HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > The Heart-warming Traditions of Okayama
Experience Wa, the Spirit of Japan—an invitation into the heart-warming traditions of Okayama
Okayama Prefecture
Appreciate a glimpse of authentic Japan in Okayama Korakuen Garden, considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and awarded three stars by a prestigious European guidebook.
In 1687, daimyo (feudal lord) Ikeda Tsunamasa ordered his vassals to begin the construction of a new garden. The groundwork took 13 years, followed by another few years to complete the buildings and other features, but since then the garden has retained most of its original appearance across the Edo period (1603-1868).
The garden was used as a retreat for the daimyo as well as a place for entertaining their guests, although people of the fiefdom too could visit it on certain occasions. As time went by, successive daimyo slightly modified the garden, adding and removing hills, lawns, ponds and buildings, but the initial concept of Korakuen as a wide, bright space offering beautiful inner and outer vistas remained constant and unaltered. In 1884, the ownership of Korakuen was transferred to Okayama Prefecture and the garden was opened to the general public.
Please visit the beautiful historical buildings and the garden and enjoy the wonderful scenery.
How to get there
The destination is about 15 minutes by bus from JR Okayama Station, which is 45 minutes by Shinkansen bullet train from JR Shin-Osaka Station.
1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken
