Okayama Travel Guide, Japan

Okayama is located at the crossroads of several important transport lines in Japan, but there are plenty of reasons to stop in the city for longer than it takes to wait for the next train. Okayama might not be a huge tourist destination, but it actually hosts a few of the most interesting sights in all of Japan. Okayama is a city of legends in Japan. A beloved Japanese folktale, Momotaro, is set in no other than Okayama. This, coupled with one of Japan’s most famous parks, Korakuen, and an impressive medieval castle, make Okayama a very exciting holiday destination. Discover the little local peculiarities that make Okayama unique among all Japanese metropolises. This Okayama Travel Guide will provide you some useful info about this charming city.

Okayama Travel Guide - Transport

Okayama Airport is located at about 40 minutes drive from the main bus station in the city centre. Although the airport is an international one, all the destinations outside Japan are Asian: Seoul, Hong-Kong or Beijing. If you are travelling from another part of the world to Okayama, you should better find a flight to Tokyo or Osaka and then fly to Okayama. Okayama has links to several domestic airports such as Tokyo, Kagoshima and Sapporo. If you are already in Japan, finding a way to Kagoshima will be a piece of cake. Okayama is a major railway hub and many shinkansen and regular train lines converge to Okayama. There are a few seasonal lines that run from Okayama Fukuoka, Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi during student holidays, but these trains tend to be fully booked several weeks in advance.

You can also find overnight buses from Tokyo and Yokohama, but the journey takes from nine to ten hours. Okayama is one of the few Japanese cities that still use tram lines. If you need help getting around the city, just ask for directions at the information desk at Okayama Station, or ask a young local - they are friendly and eager to practice their English.

Okayama Travel Guide - Accommodation

Okayama is not an overly pretentious city, and there are many affordable hotels you can choose from. Short trips are popular with Japanese youngsters, so you can find plenty of hostels as well. A unique Japanese type of accommodation is the internet café. These are open overnight, they have showers and light dishes, and you can get a booth with a comfortable extendable armchair and a computer for a very low price. Matsunoki Ryokan, near the train station is an affordable traditional style inn that serves delicious food. Hotel Riverside is a budget hotel with quite good amenities, but if you prefer more expensive holtels, this Okayama Travel Guide recommends Okayama Koraku Hotel. For truly luxurious rooms and services go to Okayama Royal Hotel, ten minutes from the station. The hotel serves delicious food and organizes tasting Okayama’s famous peaches.