Things to do in Okayama

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! 😆

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.

Purchasing Okayama Castle tickets on Klook is very convenient; simply present your voucher at the ticket counter for entry. Okayama Castle is beautiful and historically significant. You can also visit Korakuen Garden from the South Gate, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll around the area.

I had a wonderful kimono experience in Kurashiki! The staff was incredibly kind and patient, letting me try different options until I found the kimono I loved. The whole process felt very personal — from dressing in all the layers to choosing the bag and shoes. She also did my hair and used the kanzashi I had made earlier in my trip, which made it even more special. Afterwards, she took photos of me around Kurashiki. Even though it was the end of sakura season, the canal and streets were still beautiful. She gave helpful posing tips and encouraged my own ideas. Overall, a really warm and memorable experience. I was unsure at first how it would feel as a foreigner, but the reactions were very kind and positive. Highly recommend this Kimono experience if you're visiting Kurashiki.