Korakuen is a beautiful landscape garden and Okayama's main attraction. Along with Kanazawa's
Kenrokuen and Mito's Kairakuen, Korakuen is well known as one of Japan's three best landscape gardens. It is situated just beside Okayama Castle, which can be seen from the garden as "borrowed scenery".
The local feudal lord ordered the construction of Korakuen in 1687 as a place of entertainment for the ruling family and a location for receiving important guests. Occasionally, the public was permitted to enter the garden.
Korakuen is a spacious garden that offers a large pond, streams, walking paths and a hill that serves as a lookout point. Rather unique for a Japanese garden, however, are Korakuen's spacious lawns. Also found in the garden are groves of plum, cherry and maple trees, tea and rice fields, an archery range and a crane aviary.
The Kintai-kyo Bridge is located in Iwakuni city,Yamaguchi prefecture, which has been Iwakuni's most famous landmark and a subject of admiration for hundreds of years. It is completely made of wood and without the use of any nails, the bridge makes five bold arches onto massive stone pillars as it crosses over the Nishiki River.
Plans for the Kintai-kyo were first drawn up when strong currents had once again destroyed a bridge crossing the Nishiki River. A more durable bridge was commissioned by Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third feudal lord of Iwakuni, whose statue stands at the entrance to Kikko Park.
After the bridge was completed in 1673, it kept standing until 1950, when Iwakuni was struck by a violent typhoon.
It is also well- known as the spot for cherry-blossom viewings in the spring.
It is located in a special district of the Seto Inland Sea National Park, Southern part of Okayama prefecture. Need to less to say, this is the best scenic area in the Seto Inland Sea National Park. Mt. Washu is designated as a beauty spot in Japan, famous for its many locations from which to enjoy views of the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
It is a 133-meter hill with a splendid view. The peak, known as Shoshuho, offers a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea and the entire span of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. In particular, sunsets viewed from here are fantastic and are ranked among the 100 best in Japan. Mt. Washu has two lookout points.It is a must-see spot in the region.
Access:
By Train/Bus: Kijima Sta. of JR Setoohashi line/ Bus for Mt Washu, 20 min.
By Car: 5 min. from Seto Chuo Expressway, Kojima IC.
My home town, Okayama city is a castle town. Okayama Castle also known as "crow castle" due to its black exterior, was built in 1597 during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. The original castle was destroyed in the last year of World War 2, but a reconstruction was made in 1966. The castle is located on the Asahi River, which was used as a moat. Korakuen Garden is located just across the river.
The main building of the castle is the six story castle keep. The keep's interior is modern and displays exhibits on the history and development of the castle. Only one of Okayama Castle's original buildings escaped destruction, the Tsukimi Yagura ("moon viewing turret"), which dates back to 1620.
There are also reconstructions and unearthed foundations of former buildings, which help illustrate the former extent of the castle's complex of buildings.
The castle is easily accessble from Okayama station by street car or local bus, even on foot. You can visit the English website as below for further information.
Okayama Castle
