The castle grounds are quite extensive and feature many different structures such as stone walls, gates, and turrets, some of which date back to when the castle was first constructed. The stone walls in particular are quite impressive, due to their significant height and how long they have been around for. While access to the castle grounds is completely free, the main tower itself and the museum inside of it require payment for entry. Below you can find information about the location of the castle, how to get to it, entry fees, and more.
-- Tours Visiting Okayama Castle
WHERE IS OKAYAMA CASTLE?
Okayama Castle is located in the city of Okayama within the prefecture of the same name. It is quite close to Okayama Station and can be reached both on foot and by bus. To the north and to the east, it is bound by the Asahi River, and it is just a 5-minute walk away from the renowned Korakuen Garden.
HISTORY OF THE CASTLE
Construction of Okayama Castle began in the late 16th century, and it is said that the castle tower was completed in 1597. This castle was built during a chaotic and violent period of Japanese history known as the Sengoku Period. For many years, Japan was ravaged by civil wars between feudal lords seeking more territory and power. Near the end of this time period, the country was mostly split into two opposing groups, the Western and the Eastern Armies. Present-day Okayama served as a key strategic location for the army in the West, and thus it had to be fortified.
It is important to note that Okayama Castle was not the first castle to be built in the area and it was actually preceded by Ishiyama Castle. This previous structure was built and governed by the powerful warlord Ukita Naoie, who is considered the “father of Okayama.” It was his son, Ukita Hidei, who made the decision to build a new castle on a nearby hill known as Mt. Oka. Throughout the following generations, Okayama developed into a full-fledged castle town, with the Ikeda Clan in particular serving a very important role in the expansion and growth of the town. As time passed, Okayama continued to expand and became the city that we know today. Unfortunately, the castle tower burned during World War II and the current one is a restored version completed in 1966.
TOURS VISITING OKAYAMA CASTLE
If you are interested in making a stop by Okayama Castle, we highly recommend our 1-day Okayama tour. Our expert guides will not only take you to the castle, but also to other top tourist spots such as the famous Korakuen Garden and scenic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. The latter is a preserved historic townscape located not too far from the city of Okayama, and it is home to many old-fashioned buildings and structures which create a quaint and charming landscape. Okayama is one of the major stops on the Shinkansen line when traveling from Osaka to Hiroshima, so we definitely suggest stopping by the prefecture if you are traveling around Western Japan.
If you want to discover other places you can visit near Okayama and in the surrounding region, check out our "Best Tours around Hiroshima" webpage.