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Four days: sea views or streets and crafts?

Stay three Okayama nights for Ohara and Washuzan sunset, or separate days of Kurashiki streets and folkcraft. Add sunset when day three is Friday, Saturday or before a public holiday, returning to Kojima on the same bus.

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Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary

4 days / 3 nights A

Castle, art, Washuzan and shrine

Stay three nights near Okayama Station, with separate days for castle/garden, Ohara art and Washuzan sunset, then Kibitsu last. Choose dates making day three a Friday, Saturday or day before a public holiday. The sunset programme allows about 15 minutes at each of two viewpoints.

Castle, art, Washuzan and shrine →4 days / 3 nights B

Kibitsu, castle and Kurashiki crafts

Stay three nights near Okayama Station. Skip coastal buses and Ohara; give shrine, keep, streets and folkcraft a day each. Focus on keep exhibitions instead of the garden and finish with everyday crafts.

Kibitsu, castle and Kurashiki crafts →
4 days / 3 nights A

Castle, art, Washuzan and shrine

Stay three nights near Okayama Station, with separate days for castle/garden, Ohara art and Washuzan sunset, then Kibitsu last. Choose dates making day three a Friday, Saturday or day before a public holiday. The sunset programme allows about 15 minutes at each of two viewpoints.

Day 1: castle and garden together

Visit the castle and garden on the same day.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Okayama Castle

    Take a Higashiyama-bound tram from Okayama-ekimae to Shiroshita. Allow about five minutes aboard and ten walking from the stop to the castle entrance, plus waiting. Distinguish Seikibashi-bound services.

    Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose the routeKorakuen South Gate and bridge information

  2. Okayama Castle → Tsukimi Bridge and Korakuen

    After the keep, cross Tsukimi Bridge to Korakuen’s South Gate ticket office. Official access guidance gives about five minutes South Gate–castle; stairs and ticket queues are extra. Allow half a day for both and lunch. Standard combined tickets cost 800 yen when sold; separate tickets total 1,000 otherwise. Garden closing is 18:00 from 20 March to 30 September or 17:00 from 1 October to 19 March, with admission ending 15 minutes earlier. If arriving late, decide whether to visit only one before buying a combined ticket.

    Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationChoose the routeKorakuen South Gate and bridge informationOfficial tram fares

  3. Korakuen → Okayama hotel

    Walk about 10 minutes from the garden to Shiroshita and take an Okayama-ekimae-bound tram back. Stay in Okayama tonight. Two tram rides for castle/garden total 320 yen, included separately from admission in the partial total.

    Current Korakuen informationOfficial tram faresShiroshita return timetable

Day 2: Ohara Museum of Art

Spend the day viewing art at Ohara Museum of Art.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Ohara Museum of Art

    Take a westbound JR train calling at Kurashiki. From the south exit, follow quarter streets about 15 minutes to Ohara’s main-building ticket office at 1-1-15 Chuo. The 10-minute quarter-entrance walk is not the full journey.

    Official Ohara Museum informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  2. Ohara Museum entrance → Ohara Museum and meal

    Allow two to three hours for main-building Western paintings, the Craft Art/Eastern Art galleries and Torajiro Kojima Memorial Hall. The three-building standard ticket costs 2,000 yen; re-entry to the same building is generally prohibited. The memorial hall opens at 10:00 and closes at 16:00 March–November or 15:00 December–February. Check these differences from the main building’s seasonal last admission; adjust your visit date if time for all three is insufficient. Audio guides, meals and purchases are extra.

    Official Ohara Museum informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  3. Ohara Museum of Art → Okayama hotel

    Walk about 15 minutes back to Kurashiki Station, then return to Okayama by JR and stay there. Basic Kurashiki return fare of 660 yen is included in the partial total.

    Official Ohara Museum informationOhara accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

Day 3: Washuzan sunset programme

Visit two viewpoints, then return to Kojima Station on the same bus.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Kojima Station sunset bus

    Take an ordinary Seto Ohashi Line train calling at Kojima from Okayama, then go to stand 5. Choose JR to fit the monthly sunset departure on Fridays, Saturdays or days before public holidays. If the operating day is unsuitable or JR connections after the scheduled bus return leave insufficient time, omit the sea trip and rest in Okayama.

