Things to do in Okayama

We used 3 sightseeing passes: Kurashiki, Okayama Castle, and Okayama Ichibangai. We didn't use the Korakuen Garden pass because it was too hot to walk that day. For Kurashiki, remember to exchange your pass at the tourist information center to the right after exiting the station. For Okayama Castle, you can exchange your pass directly at the ticket counter and also use it for ice cream on the first floor. For the Ichibangai pass, you need to exchange it at the information desk. Using the pass at ABC Mart to buy shoes and getting two 3,000 yen discounts at once was a really great deal.

This historic castle, located in the heart of Okayama City, is also known as "Crow Castle." Its interior has been renovated into a museum, housing artifacts from the Sengoku period. From the top floor of the main keep, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city, the moat, and Korakuen Garden.

The shop is not far from the riverside in Kurashiki, located on the second floor of a clothing store. The owner is very kind and attentive. Although she doesn't speak Chinese, we were able to communicate using Google Translate and simple English. All the kimonos in the shop are beautiful, and the owner's skillful hands can make your hairstyle look amazing. Considering the price and the results, I highly recommend it! It was very hot that day, and the owner thoughtfully lent us an umbrella, which we really appreciated.

The driver was very nice. We didn't know we'd pass a huge torii gate along the way, and she specifically pointed it out to us. Luckily, we made a detour to take photos; otherwise, we would have almost missed an interesting sight! 😆