Castle, garden, art or sea views: what would you like to see?
Choose Okayama Castle and Korakuen for keep exhibitions and gardens, or Kurashiki's historical quarter and Ohara for white-walled streets and artworks. For everyday crafts such as bowls and textiles, choose the folkcraft museum; for the Great Seto Bridge and islands, choose Washuzan. Visit Kibitsujinja Shrine for worship and a walk through its long corridor.
Choose sights separately from the itineraries
Okayama Korakuen Garden
岡山後楽園
Walk between broad lawns and ponds for garden views. If you are also visiting Okayama Castle, compare the combined ticket for the paid keep and garden. Night openings happen only on specified dates, so check them separately from daytime visits.
- AdmissionVisitors aged 15–64, excluding secondary school students, pay JPY 500; those aged 65 and over pay JPY 200. Senior high school students and younger are free until 31 March 2027; senior high school students need proof of student status. The combined ticket with the castle costs JPY 800.
- Opening hours and closuresThe garden opens 07:30–18:00 from 20 March to 30 September, with last admission at 17:45, and 08:00–17:00 from 1 October to 19 March, with last admission at 16:45. Events may affect hours.
- Getting thereWalk about 25 minutes from Okayama Station to the garden. By tram, take a Higashiyama-bound service to Shiroshita, then walk about 10 minutes. The official roughly four-minute tram journey excludes waits and walking.
Current Korakuen informationOfficial Korakuen walking and tram directions
Okayama Castle
岡山城
Inside Okayama Castle, known for its black exterior, learn about its lords and castle town. Walk through the surrounding park or add the paid keep exhibition. If you are also visiting Korakuen, compare the combined ticket.
- AdmissionKeep admission costs JPY 500 for ages 15 and over; junior high school students and younger enter free. The combined ticket for Korakuen and the keep costs JPY 800.
- Opening hours and closuresThe keep opens 09:00–17:30, with last admission at 17:00. It closes 29–31 December; temporary closures are possible for severe weather or inspections.
- Getting thereTake a Higashiyama-bound tram from Okayama Station to Shiroshita, then walk towards the castle. The castle and garden are on opposite sides of the river; follow the facility maps.
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
倉敷美観地区
White-walled buildings line streets beside the canal. Walk the lanes, look around shops and take breaks. You can explore without entering art museums; shops and individual facilities follow their own opening days.
- AdmissionThe official introduction does not identify a ticket covering the whole street area. Museums, sightseeing boats and activities cost extra.
- Opening hours and closuresStreet walks and shop hours are separate. Check sightseeing boat times and cancellations for your visit day separately.
- Getting thereOfficial directions give about 10 minutes from Kurashiki Station's south side to the historical quarter entrance. The Ohara main building is a different destination, about 15 minutes away according to the museum. Allow separate time for JR travel and waiting.
Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking mapOhara access
Ohara Museum of Art
大原美術館
See Western paintings, crafts and Asian art during a historical quarter visit. The main building and Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall have different opening hours.
- AdmissionStandard admission costs JPY 2,000; primary and secondary school students under 18 pay JPY 500 and preschool children enter free. The ticket covers the main building, Craft Art and Asian Art Gallery, and Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall. The annex is closed long term.
- Opening hours and closuresThe main building opens 09:00–17:00 in March–November, with last admission at 16:30, and 09:00–15:00 in December–February, with last admission at 14:30. The museum normally closes on Mondays but opens on public and substitute holidays and every day in August. Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall opens 10:00–16:00 in March–November and 10:00–15:00 in December–February, differing from the main building.
- Getting thereAccording to the museum, walk about 15 minutes from Kurashiki Station's south exit to the main building at 1-1-15 Chuo. Distinguish this from the roughly 10-minute walk to the quarter entrance, and allow extra time from your accommodation to the station.
Washuzan viewpoint
Mount Washuzan鷲羽山
Choose the Washuzan viewpoint for views down over the Great Seto Bridge and islands. If waiting for sunset, plan your visit around transport back to Kojima Station. See the related camera view using the camera link. It looks over the Seto Inland Sea and islands from Washuzan. The image cannot show the whole facility interior or confirm whether a visit is possible.
- AdmissionThe viewpoint walk and visitor centre are free. The daytime bus day ticket is JPY 520 for adults and JPY 260 for children, separate from the sunset programme ticket. The three- and four-night Washuzan routes here use the JPY 540 sunset programme instead of the daytime ticket. Taxis and meals cost extra.
