Okayama Prefecture, the 'Sunny Land

As a key hub of transportation in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions from old times, Okayama has thriven on its Okayama-specific historical, cultural facilities and industries. In the past, Okayama Prefecture used to be divided into three areas: Bizen, Bicchu, and Mimasaka which were brought together into one prefecture though each still retain its own unique culture and identity. A magical combination of nature; sea, mountains and rivers, along with a mild climate and sunny days are some of the reasons why Okayama Prefecture has been called the “Sunny Land”.

Townscape of Kurashiki (Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan)

In the Bizen area, located in the southeast of Okayama Prefecture, you can visit the famous Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle, the Inbe, which is a Bizen Pottery-making town, and the Bizen Osahune which is a “town of famous swords”.

Okayama Castle

In the Bicchu area, which is located in the west, there are the Kurashiki Bikan area, Seto Ohashi Bridge, Kibiji District, and Bicchu Matsuyama Castle.

倉敷美観地区　Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter

 

In the Mimasaka area of northern Okayama, you can enjoy three famous hot springs; Yubara Hot Spring, Yunogou Hot Spring and Okutsu Hot Spring, Tsuyama Castle, and Hiruzen plateau.

Okayama by moonlight

The geography and climate make Okayama ideal for growing fruit and produces a large amount of the supply of peaches and grapes for Japan. Additionally, there are various kinds of fish and seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea that are extremely delicious.  

Okayama JR station

Centrally located with access to a great transportation network makes Okayama a easy visit for both domestic and international tourists. The most popular places include the Kurashiki Bikan area, which has historic white-walled buildings, the Hiruzen Highlands which are one of the top highland resorts of the western Japan.

As well, the three famous hot springs in Mimasaka in the Chugoku Mountains which are comprised of Yubara, Okutsu, and Yunogo hot springs, collectively called “Mimasaka Santo”. Mimasaka Santo  has been popular with many people for centuries. Okayama Korakuen Garden and the Seto Inland Sea are not to be missed as well.

Okayama Airport serves the area and has both domestic and international flights.

Time by direct flight to Okayama Airport ・From Seoul 1 hour 35 minutes ・From Shanghai 2 hour 10 minutes ・From Guam 3 hour 40 minutes ・From Taipei 2 hours 50 minutes Time by direct flight to Okayama Airport ・From Tokyo 1 hour 10 minutes ・From Sapporo 1 hour 50 minutes ・From Kagoshima 1 hour 25 minutes ・From Naha 2 hour

The Nozomi shinkansen stops at Okayama Station which is handy, especially if you have a JR Pass.

Time to Okayama Station by  Shinkansen (Nozomi） ・From Tokyo Station 3 hours 12 minutes ・From Nagoya Station 1 hour 35 minutes ・From Osaka Station 44 minutes ・From Hiroshima Station 34 minutes ・From Hakata Station 1 hour 38 minutes

 

 

photos by: t-mizo & elisabetta_monaco, puffyjet, PhoTones_TAKUMA, PhoTones_TAKUMA