Two major sightseeing spots proud to the world in Okayama are “Okayama Castle” and “Koraku-en”.
Okayama Castle is one of the Japan’s Top 100 Castles and is called “the crow castle” because external wall is covered with black lacquer.
In addition, Koraku-en is one of three Great Gardens of Japan. (Three Great Gardens of Japan: Kenroku-en (Kanazawa); Koraku-en (Okayama); Kairaku-en (Mito))
And the recommendation event of Okayama Castle and Koraku-en is illumination events that is held for a limited period.
The pure Japanese-style illuminations event is very popular with tourists from abroad as well as Japanese.
Because I went to watch this illuminations event of Okayama Castle and Koraku-en, I report it.
Contents:
- About Okayama Castle and Koraku-en
- Daytime scenery of Okayama Castle
- Nighttime scenery of Okayama Castle (Illumination event)
- Daytime scenery of Koraku-en
- Nighttime scenery of Koraku-en (Illumination event)
- How to get to Okayama Castle and Koraku-en
1.About Okayama Castle and Koraku-en
■Okayama Castle
Open 9:00~17:30
Admission fee Adult(High school students or older)：300 yen, Elementary and junior high school students：120 yen
Common admission ticket(Okayama Castle, Koraku-en) Adult(High school students or older)：560 yen, Elementary and junior high school students：260 yen
Regular Holiday December 29, 30, 31
Adress 2-3-1, Marunochi, Kita-ku Okayama-shi, Okayama, 700-0823, Japan
Phone number +81-86-225-2096
The period of the illuminations event varies according to the year. Please confirm it beforehand in a Web site of Okayama Castle.
■Koraku-en
Open 7:30~18:00(March 20 ~ September 30), 8:00~17:00(October 1 ~ March 19)*The period of illuminations event : until 21:30.
Admission fee Adult(15 years old or older)：400 yen, Senior high school and younger students： free
Common admission ticket(Okayama Castle, Koraku-en) Adult(15 years old or older)：560 yen
Regular Holiday No holiday
Adress 1-5, Korakuen, Kita-ku Okayama-shi, Okayama, 703-8257, Japan
Phone number +81-86-272-1148
The period of the illuminations event varies according to the year. Please confirm it beforehand in a Web site of Koraku-en.
2.Daytime scenery of Okayama Castle
Okayama Castle is unusual black appearance in the castle of Japan. Because the castle tower of Okayama Castle disappeared by an air raid of the war, it is rebuilt in 1966.
Asahikagawa river flows near the castle.
View from the castle tower. d(*ﾟーﾟ*)
“Rokamon” (The corridor gate of Okayama Castle.)
Tsukimiyagura remains unburned by the air raid and is the same building with those days. It has been designated as an important cultural property of the country. d(*ﾟーﾟ*)
A stone wall and the gun interval of the castle wall.
Akazunomon. (It is the gate leading to the open space of the castle tower.)
3.Nighttime scenery of Okayama Castle (Illumination event)
The illuminations of Okayama Castle are very colorful.
It is a video of illumination events of Okayama Castle.
The open space of the castle tower is surrounded in a Japanese-style atmosphere.
It is very visionary. (○´艸｀)
Objects of Japanese umbrella is a good accent. d(*ﾟーﾟ*)
Light-up of “Rokamon”.
Light-up of “Tsukimiyagura”.
Light-up of stone wall.
Light-up of “Akazunomon”.
“The Bizen butterfly” which is a family crest of the Bizen Okayama feudal clan.
4.Daytime scenery of Koraku-en
Sawano-ike and Okayama Castle
“Renchi-ken” remains unburned by the air raid and is the same building with those days.
“Enyo-tei” was used as a house when Okayama feudal lord visited Koraku-en Garden. Unfortunately it disappeared in war and was rebuilt in 1960.
Arch bridge.
There is the tea plantation in Koraku-en Garden, too.
5.Nighttime scenery of Koraku-en (Illumination event)
Okayama Castle which appears in darkness.
Light-up of “Renchi-ken”.
The dim light of the lamp with a paper shade.
6.How to get to Okayama Castle and Koraku-en
・MAP
Please refer to the following articles for the directions from Kansai (Osaka) to Okayama.
A streetcar (Okayama Denki Kido) is cheap and convenience transportation to go from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle and Koraku-en. The fare is one way 100 yen.
You get on “Higashiyama Line” of the platform No.1 from “Okayama-Ekimae Station”. And you get off at “Shiroshita station”.
How did you like it?
Please try to go to this place.
Have a nice trip! XD
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