The main reason for stopping off in
the capital of Okayama-ken,
OKAYAMA
, 730km west of Tokyo, is to stretch
your legs in its famous garden,
Korakuen
, considered one of Japan's top
three. The spacious gardens are
overlooked by the reconstructed
castle
Okayama-joi , around
which the city developed in the Edo
period, but aside from the
intriguing
Okayama Orient Museum
there's little else of note in this
modern town.
Okayama, with its trams and
riverside walks, is a transport hub
for trips out to surrounding
attractions. The top draw is Kurashiki
, just fifteen minutes west of the
city, with its well-preserved
enclave of picturesque old merchant
houses and canals. From Kurashiki
you can head inland to Takahashi
to discover Japan's highest castle, Bitchu
Matsuyama , looking down from
its mountain-top over a town of old
temples. For a spectacular view of
both the Inland Sea and the
Seto-Ohashi bridge, aim for Washu-zan
on the southern tip of the
prefecture. To discover fragments of
the area's ancient history, consider
pedalling along the Kibi bicycle
route , west of the city, past
fifth-century burial mounds and
rustic temples and shrines. And even
more off-the-beaten-track sights
will be within your reach if you opt
to stay at one of the prefecture's International
Villas , self-catering
accommodation in scenic locations
specially reserved for foreign
visitors.
The City
Although you can hop on a tram and
travel the length of Momotaro-dori
to Shiroshita (¥140), the closest
stop to Korakuen, the walk is easy
enough and takes you across the
tree-lined Nishi-gawa Greenway Canal
, a pleasant spot for a...
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