Okayama & Kurashiki Travel Guide: What to See, Eat, and Do on a Self-Guided Japan Trip
[Music] [Music] Hello everyone. In this travel documentary, I’ll be sharing a detailed 2-day, one- night itinerary to explore Okiyama and Kuroshiki. From booking the Shinkansen ticket, riding the tram, visiting Okyama Castle, Korakuan Garden, Kurashiki’s old town, tasting local food, staying at a traditional Rayokan, plus a few tips to help you travel on a budget without any surprise expenses. Let’s get started with this journey. [Music] 2-day itinerary summary for Okyama, Kurashiki, Desatu, Okama, Shinkansen, Slow Tram, Crow Castle, Korakuan Garden, Deua, Kurashiki, Old Quarter, Ohara, House Peach Croette Shinkian Garden Day 1. Okay. A.M. from Shin Osaka. I booked the Shing Canson ticket online in advance around 45.50 USD one way depending on the train time. The ride takes just about 45 minutes. Very fast and convenient. After getting off at Okyama Station, the first thing I did was store my luggage in the coin lockers right inside the station. The fee is around 46 USD, depending on your suitcase size. Super handy for anyone wanting to explore freely without carrying bags. Okayama is small and peaceful, so I chose the tram instead of taxis or buses. Right outside the station, I already saw the tram slowly rolling along tracks in the middle of the street. The atmosphere in Okayama is very different from Osaka or Tokyo. Wide, clean roads, not many cars, and lots of greenery on both sides. Each tram is painted a unique color. I saw green, bright yellow, orange, red, and even a sleek black one that looked quite striking. Tra fair in Okyama is just around 23 USD per ride, paid directly when getting off. The tram moves slowly, stops at many small stations, perfect for soaking in the calm streets. I rode the tram a few loops to get familiar with the area before hopping off to begin my sightseeing. I visited Okiyama in late October autumn weather, cool at around 6472° F, so I could walk all day without sweating much. If you love flowers, early April is also the best time as Kora Quen garden is full of cherry blossoms. But in summer, July, August, it’s hot and humid. So if you’re visiting, then don’t forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, and a small water bottle to stay hydrated outdoors. The first stop I made was Okyama Castle, also known as Crow Castle, because its exterior walls are entirely black. Quite different from the white castles like Himeiji or Matsumoto. From the tram stop, it was just a few minutes walk to the castle gate. The path was easy, clean with greenery and small grassy areas on both sides. Admission is about 45 USD. Tickets are sold right near the main gate. As soon as I stepped into the castle courtyard, what I liked most was how spacious it felt. I walked around the courtyard, took some photos from different angles. Every spot looked great on camera. Inside the castle are multiple floors connected by steep wooden stairs. Each floor has its own exhibit from samurai armor, swords, helmets to diaramas recreating feudal era Okiyama. The top floor has a wooden balcony where you can feel the breeze as soon as you step out. The top floor has a wooden balcony where you can feel the breeze as soon as you step out. From here you can see the Asahi River below and across it lies Korakuan Garden. I paused here to rest for a bit, snapped a few photos, then made my way back down. There’s a souvenir shop near the exit, mostly selling paper fans, magnets, and postcards with images of the castle. I didn’t buy anything, just rested for a bit before heading to the nearby Sukimi Bridge. [Music] Leaving the castle, I walked across Tsukimi Bridge. Its name means moon viewing bridge. The bridge isn’t very long, spanning the Asahi River with clean wooden planks and light colored railings that look quite simple. Below the river flows gently, and both sides have stone-paved walking paths. Tourist boats occasionally pass underneath. At one corner of the bridge, a few elderly people were fishing. I watched for a while, then moved on. Across the bridge, just a few steps away, is Kurakuan Garden, the place I looked forward to the most on this trip. Together with Kenroen, Kanazawa, and Kayarakuan, Mito, Korakuan forms the three great gardens of Japan. The garden covers more than 13 hectares with flat trimmed lawns, white gravel paths, and ponds crossed by curved wooden bridges. Before I could get my bearings, I was already immersed in the quiet and refreshing atmosphere here. [Music] [Music] Right at the entrance is a fairly large direction board, and I decided to take the long loop, stopping by Higendo Temple, a former temple now no longer in use, with only the tiled roof and old wooden frame remaining. From here, you can overlook the entire Kora Quen. And in the distance, the silhouette of Okyama Castle peaks through the trees. Along the path, I came across the Mangi symbol, which may confuse some foreign visitors, but it’s actually a Sanskrit Buddhist symbol, completely unrelated to the western swastika. Since