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Hokkaido Tohoku Hokuriku
Shinetsu Kanto Tokai Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa Islands SAPPORO TOKYO NAGOYA OSAKA FUKUOKA FURANO KUSHIRO AOMORI SENDAI FUKUSHIMA NIKKO HAKONE SADO TAKAYAMA KANAZAWA ISE KYOTO NARA HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI KAGOSHIMA NAHA

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Sub-zero temperatures and the greatest of outdoor environments, complemented by sizzling soul food and warm-hearted welcomes. Japan's great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers—a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush

Tohoku

Aomori
Akita
Iwate
Yamagata
Miyagi
Fukushima

Sleek apple-red and electric-green shinkansen whisk you up to a haven of fresh powder snow, fresh fruit and fearsome folk legends Fearsome festivals, fresh powder and vast fruit orchards—the rugged northern territory of Tohoku offers a fresh perspective on travel in Japan

Hokuriku Shinetsu

Niigata
Toyama
Ishikawa
Fukui
Nagano

Mountains and sea meet in one of Japan's wildest regions, and the result is sheer beauty. Once largely inaccessible, Hokuriku is now reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo in a matter of hours An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare

Kanto

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Chiba
Saitama
Ibaraki
Tochigi
Gunma

Characterized by the constant buzz of the world's most populous metropolitan area, the Kanto region is surprisingly green with an array of escapes that include mountainous getaways and subtropical islands Experience diversity at its fullest, from the neon of Tokyo to the ski slopes of Gunma, exotic wildlife of the Ogasawara Islands and cultural heritage of Kamakura

Tokai

Yamanashi
Shizuoka
Gifu
Aichi
Mie

Served by the shinkansen line that connects Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the Tokai region provides plenty of interesting diversions and easy excursions Tokai means "eastern sea," and this region stretches east from Tokyo to Kyoto and includes blockbuster attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama

Kansai

Kyoto
Osaka
Shiga
Hyogo
Nara
Wakayama

From raucous nights out to outdoor thrills to peaceful reverie, trying to categorize the Kansai region is a futile task The Kansai region is one of extreme contrasts—the neon lights of Osaka and glittering Kobe nightscape, the peaceful realms of Shiga, Wakayama and Nara, and the cultured refinement of Kyoto

Chugoku

Tottori
Shimane
Okayama
Hiroshima
Yamaguchi

Less-traveled and delightfully inaccessible at times, the Chugoku region is a reminder that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination Welcome to Japan's warm and friendly western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower

Shikoku

Tokushima
Kagawa
Ehime
Kochi

Providing the stage for literary classics, fevered dancing and natural wonders Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving

Kyushu

Fukuoka
Saga
Nagasaki
Oita
Kumamoto
Miyazaki
Kagoshima

Easily reached by land, sea and air, the dynamic Kyushu prefectures are bubbling with energy, culture and activity The southern island of Kyushu is home to volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky, succulent seafood, steaming hot springs and the country's hottest entrepreneurial town

Okinawa

Okinawa

Ruins and recreated castles of the Ryukyu kings nestle amid magnificent beaches in Okinawa, a diver's paradise teeming with an amazing array of coral and undersea life Fly to Okinawa and discover a distinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings

Things To Do

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CHUGOKU Okayama A marvelous landscape from mountain to sea

OVERVIEW

With stunning gardens, an imposing castle and the pretty canal district of Kurashiki, Okayama's compact size and central location makes it the perfect destination for your holiday

Okayama Prefecture is known for its great weather and delicious fruits, especially peaches—Momotaro, the "Peach Boy" is the local hero and symbol—and is often called the land of sunshine. Okayama City, the prefectural capital and largest city, is the home of Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. Central and northern Okayama Prefecture highland centers of agriculture, where you will also find historic castle towns with splendid merchant houses and former samurai residences. The historic merchant town of Kurashiki with its canals and charming streets is a must-visit.

How to Get There

Okayama is accessible via the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. It is also served by domestic flights to Okayama International Airport, local trains from Osaka and highway bus services.

Okayama is both a regional and local transportation hub with convenient train and bus access to neighboring prefectures in the Chugoku district of western Japan and Shikoku. There is also good train and bus coverage of the inland and northern cities of the prefecture such as Tsuyama and Takahashi. Okayama International Airport offers domestic travel to the major cities of Japan, including flights to Okinawa and Hokkaido. International connections are available to Guam, Korea and China.

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Don't Miss

The imposing black Okayama Castle and the view from the castle grounds

Strolling through Korakuen, one of Japan's three greatest gardens

The local specialty, kibi dango sweets, made from mochi rice

A day exploring Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter

Okayama Prefecture Official Tourism Guide

Spring

Visitors flock to see the cherry blossoms on Sakura Road along the Asahi River. Takebenomori Park to the north of the city bursts into color in spring.
Summer

Summer nights are ablaze with fireworks as locals head to the Okayama Momotaro Festival for street food and dancing. Grapes and peaches are in season, and many orchards offer fruit picking.
Autumn

The leaves blaze red and gold around the city, contrasting with the deep charcoal shade of Okayama Castle. Cool evenings are for strolling in Korakuen as the maple trees are illuminated for a magical experience.
Winter

Winter dusts the gardens in powdery snow and keen skiers head to Nimi. Warm up with a dip in a yuzu-scented bath at Yubara Onsen or join the Naked Man Festival at Saidaiji Temple.