Okayama looks very impressive from the outside and is great to photograph also from the surrounding area. The interior is very modern and even has an elevator up to the 4th floor. There are a lot of exhibitions in Japanese inside the building and kids will love the hands-on experiences (lifting a sword, entering a palanquin etc.)

Completely restored but still worth visiting. It rained heavily while we were inside so we opted to dress-up FOR FREE! (Dressing up costs money in most other locations.) The lady who aided us was most helpful and genuinely looked as though she was enjoying herself too.

This castle is easily accessed via a bridge from the South Gate of Korakuen garden, so it is convenient to combine the two. The castle is not the original one, having been rebuilt in the sixties after a fire so it looks very modern compared to others we have visited but is still impressive as you cross the bridge to it. W didn’t go inside the castle, but enjoyed the garden area around it and the views across the river.

We didn’t enter as all castles are similar after having so many others before. The unique thing about this one is that the exterior is black vs the white exterior of himeiji castle. I thought this was quite the juxtaposition and decided to troop closer to have a look. It seemed that there were also sandflies present as my kid was bitten quite badly around the ankles so do take note!

Okayama Castle is a rebuilt concrete castle completed in 1966, for the original structure built in 1597 by the Daimyo Ukita Hideie, was mostly destroyed during WWII. The only original buildings that remain on site today are Nishnomaru Nishite Yagura and Tsukimi Yagura. The tower’s main keep siding was coated with black lacquer, hence earned the nickname Crow Castle (U-jo). The chosen of black coating was to show its distinction color theme to the Himeji Castle, which was painted completely in white, known as Hakuro-jō (white egret castle) or Shirasagi-jō (white heron castle) Inside of the Castle are collections of the artifacts, armories, history of the founders/daimyos of Okayama, wars and victories, the economic development, and the architectures designs of the original castle. To me it is more of the history museum of Okayama bygone days than a place of preserved defense systems and architecture layouts. Visitors follow the routes to each level where interacting activities and displays of various subjects are plentiful. But for those who want to see the cityscape from high above, the views from the upper tower’s windows are breathtaking. The rooftop gargoyles feature gilded Sachihoko (sea creature of the Japanese folklore with body of a fish and head of a dragon, that has the power of protecting the castle and fighting the fire) on each end of the roofs, tell the intrigue history of the Castle. The Castle stands tall next to the Korakuen with connection of a foot bridge cross over Asahi River, the bygone day of castle moat. The wide-open castle ground welcome visitors with its four season’s beauty, starting as early as January’s plum blossoms, spring’s favorite cherry blossoms, summer’s various fragrant colorful flowers to autumn’s vibrant maple foliage. Guests can visit both garden and castle with a combine discounted ticket for an adult fare of ¥ 720. However, if you are a senior, buying two separate tickets (Korakuen for senior fare is ¥ 200, but no discount for the castle, fare is ¥ 400) only costs you total ¥ 600. To access, from the JR Okayama, take the city tram green colored Higashiyama Line (straight across from the JR station square Okayama Ekimae-trams run along the main shopping district) pay your fare ¥ 120 onboard or use IC card; get off Shiroshita, and then follow the signs, approx. 10 min by foot.

It was unfortunately very very hot in August but a the Okayama Castle was impressive to visit. The exhibtion is however all in Japanese with limited English translation. This is something that could be improved. The gardens attached to the castle were wonderful, with lots of Koi Fish and Turtles in the various ponds.