Okayama, Japan 5 Day Itinerary

September 22, 2024

Okayama, Japan: 5-Day Travel Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival & Korakuen Garden

Morning: Arrive at Okayama Airport or Shin-Okayama Station. Check-in at your hotel (recommended: Hotel Granvia Okayama for convenience).
Afternoon: Visit the famous Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s three most beautiful landscape gardens. Don’t miss the autumn foliage if visiting during this season!
Evening: Dine at A-Bite Kuromon Ichiba Market in Kuroshio-dori Street, offering a variety of fresh seafood dishes.

Day 2 - Okayama Castle & Ritsurinkuen Garden

Morning: Explore the Okayama Castle and its surrounding park, home to the famous weeping cherry tree (shidare-zakura).
Afternoon: Head to the adjacent Ritsurinkuen Garden, a beautiful Edo Period garden with ponds, tea houses, and seasonal flowers.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at Nabeyaki Miyoshi, a popular restaurant specializing in Okayama’s signature dish, nabeyaki.

Day 3 - Seto Inland Sea & Naoshima Island

Morning: Take a ferry to Naoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea, home to numerous modern art museums.
Afternoon: Visit Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House Museum, and Lee Ufan Museum to explore the contemporary artworks by famous artists.
Evening: Dine at one of the island’s restaurants, such as Kamakura, offering fresh seafood dishes with beautiful ocean views.

Day 4 - Kurashiki & Bizen Osafune

Morning: Visit Kurashiki to stroll through the picturesque Bikan Historical Quarter and enjoy a boat ride on the canal.
Afternoon: Head to Bizen Osafune, the historic sword-making village, and visit Osafune Sword Museum to learn about this traditional craft.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at Teburui, a restaurant specializing in kappou ryori, a type of Japanese haute cuisine.

Day 5 - Departure

Morning: Have breakfast at your hotel before checking out and heading to Okayama Station or Okayama Airport for your departure.

Transportation:

JR West’s Sanyo Shinkansen provides fast train service between major cities, including Tokyo and Osaka. In Okayama, the Kurixo Bus offers convenient sightseeing routes.

Tips:

Obtain a JR Pass for unlimited train travel if you plan on visiting multiple cities in Japan.
Learn basic Japanese phrases to communicate with locals and make the most of your trip.
Be respectful of local customs, such as removing shoes before entering homes or temples.
Always carry cash (yen) as not all establishments accept credit cards.

Enjoy your trip to Okayama, Japan!