the garden is vast, and I didn’t have much time left in my schedule, I picked quieter paths and rested on a stone bench by the lake. One corner of the garden features a peach-shaped boat. The peach is associated with Momotaro, the legendary folk hero that everyone in Okyama knows. [Music] After that, I stopped by a small shop selling karage Japanese-style fried chicken. The shop was tiny with just a few wooden seats and a frying station right at the entrance. Each carriage portion costs about 400500 yen, around 34 USD. I ordered one and ate on the spot. The chicken was freshly fried, crispy on the outside, and left me full enough to continue. I headed back to the tram station. Just as I boarded, I saw a tram decorated with a formosen black bear, a species native to Taiwan, with the word Taiwan printed large on its side. I asked the driver and learned that this was a special tram route in partnership with Taiwan’s tourism bureau, running a few times a day for promotion. The tram moved slowly through small streets. After arriving back at Okyama Station, I picked up my suitcase and walked to a rioon near the station, an old, small, but cozy Japanese inn. I chose a Rioon instead of a hotel to experience sleeping on tatami floors, wearing yukata, and using a Japanese-style shared bath. The rioon was just a 10-minute walk from the station, costing about 7,100 USD per night with a simple breakfast included. My room was just enough for one person with tatami flooring, sliding shoe paper doors, and a neatly folded futon set in the corner. Before sleeping, I went down to bathe in the shared bath, a small but clean hot water tub. I soaked for a while to relax my legs, then returned to the room to rest and get ready for the next morning’s journey to Kurashiki. Day two, Kurashiki. In the morning, I started the day by walking along the Kurashiki old quarter. The narrow stone-paved path is lined with oldstyle wooden houses, white painted walls, dark tiled roofs, and you can see some shops already lit inside with souvenirs displayed on the porch. Some cafes had already opened early while a few souvenir shops were still setting up. I stopped by a small shrine along the road. Its gate was a stone torii with both pillars darkened by moss firmly rooted in the gravel-covered ground. I stepped through the torii following the stone path into the main courtyard. To the left was a chosuya water basin carved from solid stone with bamboo ladles neatly placed for visitors to rinse hands and mouth before praying. At the main hall hung a large shimanawa robe stretched across decorated with zigzag white paper strips. On the altar sat small offerings, an incense bowl, candles, and a bell. One nearby corner was filled with senbazuru. Thousands of paper cranes folded in many colors grouped together swaying slightly in the wind. Below them were wooden emma plaques, each carrying a wish or small handwritten message from visitors. I also bought one emma, wrote a few simple lines, hung it up, looked at it for a while, then left. Leaving the shrine, I returned to the stone path, followed a narrow lane beside old wooden houses, and headed toward the Kurashiki River. The river flows slowly with swans occasionally swimming by. Along both banks, black and white tiled roof houses sit close to the water, many turned into cafes or souvenir shops. There were several handroad boats mored by the bank with rowers and bamboo hats waiting for passengers. I stopped on the stone bridge crossing the river, paused for a while, then took a few photos. Leaving the riverside, I continued to the Ohara family residence. This area was once the estate of the Ohara family who funded many important buildings in Kurashiki. The gate was painted black wood tiled with layered roof tiles with a wooden sign above engraved with the family name. Stepping through, a gravel path led to a traditional Japanese garden with a koi pond, a few old pine trees, and small flower bushes along the edge. Inside the residence were displays of paintings, ceramics, and old books. I sat down at a book cafe within the compound, ordered a black coffee, and a small slice of cake. From the Ohara residence, I walked to the Kurashiki Museum of Art, a small museum that houses some Western paintings, modern Japanese works, and rotating seasonal exhibitions. Entrance was just about 45 USD. I got my ticket at the counter. No need to queue as it was quiet at noon and the space felt calm. I did one full round and spent the most time at the oil painting room, then rested on a stone bench in front of the museum courtyard. Leaving the museum, I walked to Kojima Jean Street. It’s a short stone-paved street lined with denim shops on both sides. Kurashiki is known as the jeans capital because many famous denim brands originated here. Each store has a wooden sign, wide sliding doors, and shelves full of clothes inside. I stopped by a corner shop selling handmade leather wallets. The wallets were handcrafted, the leather soft to the touch in simple colors. I picked a small wallet that fit well in my hand, not too