Okayama in All its Glory

Okayama Prefecture (岡山県 Okayama-ken) is located in the Chūgoku region of Japan along the Seto Inland Sea. It is bordered by Hyōgo Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Tottori Prefecture. The city of Okayama is the prefecture’s capital. Okayama is a tranquil, picturesque, and majestic place to visit, home to the historic town of Kurashiki and composed of about 90 islands in the sea.

Before the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the whole area of present-day Okayama Prefecture was divided between the provinces of Bizen, Bitchū, and Mimasaka. Okayama Prefecture came into fruition in 1871 as one of the early Meiji period’s large-scale administrative reforms; the borders of the new prefecture were set in 1876. Today, most of Okayama Prefecture’s population is distributed around Kurashiki and Okayama. The small, rustic village populations in the northern mountain region are slowly dwindling. On April 2014, 11% of the total land area of Okayama Prefecture was designated as Natural Parks. These are Setonaikai and Daisen-oki National Parks, Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park, and seven Prefectural Natural Parks.

Kurashiki Canal

Aside from natural parks, the historical Bitchū Matsuyama Castle, also known as Takahashi Castle in Takahashi, is another gem in Okayama.  Takahashi Castle is one of only twelve original castles remaining in Japan. Of the original castles, it has the highest elevation: 1,410 feet above sea level. The resplendent view from Bitchū Matsuyama Castle is simply breathtaking.

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

Inujima (犬島) or “dog island”in the Seto Inland Sea is named for a large rock that resembles a sitting dog. The island has become a popular site for modern art in recent years and serves as a venue for the Setouchi Triennale modern art festival.

Kurashiki (倉敷) is not far from Okayama City. Kurashiki, or “town of storehouses”, is known for its canal area that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867) when the city was a major rice distribution center. Many of Kurashiki’s store houses have been converted into museums, boutiques, and cafes. The Ohara Museum houses a large collection of works by many famous local and Western artists alike.

Okayama is just one of the many places to discover when visiting Japan.