Okayama, Chugoku
Okayama (岡山市; -shi) is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.
The city is known as the site of the Korakuen Garden and the striking black Okayama Castle; which is a modern reconstruction. The popular Japanese folktale of Momotaro may have originated there.
Sogenji is a very large zen monastery belonging to the Rinzai sect in the centre of the city. It has produced several of the abbots of the major monasteries in Kyoto and is now a training centre for foreign paractitioners.
Okayama is one of few Japanese cities to have kept an operational tram system. It is a major rail interchange as trains from Shikoku connect with the Sanyō main line here.
So, if you are at Okayama for the day, do visit the garden and the black castle. It’s probably the only thing that’s worth visiting if you’re around the area. I really like the name of the castle and how it’s dark. It’s probably the most gothic monument in Japan :)
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June 8th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
There are some other interesting places close to Okayama like the Seto Ohashi Bridge, Bizen City, or you can also go to the Hadaka Matsuri!
But, I would only recommend them if you have time… or a lot of interest!…hahaha