11 Days in Chūgoku & Kyushu – Day 07 – Okayama – Okayama Castle

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Besides the Korakuen, the other of the two most popular places to visit when in the city is Okayama Cstle. The two places were very near each other as they sit on opposite sides of Asahi River, and you can also get a combo ticket of ¥560/SGD7.20 for adult. The admission price is really worth it. There was a lot to see in Korakuen, and for me at least, the castle was the added bonus.

Quick notes: the castle’s main tower was was completed in 1597, got destroyed in 1945 by the American bombers, and rebuilt again using concrete in 1966. The two watch towers survived the bombings, and are now listed in the country as important cultural properties. Comments and pictures next:

The best view of the main tower’s exterior is from Yuejian bridge. You get incredible opportunities to frame in one shot Asahi River, the river banks, the hill the castle sits on, and the main tower.
Crossed the river and at the foot of the hill leading up to the castle. The Tenshu-kaku, or main tower, is the central building of the castle. The castle is black, and almost spooky looking from the outside!
More stone steps!
The main tower comprises seven levels, with the observation floor on the top floor, and also a basement level. There’s an elevator serving the floor levels – which gave my aching knee joints welcomed relief. The base of the main tower as built in the 16th century was an irregular pentagon.
A map of the castle at the ground floor’s admission office. You get a very informative foldout guide in English.
A view of Asahi Tower from the level 6 observation floor.
Artifacts in the floors below.
Mannequins in Samurai armor.
A quiet cafe on the first floor.
Places for you to take pictures of Korakuen if you didn’t already just come from it.
Not sure which tower this is: according to the map, this should be the tsukimi-yagura, but I’ll have to double-check on it later again.
The Azuka-no-mon (unopened gate).

Summary: of the castles I’ve visited in Japan, the one in Kumamoto remains the best I’ve seen so far. The Okayama one is alright, but also made very palatable by the attractively priced combo ticket alongside Korakuen. Allocate between 30 to 45 minutes for this visit.

It was about 10:30AM by the time I left the castle. Kurashiki next!