Okayama Day Trip Itinerary: Sightsee the Classics in 1 Day

About Okayama Prefecture

Located between the prefectures of Hiroshima and Osaka in the Chugoku region lies the sunny prefecture of Okayama. Though it isn’t as visited by international tourists compared to either prefecture, its prime location near the Seto Inland Sea and mild, sunny weather still makes it a popular sightseeing destination for the local Japanese. In fact, it has such great weather with minimal rainfall that its nickname is the “Land of Sunshine!”

Getting to Okayama From Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo

Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo to get to Okayama, the capital city of its namesake prefecture.
・From Shin-Osaka Station: 6,260 yen, 50 minutes
・From Kyoto Station: 7,900 yen, 1 hour
・From Tokyo Station: 17,570 yen, 3 hours and 30 minutes

Alternatively, you can take an airplane to Okayama Momotaro Airport, which sees both domestic (Tokyo, Sapporo, Okinawa) and international (Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei) arrivals. Once you’ve arrived, you can take the Okayama-Airport Limousine Bus to get to Okayama Station (780 yen, 30-40 minutes).

Okayama Day Trip Itinerary

As most of Okayama Prefecture’s classic sightseeing spots are within a short distance of each other, most people visit it on a day trip or only stay for 1-2 nights. We made this itinerary with these people in mind, but there is much more to explore in the prefecture, especially if you can rent and drive a car in Japan.

Okayama Station

Regardless of whether you arrive by airplane or shinkansen, your first destination will most likely be Okayama Station. Befitting its status as a major station in Okayama Prefecture, it is directly connected to two shopping centers: Sun Station Terrace and the underground Okayama IchiBanGai. Both have plenty of cafes and restaurants, so if you’ve arrived early in the morning, take the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and relax.

Head to the East Exit to access both shopping malls as well as the busier part of Okayama City. One particular attraction to look out for is the Statue of Momotaro, a boy from Japanese folklore who beat ogres with the help of three animal friends. The folktale is said to have taken place in Okayama Prefecture, so you’ll see signs of it pretty much everywhere you go, the most iconic being white and pink peaches.

Optional: Nishigawa Green Road Park

Access: 10-minute walk from Okayama Station

Our next destination is Okayama Castle. You can get there by tram, but if you have some time, why not go for a walk instead?

This park is located along the Nishigawa Canal that runs through the center of the city from north to south. It is very much beloved by the locals as it’s a little pocket of nature not far from the ever-busy Okayama Station. Events such as festivals are regularly held here.

The journey to get to the park is just as scenic and very much worth it. In the spring, you’ll see cherry blossoms in full bloom. The summer foliage is lush green. In the winter, they have illuminations that light up the cold night.

Okayama Castle

Access: Take the tram bound for Higashiyama from Okayama Station. Get off at the Shiroshita stop and walk for about 10 minutes. The entire journey should take around 20 minutes. You can also just walk around 30 minutes from Okayama Station.

Built in 1957, Okayama Castle stands out with its black exterior which has earned it the nickname “Ujo Castle” (Crow Castle). The current castle tower is a reconstruction made in 1966 after the original was destroyed in a fire during World War 2. It spans six floors, with the top floor presenting a panoramic view of the neighboring Korakuen Garden and city below. The other floors have been converted into a museum that showcases the history and culture of Okayama.

Highlights of the castle tower include the dress-up corner on the first floor, where visitors can get into costumes inspired by past rulers of Okayama Castle, and the recreation of a feudal lord’s room on the second floor. There’s also a souvenir shop featuring limited-edition merchandise and other items unique to Okayama.

Outside of the castle tower, drop by the Bizen-yaki Pottery Studio if you want to try your hand at making one of Japan’s six oldest kinds of pottery. Also don’t miss out on the Tsukimi Yagura turret, which is the only original building of the castle that has managed to survive the war.

Okayama Korakuen Garden

Access: 8-minute walk from Okayama Castle

Korakuen is one of the top three gardens in Japan. Once a retreat for feudal lords and their guests, today it stands as one of Okayama’s most popular attractions. For a proper look at everything the garden has to offer, visitors can join a free guided tour at the Kirari Guide Crew Desk next to the Main Gate Information Center.

Those who prefer free exploration should check out the plum grove, cherry blossom grove, and maple tree grove at their respective best viewing seasons. There’s also a tea house where you can sit back and enjoy the garden view that has remained mostly the same since the garden was created.

No matter when you visit, Korakuen has something fun in store for you. The garden hosts several events throughout the year, such as tea picking, rice planting, lotus viewing, moon viewing, and night illuminations during both the summer and autumn. It also has a Noh theater stage where performances are periodically held. On special occasions such as New Year’s Day, you can even see auspicious red-crowned cranes out and about!