- Opening hours and closuresThe visitor centre opens 09:00–17:00 in April–September and 09:00–16:30 in October–March. It closes 29 December–3 January. Safe access to the outdoor viewpoint depends on local conditions.
- Getting thereFrom stand 4 outside Kojima Station, take a bus towards the second viewpoint and get off at Washuzan Second Viewpoint, 鷲羽山第二展望台. Walk about five minutes to the viewpoint. Check operator notices to see whether the current temporary diverted service applies on your date. The visitor centre is a different destination, about 10 minutes uphill towards the summit from the car park. Return services go via Obatake to Kojima Station.
- Using the sunset busA separate sunset programme leaves stand 5 outside Kojima Station on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before a public holiday. Adults and children both pay JPY 540. Spend about 15 minutes at each of two viewpoints before returning to Kojima Station. Check the official monthly outward and return timetable. No reservation is needed, but you cannot board if full. This is separate from the daytime ticket; clear views and sunset colours are not guaranteed.
Washuzan visitor centre fees, hours and access from the car parkDay-ticket faresTemporary daytime service noticeTemporary outward and return timetableOpen official Washuzan viewpoint informationOfficial monthly sunset-bus return timetable and boarding information
Kibitsujinja Shrine
吉備津神社
Kibitsujinja Shrine's long corridor follows the contours of the land. Walk about 10 minutes from Kibitsu Station to worship and explore the shrine architecture. When finding directions, distinguish it from the similarly named Kibitsuhiko Shrine.
- Fees and reservationsGeneral worship is open to visitors during gate-opening hours; the current FAQ does not specify an admission amount. Paid prayers start at JPY 5,000 per request and are excluded from this itinerary.
- Opening hoursThe shrine gates open 05:00–18:00. Goshuin shrine-stamp reception ends at 16:00, separately from worship hours.
- Getting thereFrom Okayama Station, take the JR Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) towards Soja to Kibitsu Station, then walk about 10 minutes to the shrine. The shrine's Japanese directions give about 17 minutes by train and 10 minutes walking as reference times. JR search samples show 15–18 minutes one way; check your travel-date timetable and allow extra waiting time. Return from the same station towards Okayama.
- Visit scopeThe main sanctuary interior is not open for general visits. Allowing 60–90 minutes for the corridor and grounds is our plan, rather than an official standard visit length.
Shrine worship and operating FAQOfficial Japanese access informationTourism agency directions
Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft
倉敷民藝館
See everyday objects such as bowls and textiles in converted rice storehouses. Choose this museum if everyday crafts interest you more than Ohara's paintings.
- AdmissionStandard admission costs JPY 1,200; senior high school and university students pay JPY 500, and primary and junior high school students pay JPY 300. Fees may vary by exhibition. Groups of 20 or more require advance reservations.
- Opening hours and closuresThe museum opens 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. It closes on Mondays, or the next day when Monday is a public holiday. Golden Week and Obon exceptions apply; the museum closes 29 December–1 January. Follow facility information for exhibition-change and warning-related temporary closures.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from Kurashiki Station's south side towards the historical quarter to reach the museum. Address: 1-4-11 Chuo, Kurashiki. Use the official surrounding-area map for directions. Return on foot to the same station.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft with an Ohara ticket?
The folkcraft museum is a separate facility. Ohara's standard JPY 2,000 ticket covers the main building, Craft Art and Asian Art Gallery, and Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall. Standard folkcraft admission is JPY 1,200, but may vary by exhibition.
Open official Ohara Museum of Art informationFacility fees and closures
Do Ohara's three buildings have the same hours?
From March to November, the main building opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30, while Kojima Torajiro Memorial Hall opens 10:00–16:00. From December to February, the main building opens 09:00–15:00, with last admission at 14:30, and the memorial hall opens 10:00–15:00. Check temporary changes and the calendar for your travel day.
Official sources and dates checked
- Current Korakuen information ·
- Okayama Castle ·
- Open official Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter information ·
- Open official Ohara Museum of Art information ·
- Open official Washuzan viewpoint information ·
- Washuzan visitor centre fees, hours and access from the car park ·
- 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 ·
- Tourism agency directions ·
- Facility fees and closures ·
- Current official hours and access ·
- Recheck JR dates, sections and fares ·
- Temporary outward and return timetable ·
- Official Kurashiki walking map ·
- Ohara access ·
- Official Korakuen walking and tram directions ·
- JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass price and validity ·