Scan the best symbols of Okayama
A castle town with significant regional power during the Edo Period (1603-1867), Okayama City now is an important transportation hub of western Japan, linking the Sanyo Shinkansen and Shikoku. Besides locally known as the locale for the famous Momotaro legend (the Peach Boy), Okayama’s most iconic symbols are Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle. Along with Kanazawa's Kenrokuen and Mito's Kairakuen, Korakuen Garden is widely called one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens that was created some 300 years ago by local feudal lord. Walking around the garden is a pleasure with uniquely spacious lawns, waterways, groves of plum, cherry and maple trees. Separated by the Asahi River, Korakuen Garden is connected to Okayama Castle by the Tsukimibashi, or Moon Watching Bridge. The castle has a black exterior, earning it the nickname Crow Castle. Initially built in 1597, the six-storey keep has only one of the original buildings survived after the war, the Tsukimi Yagura, which is today a popular venue for cultural events.
