Archive4 Hours Trips

4 Hours in Okayama

Sightseeing in Okayama

Back to top

1. Okayama Orient Museum
40 minutes (300 yen)
Open 9:00-17:00 (Closed Mondays)

The Okayama Orient Museum—Japan's only museum dedicated specifically to the culture and history of the Orient, particularly Western Asia—contains more than 5,000 artefacts, a wide range of items and materials dating from 3,500 BC through the 13th century. These treasures are indispensable to our understanding of ancient West Asia. One highlight is an Assyrian relief of a protective spirit, created by the culture of the first empire to unify ancient Mesopotamia.

English website:
http://www.orientmuseum.jp/page08.php

Back to Model Course

Back to top

2. Okayama Castle (Tenshukaku Tower)
40 minutes (300 yen)
(60 minutes and 1,530 yen with Bizen pottery making experience)
Open 9:00-17:00 (Closed Mondays, Dec 29-31)

Okayama Castle was completed in 1597 under the direction of Hideie Ukita, one of the senior vassals of Japan's supreme samurai warlord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The exterior of the castle donjon (Tenshukaku) appears a glossy black when the sun hits it due to the black lacquer covering its boards. Evoking the appearance of crow feathers, this lacquer coating earned the castle the nickname Ujo (literally "crow castle"). There are panoramic views over the city of Okayama from the donjon, while inside you can dress up in kimono like the aristocrats of old (free with admission). On the first floor, there is a workshop where you can make Bizen ware, pottery for which Okayama is renowned (see Option below).

It is possible to use the donjon of Okayama Castle as a unique venue for a reception. Guests can revel in their roles as samurai lords and ladies. The 3rd Asia-Pacific Conference on Luminescence and ESR Dating (2012 Autumn) is just one organisation that has held a reception here.

English website:
http://www.okayama-kanko.net/ujo/english/index.html#page0

Back to Model Course

Back to top

3. Okayama Korakuen Garden
50 minutes (400 yen)
Open 8:00-17:00 year-round (Mar 20-Sep 30, 7:30-18:00)

Okayama Korakuen Garden is one of Japan's cultural treasures, traditionally reckoned as one of the three finest gardens in the country. It is also the recipient of three stars from the Michelin Green Guide to Japan. Built to the north of Okayama Castle across the Asahigawa River at the end of the 17th century, it is a stroll garden. Connected throughout by paths and watercourses, each turn along the walking path brings into view a new vista of wide lawns, ponds, hillocks and teahouses.

Outside public visiting hours, Okayama Korakuen Garden can be used as a unique venue for hosting meetings or receptions.

English website:
http://www.okayama-korakuen.jp/english/index.html

Back to Model Course

Back to top

4. Yumeji Art Museum
30 minutes (700 yen)
Open 9:00-17:00 (Closed Mondays)

Japanese artist Takehisa Yumeji, born in 1884 in Okayama Prefecture, produced many paintings of Japanese beauties that won him widespread popularity within Japan and beyond. Some called him the Japanese Toulouse-Lautrec, others the Japanese Edvard Munch. The 2,000 items in the museum's collection, most of which are rotated through display, include hanging scrolls, folding screens, prints, oil and watercolour paintings, sketches, books written and designed by Yumeji, covers of musical scores, and letters.

English website:
http://yumeji-art-museum.com/07_index-e.html

Back to Model Course

Back to top

Option: Make your own Bizen ware pottery
(60 minutes, 1,230 yen additional fee)

Inside the donjon of Okayama Castle, you can try your hand at ceramic art, shaping clay into a dish, chopstick rest, small pot or tea bowl. It's easy enough even for complete beginners, and leaves you with a memento of your visit to Okayama. The piece can be fired and shipped to you outside Japan (delivery takes 1-2 months; shipping charges are extra).

Hands-on Bizen ware workshops begin at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00.

English website:
http://www.okayama-kanko.net/ujo/english/index.html#page3

Back to Model Course