Four nights and five days: stay in Okayama or move to Kurashiki?
Spend four nights in Okayama to keep one base and visit Kurashiki streets and Ohara on different days. For two days in Kurashiki, split your stay into two nights each in Okayama and Kurashiki. To add sunset on the moving day, Day 3, reach Kojima Station for the monthly departure. Omit Washuzan that day if delayed.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days / 4 nights
Separate days for Kurashiki streets and exhibitions
Spend four nights near Okayama Station. Give the castle and garden, Kurashiki streets, Ohara exhibitions, Washuzan sunset and Kibitsujinja Shrine a day each. Return to the same accommodation daily, choosing dates where Day 4 is a Friday, Saturday or the day before a public holiday.
Separate days for Kurashiki streets and exhibitions →5 days / 4 nights BKibitsu, sunset and folkcraft
Spend two nights in Okayama, then move to Kurashiki for two nights. Start with Kibitsujinja Shrine, then the castle and garden, before separate days for Kurashiki streets and folkcraft. Choose everyday craft exhibitions instead of Ohara Museum of Art, adding the sunset programme when its operating day fits.
Kibitsu, sunset and folkcraft →Separate days for Kurashiki streets and exhibitions
Spend four nights near Okayama Station. Give the castle and garden, Kurashiki streets, Ohara exhibitions, Washuzan sunset and Kibitsujinja Shrine a day each. Return to the same accommodation daily, choosing dates where Day 4 is a Friday, Saturday or the day before a public holiday.
Day 1 · Castle and garden on the same day
Visit the castle and garden on the same day.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Okayama Castle
Take a Higashiyama-bound tram from Okayama-ekimae to Shiroshita. Allow about five minutes on the tram and about 10 minutes on foot to the castle entrance, plus waiting time. Distinguish it from the Seikibashi-bound service.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose a routeKorakuen south gate and bridge information
- Okayama Castle → Tsukimi Bridge and Korakuen
After the keep, cross Tsukimi Bridge to Korakuen's south-gate ticket office. The official roughly five-minute south-gate-to-castle access figure excludes stairs and ticket queues. Allow half a day for both sites and lunch. A standard combined ticket costs JPY 800 when sold; on days it is unavailable, separate tickets total JPY 1,000. The garden closes at 18:00 from 20 March to 30 September and 17:00 from 1 October to 19 March, with admission ending 15 minutes earlier. If arriving late, decide whether to visit just one before buying a combined ticket.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose a routeKorakuen south gate and bridge informationOfficial tram fares
- Korakuen → Accommodation in Okayama
Walk about 10 minutes from the garden to Shiroshita, then take an Okayama-ekimae-bound tram. Stay in Okayama tonight. The two tram rides totalling JPY 320 are included in the subtotal separately from admission tickets.
Current Korakuen informationEnglish Korakuen fees and hours; Japanese information gives the free-admission end dateOfficial tram faresShiroshita return timetableOfficial Korakuen walking and tram directions
Day 2 · Historical quarter streets
Walk the historical quarter streets.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Bikan Historical Quarter
Take a westbound JR service from Okayama that stops at Kurashiki. From the south exit, follow the tourist map about 800 metres, or 10 minutes, to the historical quarter entrance. Avoid heading north towards the shopping mall.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOpen official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking map
- Historical quarter entrance → Historical quarter visit and a meal
Start by the canal and explore the white-walled streets of Honmachi and Higashimachi. Allow two to three hours including lunch and shops. Today focuses on walking the streets; museum admission, boat rides and activities are excluded. Check meals, purchases and each shop's opening days separately.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOpen official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking map
- Bikan Historical Quarter → Accommodation in Okayama
Leave the streets and walk back to Kurashiki Station's south side. Take JR to Okayama and stay there tonight. The return base fare is JPY 660; routes visiting Kurashiki again on another day also include that day's return fare separately.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial Kurashiki walking map
Day 3 · Ohara Museum of Art
Visit Ohara Museum of Art.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Ohara Museum of Art
Take a westbound JR service from Okayama that stops at Kurashiki. From the south exit, walk through the historical quarter to the Ohara main building ticket office at 1-1-15 Chuo, about 15 minutes away. The roughly 10-minute walk to the quarter's entrance is only part of the journey.
Open official Ohara Museum of Art informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
- Ohara Museum of Art entrance → Ohara Museum visit and a meal
Allow two to three hours for Western paintings in the main building, the Craft Art and Asian Art Gallery, and the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall. A standard ticket covering all three costs JPY 2,000; re-entry to the same building is generally not allowed. The memorial hall opens at 10:00 and closes at 16:00 from March to November, or 15:00 from December to February. These differ from the main building's seasonal admission cutoffs. Adjust your visiting day if you lack time for all three. Audio guides, meals and purchases cost extra.
Open official Ohara Museum of Art informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
- Ohara Museum of Art → Accommodation in Okayama
After your visit, walk about 15 minutes back to Kurashiki Station. Take JR to Okayama and stay there tonight. The JPY 660 return base fare is included in the subtotal.
Open official Ohara Museum of Art informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
Day 4 · Washuzan sunset programme
See two viewpoints and return to Kojima Station on the same bus.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Kojima Station sunset bus
Take a Seto-Ohashi Line local train from Okayama that stops at Kojima, then go to stand 5 outside the station. Choose JR to suit the sunset programme's monthly departure time on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before a public holiday. If the operating day does not fit or there is insufficient time for JR after the scheduled return, omit the coastal trip and relax in Okayama.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
- Kojima Station stand 5 → Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan circuit
The sunset programme visits Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan viewpoints before returning to Kojima Station. It allows about 15 minutes at each viewpoint and costs JPY 540. Follow the official monthly outward and return timetable. No reservation is needed, but you cannot board if full; omit the trip if you have no alternative transport arranged. Follow crew instructions for walks at the stops.
Official monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
- Kojima Station → Accommodation in Okayama
When the programme bus returns to Kojima Station, take a local train to Okayama. Choose a JR departure that allows boarding preparation after the scheduled bus return. Stay in Okayama tonight.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
Day 5 · Kibitsujinja Shrine
Visit Kibitsujinja Shrine.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Kibitsujinja Shrine
Take a JR Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) train towards Soja from Okayama and get off at Kibitsu. The shrine's Japanese directions give about 17 minutes on the train and 10 minutes on foot, excluding waits. Follow the official access map to 931 Kibitsu. The 05:00 gate opening is not the first train time; search JR for outward and return services.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
- Kibitsujinja Shrine entrance → Shrine visit and a meal
We suggest 60–90 minutes for worship and the corridor and grounds. The main sanctuary interior and paid prayers are excluded. Choose a visit time that lets you finish worship and the return walk before the gates close at 18:00. On your departure day, also allow time for your next train from Okayama Station.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQ
- Kibitsujinja Shrine → Okayama Station or accommodation
Walk about 10 minutes back to Kibitsu Station, then take an Okayama-bound train. The return JR base fare is JPY 420; paid prayers and souvenirs cost extra. This itinerary ends at Okayama Station.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
Included: Castle and garden JPY 800 + Ohara JPY 2,000 + tram JPY 320 + return JR to Kurashiki (JPY 660 × 2 trips = JPY 1,320) + JR to Kojima JPY 1,020 + JR to Kibitsu JPY 420 + sunset programme JPY 540.
Extra costs and conditions: This assumes the castle and garden combined ticket is sold; separate tickets cost JPY 200 more if it is unavailable. The sunset programme follows monthly outward and return times on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before a public holiday, with no boarding when full. Accommodation, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage, boat rides, paid prayers and extra activities cost extra. Recheck train and bus connections, exhibitions and closures for your travel dates. If omitting Washuzan and not buying any relevant JR or bus tickets, subtract JPY 1,560. No refund for tickets already bought is assumed; replacement taxis are excluded.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationOpen official Ohara Museum of Art informationOfficial tram faresRecheck JR dates, sections and faresDay-ticket faresTemporary daytime service noticeTemporary outward and return timetableOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
Kibitsu, sunset and folkcraft
Spend two nights in Okayama, then move to Kurashiki for two nights. Start with Kibitsujinja Shrine, then the castle and garden, before separate days for Kurashiki streets and folkcraft. Choose everyday craft exhibitions instead of Ohara Museum of Art, adding the sunset programme when its operating day fits.
