landmark
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
A charming canal district with white-walled warehouses converted into museums and craft shops in the heart of Okayama Prefecture.
16 km · about 20 min drive
AsiaJapanOkayama
Okayama
Okayama, Japan · Asia
About Okayama
Okayama is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Hayashima, 33km from Bitchū Matsuyama Castle.
Okayama is in Japan, with about 720,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Hayashima, about 11 km away.
Okayama (岡山市, Okayama-shi; Japanese: [okaꜜjama]) is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The Okayama metropolitan area, centered around the city, has the largest urban employment zone in the Chugoku region of western Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of February 2023,Read more
the city has an estimated population of 700,940 and a population density of 890 people per km2. The total area is 789.95 square kilometres (305.00 square miles).
The city is the site of Kōraku-en, known as one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan, and Okayama Castle, which is ranked among the best 100 Japanese castles. The city is famous as the setting of the Japanese fable Momotarō. Okayama joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.
Where to Stay in Okayama
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Okayama?
Within an hour or so of Okayama: Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (16 km), Naoshima Art Island (22 km), Bitchū Matsuyama Castle (33 km), Okayama International Circuit (40 km).
Are there any good drives near Okayama?
The nearest famous roads are Shimanami Kaido and Uradome Coast.
Where is Okayama?
Okayama is in Okayama, Japan, about 11 km from Hayashima.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 724,691
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Okayama
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 34.6500, 133.9333
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Okayama
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Naoshima Art Island
A small island in the Seto Inland Sea transformed into an extraordinary open-air art museum with works by world-renowned artists.
22 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Bitchū Matsuyama Castle
The highest surviving original castle keep in Japan, at 430 m on Mount Gagyu. On autumn mornings the ridge stands above a sea of cloud filling the valley below.
33 km · about 40 min drive
racetrack
Okayama International Circuit
A compact hillside circuit in western Japan that hosted two Formula 1 Pacific Grand Prix races in 1994 and 1995.
40 km · about 45 min drive
photogenic
Chichibugahama Beach
A shallow tidal flat on the Seto Inland Sea where a thin film of water left at low tide turns the sand into a vast mirror at sunset, reflecting sky and silhouettes.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Nearby Destinations
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