Okayama Castle

The city of Okayama boasts of one of the greatest gardens of Japan, the Kouraku en garden and the famous castle at Okayama which has been named the U Jo or the crow castle because of the black color of the castle, something which is not found in any other castle in the country of Japan. The castle, originally built in 1597, houses a museum with a notable collection of artifacts.

The castle, like many others, was destroyed in the Second World War and was rebuilt in 1966 using Ferro concrete, the only original remains of the castle is an authentic turret.

However to make things easy for the visitors the people who have reconstructed the museum have included an elevator for the convenience of the visitors.
The museum is open for general public daily from 9am to 5 pm.

Places to visit in and around the castle

The Kouraka en Garden is one of the best places to visit in the city of Okayama as it is one of the best gardens that Japan has to offer. The garden was laid some thirteen years ago and is renowned for its big lawn, paddy field, small tea plantation and scenery of the Okayama castle. Other interesting places in the city of Okayama include the feudal town of Kurashaki which is just a quarter of an hour away from Okayama station by train. Then there is a place called Bizen which is renowned for the pottery that is used during the tea ceremonies. The Washu Jan hill on the other hand provides an excellent view of the 12 kilometer long bridge that joins the islands of Honshu and Shikoku.

How to reach

Okayama is considered the gateway of Shikoku and is well connected with places like Osaka and Hiroshima. The Okayama airport is served by a number of airline companies and is situated at a distance of about half an hour from the center of the city. The castle is located only a kilometer and a half away from the JR Okayama station.From JR Okayama station, you can use public transport facilities including taxis to take you to the Shiroshita station from where the castle is only a walking distance away.

Places to stay

There are different types of accommodation available in the city of Okayhama ranging from five star hotels to the budget and discount hotels. The Granvia hotel offers top of the line luxury facilities and all modern amenities that a hotel can offer. While Mitsui Garden Hotel is a budget hotel that is located near the Okayama station and provides easy access to the important tourist attractions of the city.

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