Sightseeing in Okayama - what to see. Complete travel guide

Okayama is an important transportation and education center in Japan, as well as a city with rich cultural heritage and complex history. It was founded in 1889 and was considered a major industrial area. During the years of the Second World War the city was completely destroyed and so it had to be completely rebuilt. Today Okayama is very attractive in terms of tourism; here you will find numerous attractive buildings, cultural centers and entertainments.

The Museum of Art is one of the most beautiful buildings, where guests can look at collections of paintings by prominent Japanese artists. The building is located on a small hill and looks like an ancient temple. This is a majestic and graceful place. Hayashibara Museum of Art is no less remarkable. In addition to the exhibition of paintings, several rooms of the museum are devoted to collections of antique furniture, knives and national costumes. Many of the items exhibited in this museum are considered national treasures.

Besides numerous cultural institutions Okayama is famous for a magnificent nature reserve, which is called Korakuen Garden. It was founded back in 1700. Nowadays you can see numerous unusual plants, large ponds and canals, as well as artificial islands in this garden. In the center of this national park you will see Okayama Castle, which is surrounded by cherry and apricot groves. In the garden are built several tea houses, where visitors can make a break and enjoy the tea ceremony. Today the castle is turned into a museum that exhibits collections of weapons and armor, which have been used by samurai. Tourists should also visit Yumedji Art Museum where they will find a large exposition of amazing landscapes, and the Museum of East that features a rich collection of ancient artifacts. Lovers of classical music will definitely enjoy visiting the Symphonic Concert Hall. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

An interesting local historic attraction is the old Tsukimi Yagura (Moon-viewing) tower built back in the 16th century. Originally, the tower was part of a large architectural complex, which has not been preserved to our days. Visitors to the tower are offered a very interesting activity: ladies here can try on a luxurious kimono, and beautiful samurai costumes are prepared for men. In this ancient tower, you can have a great memorable photo shoot.

In the vicinity of Okayama is the famous Bizen-yaki craft center, which can also be visited as part of the tour. Here, craftsmen make unique pottery according to ancient technology, which is the oldest in Japan. All visitors to the center can observe the work of the masters and even buy products they like. Special clay with a unique mineral composition is used for making utensils, which is the main secret of high quality.

Many unique sanctuaries have been preserved in the city and its surroundings, and one of the most interesting is Saijo Inari Shrine. This temple was founded more than 1,200 years ago, and today it is a large architectural complex with several memorial zones. This temple has many interesting features, some of its parts were constructed without the use of any fastening elements. The position of huge stones stacked on each other has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. In one of the most remote parts of the temple, there is a small spring, the water of which is believed to be miraculous.

A tour of the Old Residence of Samurai of Ashimori Clan promises to be informative. Built in the classical traditions, it represents a valuable architectural object. The residence has an ancient tea house, several storage rooms, as well as a magnificent garden with many rare plants.

A wonderful place for walking is the Tottori Square, which is located near the railway station. This square is remarkable for the fact that next to it there are several interesting old buildings of different periods. Here you can also see beautiful symbolic monuments. The monumental clock adorned with an original sculptural composition is of particular interest.