    Official JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

  2. Kojima Station stand 5 → Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan circuit

    The sunset programme visits Sanbyakuzan and Washuzan viewpoints, returning to Kojima Station. Allow about 15 minutes at each; the fare is 540 yen. Follow official monthly departure/return times. No reservation is required, but you cannot board if the bus is full. Omit the visit if you cannot arrange alternative transport. Follow crew guidance for on-site walks.

    Official monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

  3. Kojima Station → Okayama hotel

    After the programme bus returns to Kojima, take an ordinary Okayama-bound train with time for boarding preparation after the scheduled bus return. Stay in Okayama tonight.

    Official JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

Day 4: Kibitsu Shrine

Visit Kibitsu Shrine for worship and corridor walks.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Kibitsu Shrine

    Take the Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) towards Soja from Okayama to Kibitsu Station. The shrine’s Japanese access guidance gives about 17 minutes aboard and ten walking, excluding waiting. Follow the official map to 931 Kibitsu. The 05:00 gate opening is not the first-train time; look up JR outward and return services.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  2. Kibitsu Shrine entrance → Kibitsu Shrine and meal

    Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for corridors and worship in the grounds. Main-hall interiors and paid prayers are excluded. Choose a visit allowing worship and the return walk before the 18:00 gate closing. On departure day, leave time for your onward train from Okayama too.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  3. Kibitsu Shrine → Okayama Station and hotel

    Walk about 10 minutes back to Kibitsu Station and take an Okayama-bound train. The basic JR return fare is 420 yen; paid prayers and souvenirs are extra. This course ends at Okayama Station.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

Partial total of checked items: 5,760 yen

Included: Castle/garden 800 yen + Ohara 2,000 + trams 320 + Kurashiki JR 660 + Kojima JR 1,020 + Kibitsu JR 420 + sunset programme 540.

Extra costs and conditions: Based on combined-ticket sale days; separate tickets otherwise add 200 yen. Sunset programmes follow monthly Friday/Saturday/pre-public-holiday departures/returns and capacity limits. Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage, boat rides, paid prayers and additional activities are extra. Recheck train/bus connections, exhibitions and closures for your date. If omitting Washuzan without buying the JR/bus tickets, deduct 1,560 yen. Refunds of purchased tickets are not assumed; alternative taxi costs are excluded.

Okayama CastleCurrent Korakuen informationOfficial Ohara Museum informationOfficial tram faresRecheck JR dates, sections and faresDay-pass faresDaytime temporary-service noticeTemporary two-way timetableOfficial monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

4 days / 3 nights B

Kibitsu, castle and Kurashiki crafts

Stay three nights near Okayama Station. Skip coastal buses and Ohara; give shrine, keep, streets and folkcraft a day each. Focus on keep exhibitions instead of the garden and finish with everyday crafts.

Day 1: Kibitsu Shrine

Visit Kibitsu Shrine for worship and corridor walks.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Kibitsu Shrine

    Take the Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) towards Soja from Okayama to Kibitsu Station. The shrine’s Japanese access guidance gives about 17 minutes aboard and ten walking, excluding waiting. Follow the official map to 931 Kibitsu. The 05:00 gate opening is not the first-train time; look up JR outward and return services.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  2. Kibitsu Shrine entrance → Kibitsu Shrine and meal

    Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for corridors and worship in the grounds. Main-hall interiors and paid prayers are excluded. Choose a visit allowing worship and the return walk before the 18:00 gate closing. On departure day, leave time for your onward train from Okayama too.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  3. Kibitsu Shrine → Okayama hotel

    Walk about 10 minutes back to Kibitsu Station and take an Okayama-bound train. The basic JR return fare is 420 yen; paid prayers and souvenirs are extra. Stay in Okayama tonight.

    Official Japanese access guidanceShrine worship and operating FAQRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

Day 2: Okayama Castle keep

Explore the keep at Okayama Castle.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Okayama Castle

    Take a Higashiyama-bound tram from Okayama-ekimae to Shiroshita. Allow about five minutes aboard and ten walking from the stop to the castle entrance, plus waiting. Distinguish Seikibashi-bound services.

