Begun in 1573 by Ukita Naoie and completed in 1597, Okayama Castle 岡山城 sits on a hill overlooking Korakuen Park in Okayama City. The striking black walls give it the nickname “Black Crow Castle,” and the gilded finials catch the sunlight and give it an elegant appearance.
岡山城 Okayama Castle
Unfortunately the current castle is a reproduction of the original, which was destroyed in the air raids of WWII. Two of the watchtowers are original, and foundation stones in the inner yard help give an idea of what it was like in its heyday. The concrete main tower was completed in 1966, and contains a museum dedicated to the history of the castle, though many of the labels have only minimal English.
Okayama ‘Black Crow’ Castle
There are also rotating exhibits throughout the year. Inside the main tower are hands-on activities such as trying on a kimono or making Bizen pottery; these have special fees and restrictions.
Okayama Castle Inside
The castle grounds are arranged on a hill with uneven stone steps, making wheelchair and stroller access difficult. There is an elevator to the fourth floor of the main tower, but only stairs to the viewing areas on the fifth and sixth floors. The grounds are free and have benches suitable for a picnic lunch. Okayama Castle is next to the Asahi River, and water from it is used in the moat.
Okayama Castle Inside
This video is in Japanese but shows the castle, interior and some of the displays nicely. The hosts are awesome as well!
You can reach Okayama Castle from Okayama Station by taking the Higashiyama Tram to the Shiroshita stop. It is about a 15 minute walk to the main tower. The grounds are free, but regular admission to the main tower costs 300 yen for adults 15 and over or 120 yen for children 5 to 14 years old. There are several combination tickets, including one for Korakuen Park and Okayama Castle for 560 yen for all ages. The main tower is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm with the last admission at 5 pm. It is closed December 29 through 31.
For more information: http://okayama-kanko.net/ujo/english/index.html#page0
photos by:
juson.tw &
PhoTones_TAKUMA
