Okayama Castle, a black and beautiful Japanese castle.

Okayama Castle is one of 100 famous castles in Japan. The jet-black castle tower is magnificent, and it is also called “Ujo (烏城)” because of its black clapboard exterior (烏 is the meaning of crow in English). There is a Bizen pottery workshop on the first floor, where you can experience pottery. In spring, summer, and autumn, the Okayama Castle tower and its surroundings are lit up for the event, which is gaining popularity. Okayama Castle is located near Korakuen Garden (後楽園), so visiting together with Korakuen Garden is recommended.

Admission fee
Adult : 400 yen
Elementary and junior high school students : 100 yen
Joint ticket with Korakuen Garden : 640 yen

Opening hours
9:00 ～ 17:30 (Last admission is 17:00)
Regular holiday : December 29th-31th

Access
Walking : about 25 min from JR Okayama station
Buses : about 15 min and 5 min walking from JR Okayama station
Trams : about 5 min and 10 min walking from Okayama station
Cars : about 20 min from Sanyo Expressway Okayama IC
※ Details are described as below

Attractions

Castle Tower

The castle tower of Okayama Castle was renovated and reopened in November 2022. Not only the exterior of the castle, but also the interior exhibits have been newly renovated. Inside the castle tower, there are various attractions such as exhibitions about the history of Okayama Castle and hands-on corners.

The entrance to the castle tower is on the 1st basement floor. After purchasing an admission ticket on the 1st basement floor, take the elevator up to the 4th floor. After that, go up the stairs to the 6th floor at the top, and then go down the stairs to the 1st basement floor to enjoy the exhibits on each floor.

1st basement floor

On the 1st basement floor of Okayama Castle, there are displays such as a detailed model of Okayama Castle and a chronological table.

First of all, the values and attractions of Okayama Castle can be conveyed to visitors here.

6th floor

The 6th floor of Okayama Castle is the top of Okayama Castle, and from here you can see the cityscape of Okayama. You will feel as if you are the lord of the castle.

5th floor

On the 5th floor of Okayama Castle, the transition from the castle town of Okayama at that time to the present is displayed by projection mapping. A golden shachihoko is also displayed, which is impressive when you see it up close.

4th floor

On the 4th floor of Okayama Castle, the story of the military commander who built Okayama Castle is displayed. If you are interested, please stop by.

3rd floor

On the 3rd floor, the famous battle of the Sengoku period, the Battle of Sekigahara, is on display. Also, the armor of the Sengoku warlords on display is very impressive.

2nd floor

On the second floor, materials from the Edo period after the Warring States period are mainly displayed. The photo above is a reproduction of the castle lord’s room at that time, and it is one of the highlights.

Other valuable items such as guns are also on display.

1st floor

On the 1st floor, there are various hands-on corners and commemorative photo corners.

You can actually hold a gun or sword and experience its weight.

Taking photos with a life-size doll in a kimono will definitely be a memorable experience.

If you ride a horse model with a photo of Okayama Castle in the background, you will feel like you are the lord of Okayama Castle.

Honmaru of Okayama Castle

Honmaru is a central part of a Japanese castle with a moat around it and a castle tower in the center. In other words, in Okayama Castle, the part inside the moat becomes the main enclosure. Here, highlights other than the castle tower inside the Honmaru are introduced.

Akazu no Mon (不明門)

Akazu no Mon is a large castle gate with enhanced defense as the entrance to the main stage.　There was a place where the feudal lord lived in the main stage, and only a limited number of people could enter, and this gate was usually closed. That is the origin of the name of this gate. In other words, the meaning of Akazu no Mon is a gate that does not open.

Currently, this gate is usually open, so it is a good idea to go through the gate. It is a large gate, so it is very impressive.

Roka Mon

This gate is located behind the Honmaru and had a compartment above the gate to intercept the enemy. The compartment was also used as a corridor for the exclusive use of the lord of the castle, connecting the main level (the residence of the lord of the castle) and the middle level (the place of politics) of Honmaru, and was called a corridor gate (Roka Mon).

Tsukimi Yagura

Tsukimi Yagura is a watchtower that protects the back of Honmaru. It was built in the 1620s and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. When viewed from the outside of the castle, it is two stories, but when viewed from the inside of the castle, it is three stories, and the bottom floor is an earthen storehouse. On the outside of the castle, there is a bay window covered with iron plates and with a stone drop at the bottom, which enhances the armament to monitor and intercept the enemy.

Stone wall

Okayama Castle has many stone walls for defensive facilities and land reinforcement. It is noteworthy that even stone walls are stacked differently depending on when they were built. As you can see in the photo above, the difference is obvious. There are also stone walls with different stone shapes and different stacking methods, so it would be interesting to observe them.

Bizen-yaki pottery studio

Here, you can try your hand at making pottery that originated in Okayama, called Bizen-yaki. From small children to adults, anyone can easily make their own original Bizen-yaki.

Proce : 1,250 yen
Required time : about 60 min
Start time : 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00

Light up of Okayama Castle

Light-up events are held for Okayama Castle during certain periods in spring, summer, and autumn. It is lit up until 21:30 in spring and summer, and until 20:30 in autumn. You need to check the official website for details about the event period, but the illuminated Okayama Castle is extremely beautiful, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

Access

You can access Okayama castle on foot, by tram or by bus from Okayama Station.

If you access on foot

Leave the east exit of JR Okayama station (岡山駅) and head east. The distance is about 2km, and it takes about 25 minutes.

If you use trams

① JR Okayama Station, East Exit
　↓ 3 min walk
② Okayama Ekimae Station (岡山駅前駅), Okayama Denki Higashiyama line
　↓ 6 min tram
③ Get off at Shiroshita Station (城下駅)
　↓ 10 min walk
④ Okayama castle

Time : about 20 minutes
Fare : 120 yen

If you use buses

① JR Okayama Station, East Exit
　↓ 3 min walk
② Okayama Station No.9 Bus stop (岡山駅), No.8 Okaden-Takaya line（岡電・高屋行）
　↓ 8 min bus
③ Get off at Kencho-mae Station (県庁前駅)
　↓ 8 min walk
④ Okayama castle