Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle, a landmark of Okayama Prefecture, features a unique structure with a four-tiered, six-story composite watchtower and an asymmetrical pentagonal shape on the first floor. The most distinctive feature of the main keep is its glossy black exterior walls adorned with gold leaf tiles, earning it the nicknames 'Crow Castle' and 'Golden Crow Castle.' The golden shachihoko (mythical carp) on each rooftop corner are worth a close look. The castle has seven floors from the basement to the sixth floor, showcasing historical materials of Okayama. The 'Tsukimi Yagura,' built during the Edo period, is the only remaining turret on the main bailey site of Okayama Castle and is an important cultural property. The Nishite Yagura also survived the war. The observation deck on the seventh floor of the main keep offers a panoramic view of Okayama Prefecture. The Asahi River serves as a natural moat for Okayama Castle.