Day 1 · Kibitsujinja Shrine
Visit Kibitsujinja Shrine.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Kibitsujinja Shrine
Take a JR Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) train towards Soja from Okayama and get off at Kibitsu. The shrine's Japanese directions give about 17 minutes on the train and 10 minutes on foot, excluding waits. Follow the official access map to 931 Kibitsu. The 05:00 gate opening is not the first train time; search JR for outward and return services.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
- Kibitsujinja Shrine entrance → Shrine visit and a meal
We suggest 60–90 minutes for worship and the corridor and grounds. The main sanctuary interior and paid prayers are excluded. Choose a visit time that lets you finish worship and the return walk before the gates close at 18:00. On your departure day, also allow time for your next train from Okayama Station.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQ
- Kibitsujinja Shrine → Accommodation in Okayama
Walk about 10 minutes back to Kibitsu Station and take an Okayama-bound train. The return JR base fare is JPY 420; paid prayers and souvenirs cost extra. Stay in Okayama tonight.
Official Japanese access informationShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
Day 2 · Castle and garden on the same day
Visit the castle and garden on the same day.
- Okayama Station or accommodation → Okayama Castle
Take a Higashiyama-bound tram from Okayama-ekimae to Shiroshita. Allow about five minutes on the tram and about 10 minutes on foot to the castle entrance, plus waiting time. Distinguish it from the Seikibashi-bound service.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose a routeKorakuen south gate and bridge information
- Okayama Castle → Tsukimi Bridge and Korakuen
After the keep, cross Tsukimi Bridge to Korakuen's south-gate ticket office. The official roughly five-minute south-gate-to-castle access figure excludes stairs and ticket queues. Allow half a day for both sites and lunch. A standard combined ticket costs JPY 800 when sold; on days it is unavailable, separate tickets total JPY 1,000. The garden closes at 18:00 from 20 March to 30 September and 17:00 from 1 October to 19 March, with admission ending 15 minutes earlier. If arriving late, decide whether to visit just one before buying a combined ticket.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose a routeKorakuen south gate and bridge informationOfficial tram fares
- Korakuen → Accommodation in Okayama
Walk about 10 minutes from the garden to Shiroshita, then take an Okayama-ekimae-bound tram. Stay in Okayama tonight. The two tram rides totalling JPY 320 are included in the subtotal separately from admission tickets.
Current Korakuen informationOfficial tram faresShiroshita return timetable
Day 3 · Washuzan sunset bus
Take the Washuzan sunset bus.
- Accommodation in Okayama → Kojima Station sunset bus
Move from Okayama Station to Kurashiki, your accommodation base from today, then make a sunset-programme trip. Take JR from Kurashiki to Okayama, change to a Seto-Ohashi Line service stopping at Kojima and go to stand 5 outside the station. Omit the coastal trip if there is insufficient time to meet the sunset bus's operating day and monthly departure. The JPY 330 JR fare for moving bases is separate from the sunset trip's JPY 1,680 return JR fare and JPY 540 bus fare.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
- Kojima Station stand 5 → Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan circuit
The sunset programme visits Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan viewpoints before returning to Kojima Station. It allows about 15 minutes at each viewpoint and costs JPY 540. Follow the official monthly outward and return timetable. No reservation is needed, but you cannot board if full; omit the trip if you have no alternative transport arranged. Follow crew instructions for walks at the stops.
Official monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
- Kojima Station → Accommodation in Kurashiki
When the bus returns to Kojima Station, take JR towards Okayama and change for Kurashiki. Stay in Kurashiki tonight. Use the official search for your travel date to choose trains allowing time after the scheduled bus return to reach the station, prepare to board and change at Okayama.
Official JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
Day 4 · Historical quarter streets
Walk the historical quarter streets.
- Kurashiki Station or accommodation → Bikan Historical Quarter
From Kurashiki Station's south exit, follow the tourist map about 800 metres, or 10 minutes, to the historical quarter entrance. This is a different destination from the Ohara main building, about 15 minutes away.
Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking mapOhara access
- Historical quarter entrance → Historical quarter visit and a meal
Start by the canal and explore the white-walled streets of Honmachi and Higashimachi. Allow two to three hours including lunch and shops. Today focuses on walking the streets; museum admission, boat rides and activities are excluded. Check meals, purchases and each shop's opening days separately.
Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking mapOhara access
- Bikan Historical Quarter → Accommodation in Kurashiki
Leave the streets and walk back to the south side of Kurashiki Station. Stay in Kurashiki tonight.
Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking map
Day 5 · Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft
Visit Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft.
- Kurashiki Station or accommodation → Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft
Walk from Kurashiki Station's south side through the historical quarter to the folkcraft museum at 1-4-11 Chuo, about 15 minutes away. See everyday craft exhibits today, separately from yesterday's street walk.
- Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft entrance → Folkcraft museum visit and a meal
Allow 60–90 minutes for everyday objects such as bowls and textiles. It opens at 10:00, with last admission at 16:30; standard admission is JPY 1,200. Fees may vary by exhibition. The museum closes on Mondays, or the next day when Monday is a public holiday, so check the calendar.
Facility fees and closuresCurrent official hours and accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
- Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft → Kurashiki Station or accommodation
Walk about 15 minutes back to Kurashiki Station. This itinerary ends there. If departing from Okayama Station instead, add a JPY 330 eastbound JR one-way fare and travel time.
Current official hours and accessOfficial JR route and timetable searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresFacility fees and closures
Included: Castle and garden JPY 800 + sunset bus JPY 540 + folkcraft museum JPY 1,200 + tram JPY 320 + JR to Kibitsu JPY 420 + accommodation-move JR JPY 330 + sunset-trip JR JPY 1,680.
Extra costs and conditions: This assumes the castle and garden combined ticket is sold; separate admission costs JPY 200 more if unavailable. The sunset bus follows monthly timetables for Fridays, Saturdays and the day before a public holiday. JR costs assume separate section tickets at Okayama, rather than the lowest through fare. Folkcraft admission may vary by exhibition. The route ends in Kurashiki; departing from Okayama Station adds JPY 330 one way by JR. Accommodation, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage, boat rides, paid prayers and extra activities cost extra. Recheck train and bus connections, exhibitions and closures for your travel dates. If omitting sunset and not buying any relevant JR or bus tickets, subtract JPY 2,220. The JPY 330 accommodation-move fare remains if you still move to Kurashiki. Refunds for tickets already bought and replacement taxis are excluded.
Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding informationFacility fees and closuresOfficial tram faresRecheck JR dates, sections and fares
Frequently asked questions
Does the route cost include JR when moving accommodation from Okayama to Kurashiki?
Yes. The JPY 5,290 subtotal for two nights each in Okayama and Kurashiki includes JPY 330 one way by JR for the accommodation move. Sunset-trip return JR via Okayama to Kojima at JPY 1,680 and the JPY 540 bus are also included separately. The JPY 330 remains if you omit sunset but still move to Kurashiki. Returning to Okayama Station to depart on the last day adds another JPY 330 one-way JR fare. Accommodation, meals and airport transfers are excluded.
Recheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
Does departing from Okayama Station after the folkcraft museum need extra JR fare?
The route with two nights each in Okayama and Kurashiki ends at Kurashiki Station after the folkcraft museum. Departing from Okayama Station adds JPY 330 one way for an adult by JR, making the checked subtotal JPY 5,620. The museum visit starts after 10:00, so allow enough time before your actual departure for viewing, walking, JR travel and departure preparation.
Recheck JR dates, sections and faresFacility fees and closuresCurrent official hours and access
Official sources and dates checked
- Current Korakuen information ·
- Okayama Castle ·
- English Korakuen fees and hours; Japanese information gives the free-admission end date ·
- Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter information ·
- Open official Ohara Museum of Art information ·
- Temporary daytime service notice ·
- Day-ticket fares ·
- Official monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information ·
- Shrine worship and operating FAQ ·
- Official Japanese access information ·
- Facility fees and closures ·
- Current official hours and access ·
- Official JR route and timetable search ·
- Recheck JR dates, sections and fares ·
- Shiroshita return timetable ·
- Choose a route ·
- Temporary outward and return timetable ·
- Korakuen south gate and bridge information ·
- Official Kurashiki walking map ·
- Ohara access ·
- Official tram fares ·
- Official Korakuen walking and tram directions ·
- JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass price and validity ·