Okayama | Leisurely Sunny Kingdom, One-day Tour Guide

Okayama is a charming and culturally rich city. The people here are warm and honest, the city's pace is slow and leisurely, and the rainfall is the lowest in the country, earning it the nickname "Sunny Kingdom"! Peaches and grapes are its specialties. 🔷🔷🔷My one-day Okayama tour guide: 🚗Transportation: There are direct flights from Shanghai to Okayama, or you can take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Okayama Station (40 minutes). 🏨Accommodation: VIA INN Okayama - JR West Group, 2 minutes from Okayama Station. 🗺️My one-day Okayama itinerary: ⏰Morning - Ujo Park - Okayama Castle (9:00-17:30) 🕐Afternoon - Okayama Korakuen (8:00-18:00) 🔔🔔Take the city tram, the two attractions are 5 minutes apart. You can buy a Okayama Castle + Korakuen set ticket for 720 yen. 💎Attraction features: 📍Ujo Park: Named after Okayama Castle, Ujo Park is not only a place to visit Okayama Castle, but also to see the Shoin, and experience traditional pottery at the Bizen-yaki workshop. 📍Okayama Castle: One of the "100 Famous Castles of Japan," known for its unique uneven pentagonal design and three-story six-tiered main tower. Unlike ordinary castles, this one is entirely black, hence the nickname "Black Castle." The castle showcases the history and culture of Okayama. You can slowly browse through each floor! (🕢9:00-17:30) 📍Okayama Korakuen: One of the "Big 3" famous gardens in Japan, its beauty changes with the seasons as different flowers are planted. It has also been awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide, and is a masterpiece of Japanese gardens. Personally, I think it is more beautiful and worth a visit than Ritsurin Garden. (🕐7:30-18:00) 📌Tips: 1️⃣There are cafes in Okayama Castle and Korakuen where you can rest and have a drink, but there is no main course. I recommend Isshoan, a Michelin one-star ramen restaurant, which is a 10-minute drive from the attractions. 2️⃣Be sure to buy a set ticket for Okayama Castle and Korakuen, which is more affordable! It takes about 3-4 hours to visit the two attractions.