen-yaki????????This is a kind of ceramic ware which is famous in Japan. Bizenyaki is costly ceramic ware because it is an industrial art object to follow Japanese tradition. Industrial artistes make kilns at the base of a mountain. It started in Muromachi Era. There are many kind of Bizenyaki; dishes, cups, vases, bowls, pots and so on we can use anything. And Bizenyaki makes drink to be delicious; water, beer and Japanese alcohol because it gives off a kind of infrared rays.

Eat

The local delicacy is aji?(?), a white-fleshed fish translated into English alternatively as "trout" or "horse mackerel." A popular takeaway option is matsuri-sushi (????), the local version of chirashi-zushi (seafood scattered on top of vinegared sushi rice), sold in a peach-shaped box at Okayama station kiosks.

• Asuka (??), across the street from the west side of Okayama Station, serves aji sashimi, vinegared aji and deep-fried aji. Perhaps more of a drinking spot/pub than a restaurant, Asuka is still a fine place for food and drink and an excellent place to experience "after-work Japan" in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Drink

Sleep

• Okayama Seinen-Kaikan (??????, lit. "Youth Meeting Hall"; tel. 086-252-0651; 1 (http://homepage3.nifty.com/okayama-yh/english.htm)) is a youth hostel in an older, slowly crumbling Japanese-style house, painted a peachy shade of pink. Rooms are tatami and reasonably comfortable, if a bit worn around the edges. The hostel is a kilometer-long walk through the shopping arcade from the western side of the station, or you can shortcut by taking the bus. One night ¥2940 (HI members) plus optional breakfast for ¥525.

• Matsunoki Ryokan (19-1 Ekimotocho, Okayama City, Okayama Tel 086-253-4111) is a moderately priced Japanese-style hotel that is only a two minute walk from the west entrance of Okayama Station. Available are western style rooms and Japanese style rooms, with or without private toilet/bath.

• Okayama International Villas, 2 (http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/). 5 villas located in different parts of Okayama Prefecture, catering specifically to international guests. The villas are self-contained with their own cooking areas, Western-style toilets, linen and laundry facilities. Each villa is different - Hattoji is an old farmhouse, whereas Takebe is a modern building designed by a local architect.

Get out

Okayama is a good place to launch day-trips to most of western Honshu and even Shikoku as it is the regional transportation hub.

• Bizen, known for its pottery, is the place to use up your inheritance on a single tea cup.
• Himeji, with the striking White Egret Castle, is 50 kilometers to the east along the Sanyo line.
• Kotohira, home to Shikoku's largest shrine Kompirasan, is just an hour away by express train.
• Naoshima, a small island on Seto Inland Sea with superb contemporary art museums, can be easily reached from Uno port (one hour by JR train).

External links

• Okayama City (http://www.city.okayama.okayama.jp/index-e.htm)

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