[2024 Latest] Golden Week outings: Okayama Korakuen Garden"FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）" and Okayama Castle"U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo"

What is the FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）, U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo?

Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN） and Spring U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo are light-up events held at Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle, respectively.

[Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）]

Event period: Friday, April 26th, 2024 to Monday, May 6th (national holiday)

Opening hours: 18:00-21:30 (entry until 21:00)

Venue: Okayama Korakuen Garden

Address: 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward

Admission fee: 410 yen for adults, 140 yen for those 65 and older, free for high school students and younger

[Spring in U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo]

Event period: Friday, April 26th, 2024 to Monday, May 6th (national holiday)

Event hours: 18:00-21:30 (entry until 21:00)

Location: Okayama Castle area

Address: 2-3-1 Marunouchi Castle Tower, Kita Ward -ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

Admission fee: Adults (15 years and over) 400 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yen, preschoolers free

Okayama Korakuen Garden Special Nighttime Opening "Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）"

First, we visited Okayama Korakuen Garden's "Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）."Okayama Korakuen Garden has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide Japan and is a world-renowned landmark. We entered through an entrance that exuded a Japanese atmosphere with its lanterns and the "Heishiro Pine" tree visible in the Oku.

"Chasen lanterns" that light up the spacious schoolyard

Passing in front of the Kakumeikan, we proceed to the spacious school yard. The entire area is adorned with gorgeous light, inviting visitors into a dreamlike world. The gorgeous lights that decorate the school yard are made to resemble tea whisks. They look like cute flowers!

Okayama Korakuen Garden has tea fields and holds a tea picking event in June, so the tea whisk is a motif that is typical of Okayama Korakuen Garden.

Okayama Korakuen Garden Tea Picking Festival

Colorful "Spring Fantasy Flower Water Basin"

In the waterway in front of Enyotei, there is a floating flower water basin! It is a display that symbolizes the spring when flowers bloom one after another. Combined with the lights of Enyotei reflected on the water surface, it creates a beautiful scene.

"Colorful Bamboo Lantern Lights" with delicate craftsmanship

The bamboo lanterns floating in the pond create a fantastical sight! The bamboo, decorated with delicate patterns, is lit up in beautiful colors, making it look like glasswork.

What a magnificent view! The view from Mt. Yuishin

The view from the top of Mt. Yuishin is spectacular. You can look out over the vast garden and the colorful, sparkling light are beautiful! The view from Mt. Yuishin has even been awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan!

During the FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN） period, the road to the top of Mt. Yuishin is one-way. There is a limit of about 30 people allowed at the top, so many people lined up. ​Follow the instructions of the security guards and wait in line while enjoying the view.

Spring in full bloom! Flower illuminations

This is the season when colorful flowers are beautiful. The flowers are also lit up, so they look beautiful even at night.

The Hirado azaleas reflected in the waterway. They were so clearly reflected in the clear mirror of the water that it gave the illusion of being connected to another world below the surface.

Fantastic Spring Garden/U-jo (Crow Castle) Togenkyo

703-8257 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Castle Special Nighttime Opening "Spring U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo"

After enjoying the FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN） , we left the south gate and headed towards Okayama Castle , the venue for the "Spring U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo " event. Okayama Castle is lit up with lights that change colour depending on the time of day, from blue to Aka to yellow.

This time, the corridor gate was a one-way street, so we went around from the Tsukimi Yagura direction and headed towards the castle tower.

The only remaining structure: Tsukimi Yagura

The Ikeda family crest, known as Bizen Butterfly, was projected onto the Tsukimi Tower. Built by Ikeda Tadao in the early Edo period, the Tsukimi Tower is the only structure still standing in the Honmaru citadel. The Ukita family crest, "ko," and Kobayakawa Hideaki's flag, "a circle with a sickle," were also projected onto the tower, so be sure to try and find them!

Take a break at Ujo (Crow Castle) Nostalgic Food Stalls

At the bottom of Okayama Castle, there were food stalls selling yakisoba, takoyaki, ice cream, etc. I was hungry after walking around Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle, so I decided to have a cheese hot dog.

Hotdog is a Korean version of an American hot dog. It comes topped with three toppings recommended by the shop staff: sugar, ketchup, and honey mustard. When you bite into the crispy batter, the cheese inside stretches out and it's delicious!

Enjoy the Japanese spring evening at the Castle Tower Square

After that, we headed to the square in front of the castle tower. Once we reached the top of the stairs, the castle tower was lit up, its majestic figure standing out against the dark night. Large Japanese umbrellas were placed here and there, adding to the Japanese atmosphere. The surrounding trees were lit up in the color of cherry blossoms, reminiscent of spring.

Cherry Blossom Illumination

One of the highlights of this event was the display at the foundation stone of the castle tower. The artificial cherry blossom changes color as it is lit up, and the smoke creates an even more fantastical atmosphere that is hard to take your eyes off of. It represents the changing of the seasons, and the sparkling display makes it look like fireflies are flying.

Fantastic Spring Garden/U-jo (Crow Castle) Togenkyo

703-8257 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

A plethora of events!

Many events will be held at Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle during Golden Week. Events such as the "Tatami Edge Workshop" and the "Korokoro Koinobori (Carp Streamer) Making" event, which is held in conjunction with Children's Day, are scheduled to be held, so be sure to come and experience them!

Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN）- U-jo (Crow Castle)Togenkyo

Conclusion

What did you think? Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle , illuminated with colorful light that you can't normally see, are a must-see. Be sure to visit during Golden Week!