Specialties
A Special feature about recommended Instagrammable places!
Check out the special feature about Instagrammable places to visit in Okayama! Take a picture there and get lots of LIKES! Share your very special one with friends!
The castle
Capture the very moment in an extraordinary world of a traditional Japanese “Castle” in Okayama and the beautiful nature surroundings.
Bicchu Matsuyama Castle
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
- Vehicle recommended
Bicchu Matsuyama Castle
The castle is notable for its location at the highest altitudes among existing Japanese castles with tenshu (a main keep). In the autumn and winter early mornings it looks as if its floating in a Sea of Clouds, and is dubbed as “the Castle in the Sky”. Focus on the Autumn Foliage and the Sea of Clouds for a picture of this superb view.
【The best seasons to view the Autumn Foliage and the Sea of Clouds】
◆The Autumn Foliage: from the beginning to the middle of November
◆The Sea of Clouds: from October to the beginning of December
◆Timeframe for viewing the Sea of Clouds: 6 a.m.-8 a.m.
◆Observation point for the Sea of Clouds: an observatory of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park)
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park)
Enjoy the scenery with approximately 1,000 cherry blossom trees blooming in the spring time. It is designated as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites”. The illuminated cherry blossom trees at night are a must-see and colored leaves are extremely beautiful in fall. It is a notable site in Tsuyama. Take some photos of the stunning scenery with the stone walls of the castle.
Okayama Castle
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Okayama Castle
The black painted exterior likened to a black feathered crow, Okayama Castle came to be known as "Crow Castle”. You can find many photo spots around the castle. The highly-recommended “Ishiyama Park” has views of Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen and the Asahi River. The view of the Okayama Castle from the “Tsukimi Bridge” is especially breathtaking, showing some reflections from the river. Okayama Castle looks exceptional when you look at it from Okayama Korakuen, which is one of three great gardens in Japan and has been awarded with a 3star remark in Michelin Green Guide Japan. “The Crow Castle Light-up Event” which is held in spring, summer and fall at and around the castle tower is so instagrammable, colored with hanging paper lanterns, garden lanterns and candles.
Kinojo Castle
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
- Vehicle recommended
Kinojo Castle
With a panoramic view from the 400m elevation this is definitely a perfect viewing spot. The West Gate and Kakuro, the corner tower has been restored by certified carpenters specializing in building and restoring traditional temples and shrines and the view of Soja city from the top past the West Gate is stunning with the sunrise or sunset glowing over. Wouldn’t it be nice to take pictures in the backdrop of the sky turning red during the sunrise or sunset?
Temples and shrines
Beautiful buildings and landscapes where you can feel the history and traditions of Japan.
Saijo Inari
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
Saijo Inari
The most prominent feature is the huge shrine gate in Bengal red. It is 27.5m high with pillars 4.6m thick with the total weight of 2800t. Take dynamic pictures with its color and size. There are many photo spots other than the beautiful main shrine, such as the various cultural properties, Kannon statues, the garden and large ginkgo trees. The rare stone deva gate and heart-shaped love knot charms are also recommended.
Kibitsujinja Shrine
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Kibitsujinja Shrine
The corridor that leads to the main hall is 360 meters long and its length and beauty make it a popular place to take photos. When you visit Kibitsu Shrine, make sure you take photos there! The main shrine, which has the one and only original architectural style in Japan, is another recommendation here and is designated as a National Treasure. The flowers of each season and the peach-shaped love charms are attracting attention on the SNS!
- Cherry blossoms (Sakura): Early April
- Peony/Azalea: May
- Hydrangea (1500 roots): June
Kibitsuhikojinja Shrine
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Kibitsuhikojinja Shrine
The beautiful architectural work that comes from the Shinto architecture traditions and the Heian cedar estimated more than 1,000 years old are must-sees. The shrine is also called “Asahinomiya (the shrine of the Rising sun)”, which looks majestic and mystical when the sun is rising up right in front of the torii gate towards the shrine during the summer solstice. The statue of Momotaro (one of the main characters in a Japanese folklore) in the car park is also a popular photo spot. The red and white love knot charms and peach-shaped protection charms against misfortunes are also recommended.
Okayama Shrine
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Okayama Shrine
The worship hall has a distinctive appearance, white and modern, and is located on the other side of Asahi River across from the Okayama Korakuen. We have original “goshuin-chou”, stamp-collecting books, and the pretty illustrations in them are popular among our visitors. At the shrine, you can also find the impressive grand Ema (votive picture), which is famous for its praying style not to mention its unique design of the Japanese zodiac for the year.
The Shrine also holds various events throughout the year, and you will be able to feel the history of Japan here.
Raikyuji Temple Garden
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Raikyuji Temple Garden
You can enjoy a beautiful Japanese landscape of Mount Atago as a Shakkei (natural backdrop) of the garden. Among all, we recommend the garden named the “Tsurukame no Niwa (Garden of Cranes and Turtles)”.
It has the traditional Japanese gardening style of “Karesansui (Zen garden)”, where not even a single drop of water is used, and instead uses sand, stone and moss to represent the water. This spot has the beautiful photogenic sceneries of Satsuki azalea in May, colored leaves in autumn and old Samurai residences built 300 years ago.
Bitchu-Kokubunji Temple / The Five-Storied Pagoda
- Available year-round
- Vehicle recommended
Bitchu-Kokubunji Temple / The Five-Storied Pagoda
The 34 m high five-storied pagoda which is a designated national important cultural property and the pastoral landscape covered with flowers of the season are the popular photo spots here in Okayama.
In the spring time rape flowers and lotus flowers, in the summer time sunflowers, and in the autumn time cosmoses are in bloom. From early to mid-September “Red rice” with its unique red-color ears spread all over the fields in red.
We also recommend the sceneries of the Bitchu-Kokubunji Temple and red rice field during sunset in autumn.
The townscape
The traditional Japanese townscape from the good old days
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
There are many elegant and quaint spots such as the sceneries of cockboats coming and going on the river alongside the row of willows, a townscape preserving breweries with white-plastered walls and buildings built about 300 years ago, and the historical “Achi Shrine” built more than 1700 years ago.
You can also enjoy the beautiful nightscape of the Bikan quarter, the “Yakan Keikan Shoumei (Nightscape Illumination)”, a totally different landscape from the daytime, produced by a world-class lighting designer.
Yakan Keikan Shoumei (Nightscape Illumination) – from April to September (sunset -10 pm) / from October to March (sunset - 9 pm)
KOJIMA JEANS STREET
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
KOJIMA JEANS STREET
In “Kojima” where domestic jeans originated, there is a famous street called Kojima Jeans Street lines with a lot of jeans makers and shops. You will find many photo spots such as “Huge Jeans Stairs” at JR Kojima station and lots of jeans hanging overhead, which symbolize the street. So don’t miss these must-shoot spots!
Also manholes with a fashionable logo, the community mascot “G Panda,” which you can take photos with, and rare vending machines with jeans designs are popular.
Former Yakage Honjin, Ishii Family House
- Available year-round
- Accessible via public transportation
Former Yakage Honjin, Ishii Family House
Yakage flourished as a post-town, where Samurais around Japan stayed on the way to Tokyo. (In the system called Sankin Kotai during Edo period, where Samurais were required to reside every other year in Tokyo). Gorgeous mansions used to accommodate high rank Samurais still exists, and are designated as a cultural asset of national importance. You can enjoy the photogenic world with the most beautiful Japanese architecture such as “Onarimon,” double door gate made of solid zelkova, “Ranma” wood work in modern design, and sake storehouses.