expensive, as a souvenir to take home. After wandering around for a while, I headed to Ivy Square, a famous spot in Kurashiki. It used to be a textile mill and the red brick walls have been preserved now covered in green ivy vines. Inside are a small hotel, several restaurants, souvenir shops, and a small museum. Ivy Square is also where MT washi tape, Japan’s famous decorative tape, was first created. I dropped by the store, picked out a few small rolls with different patterns, priced around 24 USD each, and bought them as gifts. After that, I stopped at a small shop right near Ivy Square. They sold croettes filled with white peach, a specialty of Okiyama. The outside was crispy, the filling soft and mildly sweet, served with mayo sauce. I also ordered a bowl of hot udon. The broth was clear and the noodles had a nice chew. After eating, I ordered an iced coffee, sat for a while to rest, then continued. [Music] Leaving the shop, I walked a few minutes to the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum located near Ivy Square. This museum was once a rice storehouse, now showcasing old ceramics, woodwork, and handwoven textiles from Kurushiki. Admission was about 34 USD. Inside was fairly simple, divided into a few small rooms. Each room featured a type of item: ceramics, plain wood items, handwoven cloth, bamboo baskets, and daily tools like strainers, copper kettles, and clay pots. I especially liked the green glazed pottery section. The bowls, jars, and plates still held their dark glaze with hand painted patterns that felt rustic. On the walls were old drawings showing pottery making, weaving, and transporting goods by hand carts from the early 1900s. One corner near the window displayed some old indigo dyed kimonos embroidered with white thread. The patterns were simple but elegant. The museum wasn’t crowded. Just a few groups of elderly Japanese visitors came to look. I made a full round, read some of the bilingual Japanese English signs, rested a bit on a wooden bench in the corridor, then stepped outside to keep going. In the afternoon, I looked for a small ramen shop. Locals say it’s in the top three best ramen spots in Kurishiki. The place was tiny with only about 8 10 seats around the counter. I ordered a showyu ramen, rich broth, tender pork, thin noodles, and felt warm inside after finishing. As evening came, I slowly walked to Shinkien, a Japanese garden located just behind Kurashiki’s old town. The entrance isn’t large, just a simple wooden gate with a wooden sign hanging above bearing the garden’s name. Stepping through the gate, I followed a gravel path lined with low bamboo and a few potted flowers. The garden isn’t big. Walking slowly takes just 10 minutes to go around, but it’s quiet enough inside to hear your footsteps crunching the gravel. By the pond, there are stone banks and a few large rocks where people can sit. I chose a wooden bench under a maple tree whose leaves were starting to turn light red as autumn was ending. One corner of the garden had several stone Toro lanterns. Light drizzle began to fall, tapping gently on the leaves and tiled roof of a small wooden house. As the air turned colder, I walked back to the riocon. Back at the inn, I washed my face with warm water and made a pot of tea. The rioken was small. The tatami floors smelled of old wood. And as rain tapped outside the porch, I lay on the futon and rested, ending a day of exploring Kurashiki. And just like that, the 2-day journey exploring Okama and Kurashiki came to an end. full of experiences from local dishes like kaage, white peach croquette, showyu ramen, and hot udon to historical spots and highlights like Okyama Castle, Korakuan Garden, Kurashiki Old Quarter, the O’Hara residence, and the small museum inside Ivy Square. A short trip yet enough to see that Okyama Kurushiki isn’t just a Shinkansen stopover, but an ideal place for those who enjoy a mix of history, local cuisine, and the region’s slow, peaceful rhythm. I hope this travel documentary, 2 days in Okyama and Kurosiki, helps you picture it clearly from How to Ride the Tram. Buy castle tickets, visit Japanese gardens, old town streets, cafes, and simple resting corners along the way. 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Okayama & Kurashiki Travel Guide: What to See, Eat, and Do on a Self-Guided Japan Trip
Discover a 2-day, 1-night travel itinerary in Okayama and Kurashiki, Japan — featuring step-by-step tips on riding the Shinkansen, using the local tram, visiting Okayama Castle, Korakuen Garden, Kurashiki’s historic district, and other must-see attractions. Experience traditional Japanese culture by staying in a ryokan and enjoying local foods like karaage, peach croquette, and shoyu ramen. This video also shares practical travel hacks for budget-friendly and stress-free exploration, perfect for first-time travelers to Japan.
Important moments:
01:00 | 2-Day Itinerary Overview: Okayama & Kurashiki
01:24 | Day 1 – Exploring Okayama
09:20 | Day 2 – Discovering Kurashik
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