Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle and Kibitsu Shrine are the three reasons to step off the Shinkansen in Okayama instead of speeding past it between Osaka and Hiroshima. Okayama City is compact and easy to navigate: a short tram ride from the station takes you to one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens and a striking black castle that face each other across the Asahi River, and a 10-minute train ride brings you to an ancient shrine tied to Momotaro, the Peach Boy of Japanese folklore. This guide covers what to see at each spot, current admission prices and opening hours, how to get around, and the best hotels near Okayama Station for a one- or two-night stay.
1. Okayama Korakuen Garden
Okayama Korakuen is ranked with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in Mito as one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, and it holds three stars in the Michelin Green Guide. Lord Ikeda Tsunamasa ordered it built between 1687 and 1700, and today its 144,000 square meters (about 35 acres) of open lawns, ponds, tea fields and teahouses feel far more spacious than most Japanese gardens. Walk the path around Sawa-no-ike Pond, look into the Enyo-tei, the lord’s favorite building, and look for the cranes: the garden kept them in the Edo period, and the flock was rebuilt after dying out after World War II. Admission is 500 yen for adults, or 800 yen on a combined ticket with Okayama Castle. The garden opens at 7:30 from March 20 to September 30 (until 18:00) and at 8:00 from October 1 to March 19 (until 17:00). In 2026, the Chrysanthemum Festival runs from October 25 to November 15, and the autumn night illumination from November 20 to 29.
2. Okayama Castle (Crow Castle)
Across the Asahi River from Korakuen, Okayama Castle is nicknamed U-jo, or Crow Castle, for its black wooden walls, and Kin-Ujo, Golden Crow Castle, for the gold-leaf roof tiles it once carried. The castle was completed in 1597. Its keep was destroyed in a 1945 air raid and rebuilt in concrete in 1966, but the Tsukimi Yagura moon-viewing turret from 1620 is original. A major renovation from June 2021 to November 2022 refreshed the keep and its museum, which tells the story of the castle and the Ikeda lords. Inside, the exhibits are modern, so the real highlights are the views from the top floor over the river and Korakuen, and the photo of the black keep from the garden side of the river. The keep is open from 9:00 to 17:30 (last entry 17:00) and closes December 29 to 31. Admission is 500 yen for high school age and up, and free for junior high students and younger.
3. Kibitsu Shrine and the Momotaro Legend
Kibitsu Shrine, in the countryside west of central Okayama, is where the city’s Momotaro story begins. The shrine’s deity, Kibitsuhiko, and the demon Ura that he defeated are said to be the origin of the Peach Boy legend, and you will see peaches and Momotaro statues all over Okayama. The main hall and worship hall, rebuilt in 1425, are built in the unique Kibitsu-zukuri style, said to be the only examples in Japan, and both are National Treasures. Do not miss the straight covered corridor, about 360 meters long, that runs downhill from the main hall, or the Okamaden hall connected to the Ura legend. The shrine grounds are free and open at all times, about a 10-minute walk from JR Kibitsu Station on the Momotaro Line. Active travelers can bike the Kibiji route, about 17 km of flat lanes and paths between Bizen-Ichinomiya and Soja stations past old temples and burial mounds; Kibitsu Shrine is about 3.5 km from Bizen-Ichinomiya.
Where to Stay Near Okayama Station
Where to stay: Okayama StationHotel links in this section go to Orbitz. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Okayama Station is the best base for this itinerary. The Shinkansen, the Momotaro Line to Kibitsu, and the trams to Korakuen and the castle all start here, and the area is full of restaurants that stay open late.
Luxury
Hotel Granvia Okayama is the JR-run full-service hotel connected directly to Okayama Station, with several restaurants under one roof. It is the easiest choice if you arrive by Shinkansen with luggage.
Full-service hotel connected to the station.
Mid-Range
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Okayama Ekimae is a modern business hotel at the east exit of Okayama Station, with comfortable rooms and the tram stop for Korakuen and the castle just outside.
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Okayama Ekimae
Modern rooms steps from the station.
Budget-Friendly
Toyoko Inn Okayama-eki Higashi-guchi is a simple chain hotel at the east exit with compact rooms and free breakfast, a good-value pick for a one-night stop on a rail trip.
Toyoko Inn Okayama-eki Higashi-guchi
Simple, good-value rooms with breakfast.
Compare prices before you book
Hotels in Okayama on Orbitz
Stay near Okayama Station for easy trams to Korakuen and the castle, and quick trains to Kibitsu, Kurashiki and Shikoku.
Affiliate link — if you book through Orbitz, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Tips for Visiting
- Buy the combined Korakuen and Okayama Castle ticket for 800 yen instead of two separate 500-yen tickets.
- Visit Korakuen early in the morning, when the lawns are quiet and the light on the castle is soft.
- From Okayama Station, ride the Higashiyama-bound tram about 5 minutes to Shiroshita, then walk about 10 minutes to the castle.
- If you bike the Kibiji route, you can rent at Bizen-Ichinomiya and return the bike at Soja for an extra 500 yen.
- Okayama is famous for white peaches and Muscat grapes, so look for fruit parfaits in summer and early autumn.
Getting there by train: Okayama Station is on the Sanyo Shinkansen, about 3 hours 20 minutes from Tokyo, about 45 minutes from Shin-Osaka and about 35 minutes from Hiroshima by Nozomi. Japan Rail Pass holders can use Hikari and Sakura trains without extra tickets. The JR Momotaro Line reaches Bizen-Ichinomiya in about 10 minutes, Kurashiki is about 17 minutes away on the JR Sanyo Line, and the Marine Liner crosses the Seto Ohashi Bridge to Takamatsu on Shikoku in about 55 minutes. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter Okayama Korakuen?
Admission to Okayama Korakuen is 500 yen for adults. A combined ticket with Okayama Castle costs 800 yen.
How do I get from Okayama Station to Korakuen?
Walk about 25 minutes, take the Higashiyama-bound tram about 5 minutes to Shiroshita and walk about 10 minutes, or take an Okaden bus to the Korakuen-mae stop in about 15 minutes.
Why is Okayama Castle called Crow Castle?
Okayama Castle is nicknamed U-jo, or Crow Castle, because of its black walls. It was also called Kin-Ujo, Golden Crow Castle, for its original gold-leaf roof tiles.
Is Kibitsu Shrine connected to Momotaro?
Yes. The shrine’s deity Kibitsuhiko and the demon Ura are said to be the origin of the Momotaro (Peach Boy) legend. The shrine is about a 10-minute walk from JR Kibitsu Station.
