Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (Bitchu Matsuyama-jo) was originally built in 1240 for the military commander Akiba Nobushige. During the "warring states" period (1477-1573) when Japan's powerful daimyo struggled for supremacy, it was used by a succession of them as the base for controlling this region. Structures such as the donjon were built afterwards, in the 17th century. The height of the donjon is not great (about 9.4 m), but it is a discernibly solid structure. The double-walled arrow chamber and earthen walls have both been designated Important Cultural Properties.

Okayama Castle

The planks of the Okayama Castle (Okayama-jo) donjon are stained black, which gives the castle its alias: Raven Castle. It was built in the latter half of the 16th century by the daimyo Ukita Naoie and his son Hideie. Accounts of the year when the castle was completed say that it was either 1589 or 1597. It became the castle of the Ikeda family, who governed this region from the beginning of the 17th century.The donjon was destroyed by fire in the air raids of WWII in 1945. Buildings such as the Moon Viewing Turret give us an image of what it must have been like when it was built, and this has been designated one of Japan's Important Cultural Properties. The present donjon was rebuilt in 1965. It is a three-tiered, six-storied, ferroconcrete structure which houses a reference museum and an observation room.

Korakuen Garden

Koraku-en is situated on the middle sandbar of the Asahi-gawa, a river flowing through the city of Okayama. It was laid out in 1686 by order of Ikeda Tsunamasa, who ruled this region at that time. It is said to have taken 14 years to complete the garden. The garden is arranged to take in water from the river, which then runs via a zigzag brook into a pond and down in a waterfall. The spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony has been incorporated in many ways. The extensive lawn and vast pond create an atmosphere that is as uplifting and relaxing as the region's mild climate. Korakuen is regarded as one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, alongside Kairaku-en in the city of Mito and Kenroku-en in the city of Kanazawa.

Ohara Museum of Art

The Ohara Museum of Art was built in 1930 and expanded its original collection of Western paintings and sculptures after the war. It displays works by impressionist painters and other notable 20th-century artists, as well as El Greco's works from the 17th century. "Annunciation" of El Greco and "Woman by Spring" of Pierre-Auguste Renoir are also included in its display. In addition to its Main Gallery, it also has the Annex, Craft Art Gallery, Asiatic Art Gallery and a new exhibition hall. Its collection includes 650 Western-style paintings, 30 sculptures and 370 ceramics from around the world, as well as 320 prints of Shiko Munakata. The Museum also boasts 200 antiques from China and over 1,000 from Egypt and Persia (Iran).

Okayama Kenritsu Bijutsukan (Art Museum)

Okayama Kenritsu Bijutsukan is located in the city center of Okayama, near Okayama Castle and Korakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. It houses mostly works by artists closely connected to Okayama Prefecture. The collection covers an extensive period from the Middle Ages to modern times, with pieces by many different artists. On display here is the work entitled Matsuri wa Owatta (The Festival is Over) by Yasuo Kuniyoshi, an example of Western-style painting by a Japanese artist. Born in 1889 in Okayama, Kuniyoshi traveled to America and worked actively there, eventually becoming famous worldwide for his original style. The museum also holds Japanese-style paintings, including Sesshu's Sansui-zu (Painting of a Landscape), designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government, which is said to have been painted in the latter half of the 15th century, and Hotei-zu, a painting of a potbellied god who is one of the Seven Deities of Fortune, by Miyamoto Musashi. Miyamoto was also known as a master swordsman, and the work is thought to have been painted in the first half of the 17th century.

Okayama-shiritsu Orient Bijutsukan

Okayama-shiritsu Orient Bijutsukan (The Okayama Municipal Orient Museum) was built to house a collection of "art of the Orient" donated in 1947. The museum is distinguished by the scientifically systematized layout of this diverse collection, which includes information from various fields indispensable to the understanding of aspects of non-Western culture. The permanent exhibition, entitled The History and Culture of the Orient, presents in chronological order a variety of artworks unearthed in the Middle East, the cradle of civilization. These are divided into four sections: From Hunter-Gathers to Farmer-Herders, City Formation and the Development of the Ancient Empires, Hellenism and Persian Culture, and The Islamic Age.

Bizen ware

Bizen is the old name for the area that is now Okayama Prefecture, and ceramics produced in the southeast of Okayama Prefecture are generally known as Bizen ware. Inbe ware is a typical example. Inbe ware is fired for a long period in the kiln without glaze, creating subtle gradations in a distinctive seasoned coloring. The warmth and depth of this ware are another reason for its popularity. Everyday goods produced include plates, pots, jars and bowls. Bizen-yaki is one of the leading pottery wares in Japan, and was designated a traditional craft in 1982.

Katsuyama Take-zaiku

Katsuyama-take-zaiku (bamboo-work) is produced in Katsuyama-cho, Okayama Prefecture. The bamboo-work here dates from early in the 19th century, and the techniques used have been handed down through the generations. Containers made of intertwined bamboo, known as soke, are produced in the area, and used to store vegetables and fruit. The soke is a useful implement in that when items are washed and put into it, the design of the container allows them to drain. Soke can also be used for cakes and other foods, and are therefore a very convenient tool for daily living. These days artisans here also produce articles such as breadbaskets, fruit baskets, vases, and mural decorations. In 1979, Katsuyama-take-zaiku was designated a traditional craft by the Japanese government.

Kibitsu-no-Komainu (stone carved guardian dogs)

Koma-inu (stone carved guardian dogs) are generally lion-like statues which serve as a talisman. But the koma-inu of Kibitsu are a toy that has been made for generations in the city of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. Kibitsu figures are only about 3 cm in length and are handmade in clay. They come in sets consisting of a standing dog, a sitting dog and a bird. At the shrine Kibitsu-jinja in Okayama is a sacred koma-inu traditionally believed to guard against fire and theft, and the clay figures are associated with this koma-inu. The figure of the bird is believed to prevent the owner from choking on food.