Okayama in 2 Days: From Korakuen Garden to Kurashiki Old Town and Takahashi Castle 🏯🍑

Okayama in 2 Days: From Korakuen Garden to Kurashiki Old Town and Takahashi Castle 🏯🍑

Welcome to Okayama, the land of the legendary Momotarō, where history, tradition, and beauty come together. In this video, we’ll explore its most iconic sights, from the breathtaking Okayama Castle and the peaceful Korakuen Garden to the timeless streets of Kurashiki and the sacred Kibitsu Shrine. And of course we get to meet Takahashi’s main star — Sanjūrō, the cat. Stick around, because Okayama has more to offer than you might expect. Good morning! I just checked out of my hotel and decided to start exploring Okayama city. I really like how in Japan they often create these cozy little parks along rivers, but right now my attention is caught by the tram. There are very few of them left in Japan. For example, Tokyo only has two lines. But I keep walking, and already on the skyline I can see one of the prefecture’s main landmarks — Okayama Castle. Its black-lacquered wooden boards earned it the nickname Ujō — “Crow Castle”. The original wooden fortress was destroyed by Allied bombing on June 29, 1945, leaving only stone walls and turrets. One of those surviving turrets is this Tsukimi Yagura, dating back to the early Edo period under Ikeda Tadao. The castle was reconstructed in reinforced concrete in 1966. Its six-story silhouette was faithfully replicated, but the inside now features elevators, AC, and immersive exhibits. I think it’s time to go in and have a look. This is the view of the top floor. And here’s the view over the Asahi River. Let me show you a little of the exhibits. What I really like is that visitors can even touch or hold ancient weapons — of course, replicas, but still exciting. What I definitely didn’t expect to see is a café on the second floor. It feels so strange inside a castle. Black castles are probably the most beautiful in Japan. Since I have a lot of plans for today, I’m heading to the next attraction, located just across the river: the outstanding Okayama Kōrakuen Garden. There are Three Great Gardens of Japan, and this is one of them. I’ve already been to Kairaku-en in Mito, so this is my second. Kōrakuen was commissioned by Lord Ikeda Tsunamasa and designed under the guidance of Tsuda Nagatada and the Ming-dynasty scholar Zhu Zhiyu. Completed around 1700, it served as a cultural retreat next to Okayama Castle. The garden follows the kaiyū style, symbolizing harmony between human design and natural landscapes. Small hills, streams, ponds, lawns, and seasonal plants create a constantly changing scene. This is Sawa-no-Ike Pond, the central body of water with three small islands, modeled after the landscapes of Lake Biwa. Let’s take a little walk together through the garden and enjoy its beauty. And here is the garden’s main structure: En’yō-tei. This building was where the daimyō stayed whenever he left the castle to visit the garden. It was carefully positioned to offer wide views that combined both the garden itself and the surrounding scenery. Right next to it is the Nō Theater Stage and Eishō-no-ma Hall, unfortunately I can’t get closer today. It’s already 1:00 p.m., so it’s time to finally get something to eat. I picked this café because it had a really high Google Maps rating. Both the interior and exterior feel very authentic and charming. I decided to sit upstairs by the window. Unfortunately, their menu has no pictures, so I just picked something at random — and this is what arrived. It looks like a typical Japanese dish but with Ukrainian-style pork fat (salo). My parents would probably be shocked to see me eating this! They even have board games here, but sadly I have neither the time nor the friends today. Time to run to Okayama Station. Now I’m hopping on the charming red Momotarō Line train, heading to Bizen-Ichinomiya Station. It’s time for a little spiritual experience.
I’m now heading to Kibitsuhiko Shrine. These stone lanterns — over 11 meters tall — are said to be the tallest in Japan. Kibitsuhiko Shrine, also called Asahi-no-miya, is dedicated to Ō-Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, son of Emperor Kōrei and legendary conqueror of the ancient Kibi region. He is closely tied to the origin of the Momotarō legend. Tradition says the shrine was built on the site of his palace at the foot of Mt. Kibi-no-Nakayama, after he subdued the local demon Ura, symbolically ending the region’s unrest. These shots probably give you an idea of the season when I visited. This area doesn’t seem popular with tourists at all. And that’s a good thing. I can finally enjoy the architecture, the atmosphere, the nature. And now I’m heading to another shrine, likely even more famous among both locals and tourists Kibitsu Shrine, also known as Sanbi Ichinomiya. I have to climb the stairs to reach the main hall and admire the unique beauty of its architecture. The honden here is built in the rare Kibitsu-zukuri style — with its roof shaped like twin wings. Rebuilt in 1425, it’s now designated a National Treasure. But the most famous part is this 360-meter covered corridor (kairō), which links the main and subsidiary shrines. Its layout follows the natural slope of the land but in a perfectly straight line — a symbol of celestial order. I decided to wander around the shrine grounds, exploring its corners and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. But I get so carried away that I end up rushing again to the train station. Look at these enormous torii! Probably some of the biggest I’ve ever seen. But now I face a 40-minute walk through the countryside to Saijō Inari Myōkyōji Temple. I didn’t expect to find such a shopping street here — but it’s completely empty. Everything is closed. Honestly, it feels a bit creepy. Finally, I arrive at the Niō Gate. Look at this massive temple… and yet no one is here! Since this isn’t my religion, it doesn’t matter