City break in Okayama. Active leisure ideas for Okayama - attractions, recreation and nightlife

Okayama will appeal to hiking and nature enthusiasts who will have many beautiful gardens to explore in the prefecture. A great place to relax in the fresh air is Omizu en, a historic garden founded in the 18th century. Visitors can admire a lot of trees, ornamental plants and flowers, and a huge pond in the middle of the park. Feeding fish in the pond became a popular entertainment among holidaymakers. It'd be most interesting to visit the garden during the cherry blossom. Many Japanese cherry trees are planted on the banks of the pond. Besides trees and plants, the garden has many sculptures and buildings made of stone, some of which are more than a hundred years old.

An equally beautiful and interesting is Nishigawa Canal Park, one of the townspeople's favorite leisure spots. The 2.5-kilometer-long park is designed more like an extended boulevard. Beautiful trees, flower beds, and living sculptures are planted along the entire length. The design of the park changes every year, so many come here specifically to take beautiful memorable photos. Another attractive feature of the park is the variety of fountains, thanks to which it is pleasant to relax here even on a hot day.

Okayama also has an excellent botanical garden - Handayama Botany, which is mostly visited by traveling and local families. Educational tours are regularly held here for schoolchildren and students. The garden has collected a diverse collection of rare plants and flowers. Plates with plant names in various languages are installed at every step, which makes it easy to explore the garden independently. It is located on a small hill and several viewing platforms. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The famous Ikeda Zoo is located here in Okayama, and it is certainly recommended to families and all nature lovers. Its opening took place in 1956, and over 1,500 animals belonging to 115 species live in the zoo today. Visitors can meet animals brought from all over the world. They'll find enclosures with Bengal tigers and jaguars, African lions and Indian elephants. Peacocks walk freely around the zoo, and visitors are allowed to pet and feed the friendliest inhabitants. The zoo offers great playgrounds and attractions for children, as well as a cozy cafe.

Sports enthusiasts will not be bored either: in the vicinity of the city, there are many attractive places for hiking and cycling. Okayama is also famous for its top-notch golf centers operating in the most picturesque suburban areas. Takebeno Mori is a perfect center for family leisure that is sure to appeal to both beginners and experienced golfers. Visitors can enjoy sports equipment rentals and a staff of professional coaches whose services are available to everyone. At any time you like, you can take a break and go explore the picturesque surroundings.

One of the most unusual amusement parks in Okayama is Taiyonooka. Its main decorations are huge figures of prehistoric animals, many of which serve as attractions. Playgrounds for children of different ages are buried in trees and greenery. There are also free spaces with a green lawn suitable for active games or picnicking.

Okayama never disappoints fans of nightlife entertainment. In the central streets, you will find a huge selection of nightclubs, bars, and other entertainment centers. Karaoke clubs are especially popular among locals, and Great Pumpkin is an outstanding one. It offers a rich menu of drinks and refreshments and regularly hosts themed entertainment programs. It has a large karaoke hall, as well as private rooms designed for several people where you can relax with friends in a secluded setting.

Fans of a refined atmosphere are welcome to Kubo Bar whose visitors have a wide selection of drinks too. The bar is beautifully designed, and its main feature is an impressive list of wines brought from around the world. "Joker" with its pink-colored interior may claim the title of the most glamorous nightclub in town. The club holds incendiary parties several times a week. Among its main visitors are local youth, but some of its entertainment programs will be of equal interest to older visitors too.