Things to do in Okayama

Okayama University is a great place to learn Japanese, but you'll also hear other languages spoken on campus. Thoroughly international, the university has a robust exchange program that brings people from all over the world to study on its modern campuses.

AEON Mall Okayama provides the perfect setting for the exhilarating experience of visiting a Japanese mall. Occupying a modern building, the 300 shops that sell their wares over the mall’s nine levels bring a taste of Japan and the world to the very center of Okayama. The location is extremely convenient, right across from Okayama Station. Purchase something to eat on arrival or before departure, pick up last-minute souvenirs or dedicate a whole day to exploring every floor and corridor.

Jet black, adorned only with gilded gargoyles, Okayama Castle is an imposing sight. Built in the 16th century as the home of the Ikeda clan, Okayama’s feudal rulers, it was the center of governance in Okayama and Kyushu for hundreds of years until its destruction during World War II. It was reconstructed in 1966. Arrive today to explore a modern museum dedicated to giving visitors, especially children, hands-on experiences of Okayama culture.

Visiting Okayama without touring the Korakuen Garden means you’d miss out on a whole dimension of Okayama’s art and history. Created in 1687 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, who was looking to create a place of rest near his palace, the garden offers a retreat from the bustle of the city for commoners as well. Go on a quick stroll to see its various vistas or spend the whole day exploring all the surprises, from teahouses to plum groves. You’ll soon understand why it is consistently ranked as one of Japan’s top three gardens.

In the story most closely associated with the Kibitsu Shrine, a boy, Momotaro, comes to Earth in a giant peach and defeats a demon with the help of a dog, pheasant and monkey. The story is famous in Japan, echoed in the peach-shaped “Momomamori” romance amulets sold in the shrine’s shop. It was inspired by the slightly more realistic legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto, who defeated an evil prince by shooting arrows from this spot. Visit the shrine for its stories and distinctive architectural style, not replicated anywhere else in Japan.

Given the natural beauty surrounding Okayama, it perhaps isn’t surprising that the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art possesses an impressive collection of art by local artists. Dedicated to displaying art that has “a connection to Okayama Prefecture,” the museum gives a glimpse into the sensibility of Okayama’s artists. Look at traditional-style brush paintings or admire the more modern art being produced in the region, looking forward to the future.