Yumeji Art Museum

Access: 3-minute walk from Okayama Korakuen Garden

This art museum is dedicated to Yumeji Takehisa, a poet, painter, and designer who was born in Okayama. His works are acclaimed as representations of Japan’s Taisho Romanticism art style back in the early 1900s, often featuring black cats and gorgeous women collectively known as “Yumeji-style beauties.”

The main attraction of the museum are the roughly 100 pieces on display, which are regularly changed out, and the special exhibitions held four times a year. There’s also a cafe whose decor and menu were inspired by Yumeji, with furniture designed by another Okayama-born artist.

But in our opinion, perhaps the greatest attraction of Yumeji Art Museum is its resident black cat, Kuronosuke! This famous kitty has become the mascot of the museum, appearing in various designs and artworks including some of Okayama’s buses. If you’re lucky, you just might spot Kuronosuke at work! Kuronosuke also has an active Instagram page that you can follow.

Lunch Option 1: Shunsai Hayato

Access: 13-minute walk from the Yumeji Art Museum

Enjoy the specialties of Okayama and the Seto Inland Sea at Shunsai Hayato. This is one of the few places that serve up top-quality Chiya beef, a kind of wagyu beef local to Okayama and hard to find outside of the prefecture. They also feature seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea shipped in at least twice a day to ensure freshness and quality.

The cuisine at Shunsai Hayato is what cooks would serve up to feudal lords back in the day, befitting the restaurant’s prime location near Okayama Korakuen Garden. But though the food may be fancy, they welcome guests of all ages, and the interior decor is inviting with warm wood tones. So don’t be reserved, bring your friends and family and feast!

Lunch Option 2: Aeon Mall Okayama

Access: Take the bus bound for Okayama Station (Fujiwara Danchi/Kyoyama Line) and get off at Okayama Station. The mall is around a 6-minute walk from there. The entire journey should take a bit less than 30 minutes.

If you’re looking for a more casual lunch, head over to Aeon Mall Okayama instead. As one of the biggest malls in Okayama City, it has plenty of food options, with a big food hall on one floor, two more floors dedicated to restaurants and cafes, and other eateries scattered around the various other floors.

Aeon Mall Okayama is also a great place to shop and relax. There’s a game arcade and cinema, and stores selling pretty much everything under the sun. Locals love it, and we’re sure you’ll find something to enjoy about it, too.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Access: Take the bus bound for Takashimaya/Okayama Station (Takaya Line) and get off at Okayama Station. Then take the Sanyo Line or Hakubi Line from Okayama Station to Kurashiki Station. From there, you need to walk around 15 minutes. The entire journey should take a bit less than 40 minutes.

Once the political and commercial center of the city of Kurashiki, the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is now preserved as a historic district. Many of its residences and storehouses have been converted into stores, museums, and cafes that travelers can freely visit.

The view is a thing of wonder, with white-walled buildings and willow trees lining the Kurashiki River. See it from the water on a leisurely boat tour, or don a rented kimono and go for a scenic stroll.

The exploration is a lot of the fun, but if you’d like a bit more of a guided experience, we’ve listed a couple of spots in or near the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter to check out.

・Ohara Museum of Art

The Ohara Museum of Art houses about 3,000 artworks that range from famous Western paintings such as the works of Claude Monet to contemporary Japanese pieces and even ancient Egyptian art. It is Japan’s first private museum to feature Western art of any kind.

The exterior is just as gorgeous as the artworks within, resembling a Greek temple that somehow fits into the Western-Japanese facade of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. There’s little English signage once you actually step inside, but it is still a must-visit location if you’re interested in art or architecture.

・Kurashiki Ivy Square

Kurashiki Ivy Square is a cultural complex built on the site of Kurashiki Spinning Works, a Meiji period spinning mill. It has restaurants, a hotel, hands-on pottery workshops, and a memorial hall where you can learn about the history of the spinning factory and textile production in Kurashiki.

The main highlight of Kurashiki Ivy Square is the building facade, as when the complex was built, significant effort was put into preserving the spinning factory’s original red brick exterior and structural elements such as pillars and beams. Ivy has been left to grow all over the buildings, presenting a view unlike any other.

・Kurashiki Denim Street

Kurashiki Denim Street is said to be the place where Japan’s domestic jeans industry began. In fact, the entire city of Kurashiki is known worldwide as a manufacturer of high-quality denim. If you check out the denim stores here, you may encounter rare finds such as The Strike Gold jeans.

Other than denim stores, the street houses souvenir shops and eateries selling all kinds of denim-related foods and treats, including ramune-flavored denim soft-serve ice cream and denim “manju” meat buns. The denim blue color is really the only thing unique about many of these foods, but they do make for a great photo!

・Kurashiki Momoko Main Store

Okayama’s sunny climate makes it the perfect place for growing fruits, which is why over the years the prefecture has heavily marketed itself as a “fruit kingdom.” Its two specialties are white peaches and shine muscat grapes, both of which you can enjoy fresh at Kurashiki Momoko.

