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Okayama
Prefecture capital and Designated city in Chūgoku, Japan

Okayama

Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.

Plan a trip to Okayama→From Takamatsu

The Okayama metropolitan area, centered around the city, has the largest urban employment zone in the Chugoku region of western Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of February 2023, the city has an estimated population of 700,940 and a population density of 890 people per km2. The total area is 789.95 square kilometres.

Get in

Getting to Okayama

  1. 01
    Okayama Momotarō Airport

    In the late 2010s, it was renamed for the popular hero of Japanese folklore.

See

Worth seeing

Statues of Momotaro are a popular Okayama photo-op. Arriving by train, you'll see your first at the east exit of JR Okayama Station, but there are Momotaro motifs all over the city - there is a Momotaro mailbox at the east exit of the station, and even manholes often feature the Peach Boy.

  1. 01
    Kōrakuen Garden
  2. 02
    Okayama Castle
  3. 03
    Okayama Orient Museum
  4. 04
    Okayama Prefectural Museum
  5. 05
    Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
  6. 06
    Hayashibara Museum of Art
Do

Things to do

Cycle the Kibi Plain. The Kibiji District (吉備路), a 15-km trail extending from Okayama to Soja, is a scenic cycling path, voted as one of the top 100 cycling paths in the nation. There is no need to bring your own bike, because you can rent your bike upon arrival.

  1. 01
    Kyobashi Market

    This morning market is filled with food and other vendors.

  2. 02
    Kubo Farm
  3. 03
    Kirin Beer Factory

    678 Mantomi, Seto-cho (Outside Mantomi Station),.

  4. 04
    Okayama Symphony Hall
  5. 05
    Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Grounds
  6. 06
    Okayama Dome
Eat

Where to eat

Kibi dango (吉備団子) are sweet millet-flour dumplings. According to the legend, Momotaro gave his companions kibi dango, and they helped him defeat the demons. Whether or not you'll like kibi dango enough to run off and fight demons will vary by personal taste, but they certainly are a tasty treat.

  1. 01
    Ajitsukasa Nomura
  2. 02
    Cafe.the Market Mai Mai

    This bakery and dessert shop serves a variety of fresh breads and pastries.

  3. 03
    Fujiya
  4. 04
    Ramen Ikki
  5. 05
    Tenjin Soba

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Martin Falbisoner (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.