much to me whether the temple is open for prayers or not. I came here to admire the architecture and learn about an important historical site. It is known as one of the three great Inari temples of Japan, alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari in Tokyo. Let’s just take a walk around together. It does feel a little spooky, doesn’t it? And now comes my favorite part of every trip — running to the station to catch my train. I’m heading to Daikazoku no Yu Onsen. Unfortunately, filming inside is prohibited since everyone is naked. I usually go to an onsen about once a week, and this one is among the largest I’ve ever been to. Easily one of my top bathing experiences this year. I definitely recommend it. Good morning again! Today I’m starting my day on a train heading north into the mountains, to the small town of Takahashi. I love visiting places with almost no tourists. Just look at these empty streets! See that mountain in the background? Soon, I’ll need to climb it. But first, I want to stop at this temple. It has a small garden, which interests me most. You’re probably getting tired of the amount of sacred architecture in my videos, but I really love it. This place, though, feels different — it looks more like a traditional Japanese private house. Sadly, I couldn’t capture good video of its inner garden, but the atmosphere is very calming. And you know what surprised me most? A ceremony is happening right here… just listen. Now I’m walking along an old samurai street. But I’m not so interested in the houses, and I’m not sure I even have time for them. My real goal is to find the trail that leads to the town’s biggest highlight — the star of Takahashi. Time to climb this mountain! Every time I hike in Japan, I dream of spotting monkeys — but not bears. And usually, all I find are spiders, insects, bugs, and sometimes snakes or lizards. I really like that Japan often has educational signs along the way like this one. Now I’m thinking about my friends who always have a hard time climbing stairs. Dina, Nika, hello! Although Bitchū-Matsuyama Castle is small, it’s unique. It’s the oldest surviving castle in Japan, and the only mountaintop castle among the twelve original castles that remain intact. At 430 meters above sea level, it’s also the highest. But the real star here is Sanjūrō, the cat. They even built a little monument for him while he’s still alive! In 2018, Sanjūrō was officially appointed “lord of the castle.” He roams the grounds daily, usually lounging in front of the three-story wooden keep, and has become a beloved mascot. He even responds to the sound of the castle bell at certain times of day, making him a lucky charm for visitors. Let’s take a look inside and walk around the castle grounds. By the way, if you come here in November or December, head to the nearby observation deck. From there, the castle looks like it’s floating in the clouds. Oh, someone just woke Sanjūrō up! And now he’s posing for me. And even walking with me to the exit! Because of this, I have to run again to catch my train. I’ve arrived in Kurashiki. This is probably the most famous place in the prefecture. Most tourists come here and even skip Okayama City itself. Kurashiki has a preserved canal district dating back to the Edo period, when it served as an important rice distribution hub. I’m walking straight into the historic center. Many of the old warehouses have been turned into museums, boutiques, and cafés. If you’ve seen my video from Sawara, you might recognize a similar architectural style. You can even ride boats along the canal to soak in the atmosphere. I decided to climb up to Achi Shrine instead. Just a few weeks ago, the wisteria here was in bloom. Sadly, I came too late. But the view over Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter is still fantastic from up here, right? And now I’m off again. This time to my last stop today: the town of Kasaoka. Empty streets once again, and it’s not even 6:00 p.m. yet! I wanted to eat some local food, so I came to Kasaoka to try Kasaoka ramen, but all the places are closed or sold out. Awesome! Don’t trust Google Maps! And I don’t really know what to do cuz I’m still super hungry. This is not what I expected, to be honest. My dinner options are this Italian restaurant or 7-Eleven. I chose simple cup noodles. Okayama is also famous for its peaches and grapes, so I decided to try this drink. I love riding in these nearly empty trains. Now I’m heading to meet my friends in Kobe, so I need to transfer in Himeji. By the way, my whole trip actually started in Himeji. If you ever get the chance, don’t miss visiting Japan’s most beautiful and best-preserved castle — Himeji Castle. It’s the largest, the most visited, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Japan’s “Three Great Castles”: alongside Matsumoto and Kumamoto. And that’s it. Thanks so much for watching this video to the end. I hope you enjoyed it. See you very soon.
Bye-bye!

Okayama Prefecture is often overlooked by travelers, but it’s full of history, culture, and incredible sights. In this 2-day journey, I visit Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden, stroll through the canals of Kurashiki Bikan District, and climb to Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi. A perfect short trip full of samurai history, traditional streets, and some of Japan’s best hidden gems.

#Okayama #Kurashiki #Japan

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Time codes:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Okayama castle
02:47 Korakuen Garden
04:23 Brunch
05:33 Kibitsuhiko Shrine
07:03 Kibitsu Shrine
08:13 Saijō Inari Myōkyōji Temple
09:51 Daikazoku no Yu Onsen
10:14 Takahashi town, Raikyū-ji, samurai houses
11:47 Mountain climbing
12:47 Bitchū-Matsuyama Castle and Sanjūrō, the cat
14:33 Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter and Achi Shrine
15:50 Kasaoka town
16:57 Himeji castle and outro