    Okayama CastleChoose the route

  2. Okayama Castle entrance → Okayama Castle and meal

    Allow about 90 minutes for keep exhibitions. Adult admission is 500 yen; the keep opens at 09:00, last admission 17:00. No garden visit is added today; eat near the castle or in the city.

    Okayama Castle

  3. Okayama Castle → Okayama hotel

    Walk to Shiroshita and take an Okayama-ekimae-bound tram back. The two castle-day rides cost 160 yen each, totalling 320. Stay in Okayama tonight.

    Official tram faresShiroshita return timetableHigashiyama-bound timetableOkayama Castle

Day 3: historical-quarter streets

Walk the streets of Bikan Historical Quarter.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Bikan Historical Quarter

    Take a westbound JR train from Okayama that calls at Kurashiki. From the south exit, follow the tourism map about 800 metres/10 minutes to the quarter entrance. This differs from the northern shopping-mall direction.

    Official JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking map

  2. Historical-quarter entrance → Historical quarter and meal

    Start at the canal, then explore white-walled Honmachi/Higashimachi streets. Allow two to three hours including lunch and shops. Today, you walk the streets without visiting a museum, taking a boat ride or joining activities. Check meal/purchase costs and individual shop opening separately.

    Official JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial Bikan Historical Quarter informationOfficial Kurashiki walking map

  3. Bikan Historical Quarter → Okayama hotel

    Leave the streets and walk to Kurashiki Station’s south side, then return to Okayama by JR and stay there. The basic return fare is 660 yen. Routes revisiting Kurashiki on another day count that day’s return separately too.

    Official JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial Kurashiki walking map

Day 4: Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft

Explore everyday crafts at Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft.

  1. Okayama Station and hotel → Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft

    Take a westbound JR train calling at Kurashiki. Walk from its south side through the quarter about 15 minutes to the museum at 1-4-11 Chuo. Give everyday craft exhibitions their own day after yesterday’s street walk.

    Facility fees and closuresOfficial prefectural hours and accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  2. Folkcraft museum entrance → Folkcraft museum and meal

    Allow 60–90 minutes for everyday items such as pottery and textiles. The museum opens at 10:00, with reception until 16:30; standard base admission is 1,200 yen. Fees may vary with exhibition. Closed Mondays, or next day when Monday is a public holiday; check the opening calendar.

    Facility fees and closuresOfficial prefectural hours and accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

  3. Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft → Okayama Station and hotel

    Walk about 15 minutes back to Kurashiki Station and take JR to Okayama. The route ends at Okayama Station, so today’s 660-yen JR return is included too.

    Facility fees and closuresOfficial prefectural hours and accessRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

Partial total of checked items: 3,760 yen

Included: Castle 500 yen + folkcraft museum 1,200 + trams 320 + Kibitsu JR 420 + Kurashiki JR returns 660 × 2 = 1,320.

Extra costs and conditions: Folkcraft fees may vary by exhibition. Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage, boat rides, paid prayers and additional activities are extra. Recheck train/bus connections, exhibitions and closures for your date.

Okayama CastleFacility fees and closuresOfficial tram faresRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

Frequently asked questions

When should I leave Okayama for the sunset programme?

Departures change seasonally; first check the monthly time at Kojima stand 5. Choose an ordinary train calling at Kojima and allow station-to-bus access after alighting. Check Okayama-bound JR after the programme too. Omit Washuzan if connections do not fit.

Official monthly sunset returns and boarding guidanceOfficial JR route/journey searchRecheck JR dates, sections and fares

How much transport can I omit without a sunset trip from Okayama?

The three-night castle/garden/Ohara/Washuzan/Kibitsu route’s checked partial total is 5,760 yen. Without buying Kojima JR return 1,020 and programme 540, deduct 1,560 for 4,200. Refunds of purchased tickets are not assumed; accommodation/meals are extra.

Recheck JR dates, sections and faresOfficial monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

Is the sunset programme the daytime circular-bus ticket?

No. The adult daytime pass costs 520 yen; the separate sunset programme costs adults/children 540. Daytime temporary services use Kojima stand 4, sunset stand 5. Check sunset operating days and monthly times separately.

Day-pass faresOfficial monthly sunset returns and boarding guidance

Official sources and check dates