Why you must visit Okayama
Are you tired of over-tourism at popular destinations? Or are you looking for more local and hidden places in Japan? But you don’t know where to go. I recommend visiting Okayama. Okayama is located between Hiroshima and Osaka. It is not a big city, but there are many places to enjoy Japanese local life.
1. Easy to access from big cities
Although Okayama is located in the countryside, it’s very easy to access from big cities such as Osaka and Hiroshima. If you stay long, visiting the countryside is one of the ways to enjoy Japan. It’s actually much cheaper and closer than we think.
If you take a Shinkansen, you can access Okayama in less than 1 hour, and the ticket is about 7000 yen.
If you take a bus, it takes about 3 hours, and the ticket costs only 3000 yen.
2. Beautiful historical buildings remain from Edo period
People often pay attention to the famous places from Social Media. But there are many historical buildings in the countryside of Japan, and Okayama is one of them.
The best thing about visiting the countryside is that you can avoid the crowds, and yet you can enjoy the same atmosphere as Kyoto. You’ll discover new aspects of Japan that many people don’t know.
There are so many historical buildings that remain from the Edo period, over 400 years ago, such as
shrines, temples, and houses. The depth of history makes the city more unique and attractive.
Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter
Japanese historical white colored houses are lined up along the Kurashiki River. Small shops are in those houses. You’ll find unique food, cafes, and jeans, etc.
Okayama Kourakuen
There are three of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, and this is one of them. It offers different colors in each season, and you feel like you’re back in the old Japanese world.
3. Perfect nature and weather
Okayama is called “sunny country.” Most days are sunny. This is because Okayama is surrounded by mountains, which protect it from severe weather and clouds. Okayama is also one of the safest cities in Japan. Japan is famous for its frequent earthquakes, but it rarely happens in Okayama.
Number of days per year with less than 1 millimeter of precipitation (rain)
About 276 days are good weather, and sometimes it is drizzle
Okaya is in 1st place
Mountains surround Okayama, creating a beautiful, varied landscape, especially in the northern part.
Hiruzen Plateau
Located at an elevation of 1000 meters, it offers cycling and gelato from cows that are raised here, as well as local food, camping, and fishing.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
A Mountain Castle in the sky. You can see the castle with a sea of clouds under specific conditions.
There is an ocean in the southern part called the Setonaikai. It’s located between Honshu (the main island) and Shikoku (a Huge island in the south). This ocean consists of more than 700 small islands, and it creates a beautiful view of the ocean. People call it the Japanese Aegean Sea.