Kurashiki Momoko is a local chain cafe that specializes in seasonal fruit parfaits. It has four stores spread across the city, each offering a slightly different menu. While the prices aren’t cheap at all, especially for a store outside of big cities like Tokyo, the fruit are very fresh and juicy and are luxuriously used. Items get sold out pretty quickly, so if you plan to come here, visit as early as possible.

(In the above video, Kurashiki Momoko is the first store covered.)

Dinner Option 1: Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki and Ario Kurashiki

Access: Take the bus going to Kurashiki Station or just walk. The entire journey either way should take less than 20 minutes. From Kurashiki Station, both malls are within 10 minutes’ walking distance.

These two shopping malls are both on the opposite side of Kurashiki Station from the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Though the trip might take some time if you’re coming all the way from the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, they’re must-visit places for anyone who likes to shop.

Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki holds many events and bargain sales throughout the year, and with a wide variety of local and international brands, you can easily spend at least half a day shopping your heart out. When you get hungry, just hop over to the neighboring Ario Kurashiki to indulge in foods such as sushi and yakiniku. (Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki has some food options too, but they’re not as plentiful as Ario Kurashiki.)

In between the two malls sits Kurashiki Mirai Park, a waterfront park perfect for strolling after a hearty dinner. At certain times of the year such as winter, it takes on a festive appearance with colorful lights at night.

Dinner Option 2: Demi Katsu-don in Okayama City

The katsu-don is a national favorite featuring deep-fried cutlets placed on top of a steaming bowl of rice. Okayama has a regional version of this beloved dish where instead of the cutlet being simmered in egg, onions, and Japanese “dashi” broth to give it flavor, the cutlet is instead placed on the rice as-is and paired together with rich demi glace sauce.

Taste this fusion of Western and Japanese flavors for yourself with these two dining options back in the city of Okayama:

・Katsudon Nomura

Access: Take the bus going to Kurashiki Station or just walk. From there, take the Sanyo Line or Hakubi Line from Kurashiki Station to Okayama Station. The restaurant is a 10-minute walk from there. The whole journey takes less than an hour.

This restaurant is said to have created demi katsu-don, so it is the place to go if you want to try the dish in its original form. Here, they call the dish “domi” katsu-don. The original version featured thin pork cutlets with a generous serving of demi glace sauce and some cabbage, but if you prefer something a bit meatier, you can ask them for a thicker, fattier cut of pork.

・Date Soba

Access: Take the bus going to Kurashiki Station or just walk. From there, take the Sanyo Line or Hakubi Line from Kurashiki Station to Okayama Station. Then get on the tram on the Higashiyama Line and get off at Kenchodori Station. The restaurant is a 2-minute walk from there. The whole journey takes around an hour.

Though “soba” may be in its name, this restaurant actually serves up a mean bowl of demi katsu-don. The pork cutlet here is thick and served up in generous portions, even in the half-size bowl. The demi glace sauce is thin, and the entire rice bowl is topped with a raw egg for extra flavor. (If you can’t eat raw eggs, feel free to ask them to leave it out.) It’s a tiny mom n’ pop shop, but popular with the locals and even won a place in the Michelin Guide Okayama 2021. The most popular order is the half-size ramen and demi katsu-don set to get a taste of both their specialties.

Where to Stay in Okayama

Just in case you decide you want to spend a little more time in Okayama, here are a few accommodation options to check out!

Hotel Granvia Okayama

The perfect hotel if you’re looking for convenience. It’s directly connected to Okayama Station, which makes it easy to travel anywhere in Okayama Prefecture. The rooms are clean and spacious, the service is reputedly attentive and top-notch, and the food is decent. What more can you ask for?

Kurashiki Ivy Square

As we covered earlier, Kurashiki Ivy Square also has a hotel. It's the perfect accommodation if you want to spend the night inside of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in a building full of history. (Don't worry, as you can see in the images, the rooms themselves are modern.) The service is great, and the hotel breakfast is also delicious.

When to Visit Okayama

Okayama is a great prefecture to visit in all seasons, even in the summer as it’s drier than big cities like Tokyo. But if we had to pick a specific month to visit, come to Okayama in March. That’s when the Kurashiki Haruyoi Akari, where the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is lit up at night, and the Okayama Sakura Carnival, where Okayama Korakuen Garden celebrates the blooming of the cherry blossoms both day and night, are held.

Cover Okayama’s Classic Tourist Spots in 1 Day

Though we strongly recommend spending more time exploring Okayama Prefecture, we know from gathered data that most people only allocate at most a day or two to sightsee the prefecture. You’ll miss out on a lot, but as we’ve covered in this article, even with just a single day, you can still experience the region’s deep history, rich local cuisine, and vibrant art scene.

If after reading this you want to explore more of Okayama Prefecture, we have two other articles you can check for travel inspiration:
・Must-Visit Places in Okayama
・Photogenic Spots in Okayama