Okayama岡山県

Scenic views of the Seto Inland Sea and Seto-ohashi Bridge. Koraku-en Garden offers beautiful views of Okayama Castle.

Okayama is situated in the southeastern Chugoku region and faces the Seto Inland Sea. The mild climate and scant rainfall make Okayama ideal for growing grapes, peaches, and other fruit. The Chugoku Mountain Range extends in the north, the Kibi-kogen Highlands spread south of the mountains beyond the Tsuyama Basin, and the Okayama Plain faces the Seto Inland Sea in the south.

Okayama is endowed with abundant natural beauty, including the islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the Seto-ohashi Bridge that spans Honshu and Shikoku islands, Mt. Washu-zan (which overlooks them), and the Hiruzen-kogen Highlands in Daisen-Oki National Park. Other must-sees are Okayama Castle (noted for its unique black exterior), Kibitsu-jinja Shrine (which has a national treasure sanctuary and worship hall as well as the important cultural property Kita-zuishin-mon Gate), and many other historic sites and historical structures.

The Koraku-en Garden is, one of the three major gardens in Japan, offers a beautiful view of Okayama Castle. There is also Kurashiki Tivoli Park, created to resemble the world's first theme park, Tivoli Park in Denmark.