{"id":73623,"date":"2020-11-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=73623"},"modified":"2020-11-27T15:51:26","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T06:51:26","slug":"okayama-castle-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/okayama-castle-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cultural Pleasures of Okayama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a class=\"ek-link ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/momotaro-karakuri-museum\/\">The fabled <strong>Momotaro<\/strong> Peach Boy <\/a>may have killed a few ogres, but <strong>Okayama<\/strong> (\u5ca1\u5c71) is steeped in many timeless ingredients<a class=\"ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/momotaro-karakuri-museum\/\"> <\/a>for sightseeing and enjoyment: peaches, pottery, Nihonga paintings, old-style sushi, remote mountain onsen, and moon-viewing pleasure gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Korakuen: A Peaceful Walk Through One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the modern pulse of Okayama lies in the lively neighborhood of high streets and shopping arcades that surround the central train station, its historical core is indisputably <a href=\"https:\/\/okayama-korakuen.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\"><strong>Korakuen<\/strong> gardens<\/a> (\u5f8c\u697d\u5712). The famous <strong>Edo-period garden was originally commissioned as a peaceful daimyo resort by Lord Ikeda Tsunamasa<\/strong> and completed in 1700 and has been open to the general public since 1884. Today, the garden buzzes with locals, tourists, birdwatchers strolling, or commuting across and around it on either side of the Asahigawa River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131751\/korakuen-bridge.jpg\" alt=\"Lamp on Tsurumi Bridge\" data-id=\"73597\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131751\/korakuen-bridge.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/korakuen-bridge\/\" class=\"wp-image-73597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131751\/korakuen-bridge.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131751\/korakuen-bridge-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131803\/korakuen-promenade.jpg\" alt=\"Pedestrian pathway\" data-id=\"73600\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131803\/korakuen-promenade.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/korakuen-promenade\/\" class=\"wp-image-73600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131803\/korakuen-promenade.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131803\/korakuen-promenade-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Okayama&#8217;s Tsurumi Bridge leads to Korakuen and its scenic south gate promenade (sanpomichi).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Korakuen is popularly known as one of Japan\u2019s Three Great Gardens (\u65e5\u672c\u4e09\u540d\u5712) since the ranking first appeared in a photo book for foreigners in 1904.  Korakuen survived significant damage from a 1934 flood and 1945 war bombings and has been <strong>faithfully preserved over the years<\/strong> <strong>thanks to detailed plans and illustrations<\/strong> documented by the original Ikeda clan. Inside the garden are <strong>sprawling green lawns<\/strong>, <strong>dense groves, colorful blossoms, and tranquil paths<\/strong>. <strong>Reflective koi ponds<\/strong> are interwoven with thoughtfully placed rest houses, stepping stones, and wooden bridges over streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131810\/korakuen-torii.jpg\" alt=\"Central view of Jigen-do torii behind Sawa-no-ike Pond\" data-id=\"73602\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131810\/korakuen-torii.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/korakuen-torii\/\" class=\"wp-image-73602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131810\/korakuen-torii.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131810\/korakuen-torii-500x308.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">View from Yuishinzan Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"659\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131807\/korakuen-sawanoike.jpg\" alt=\"Koi in pond\" data-id=\"73601\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131807\/korakuen-sawanoike.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/korakuen-sawanoike\/\" class=\"wp-image-73601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131807\/korakuen-sawanoike.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131807\/korakuen-sawanoike-500x322.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Sawa-no-ike Pond<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Meandering through the garden \u2014 which also includes the remains of an equestrian ground and an archery range&nbsp;\u2014 it\u2019s easy to imagine a feudal lord&#8217;s leisure activities during more peaceful times. Every spring, Korakuen hosts tea picking and rice planting festivals. Every autumn, <strong>traditional Noh theater performances are held at the reconstructed open-air stage<\/strong> in honor of Lord Ikeda\u2019s affinity with the 14th-century art form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131758\/korakuen-planks.jpg\" alt=\"Wooden plank footbridge\" class=\"wp-image-73599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131758\/korakuen-planks.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131758\/korakuen-planks-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131758\/korakuen-planks-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In one corner, <strong>endangered red-crowned cranes<\/strong> (\u30bf\u30f3\u30c1\u30e7\u30a6\u9db4) live inside a dedicated aviary. As <strong>Japanese symbols of luck and longevity<\/strong>, cranes roamed free at Korakuen from the Edo period until they died out after World War II, then were reintroduced in 1956. A few times a year, these majestic birds are let out on scheduled morning strolls within the garden grounds and during New Year\u2019s Day for a ceremonial flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Regal Views from Okayama Castle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Visitors can also walk along shaded paths outside the garden, especially around its South Gate, before crossing the pedestrian Tsukimi Bridge to <strong><a aria-label=\"Okayama Castle (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link ek-link\" href=\"http:\/\/okayama-kanko.net\/ujo\/english\" target=\"_blank\">Okayama Castle<\/a><\/strong> (\u5ca1\u5c71\u57ce). Like many black and white <em>tenshukaku<\/em> (\u5929\u5b88\u95a3, castle towers) in the region, its architectural style is characteristic of the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the late 16th century. The distinctive black weather boards that protect its outer walls give it the nickname of <strong>Ujo<\/strong> (\u70cf\u57ce), where <strong>Okayama\u2019s &#8220;Black Crow&#8221; Castle<\/strong> contrasts with neighboring Himeji\u2019s famous &#8220;White Egret&#8221; castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131743\/castle.jpg\" alt=\"Okayama Castle overlooking the Asahi River\" class=\"wp-image-73595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131743\/castle.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131743\/castle-500x293.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Okayama Castle overlooking the Asahigawa River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131738\/castle-ukita.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge-end tiles on the reconstructed Gate at the Top of Sixty-one Steps\" data-id=\"73594\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131738\/castle-ukita.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/castle-ukita\/\" class=\"wp-image-73594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131738\/castle-ukita.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131738\/castle-ukita-500x315.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Tiles of the reconstructed Gate at the top of 61 Steps bear the Ukita clan\u2019s Kiri (paulownia) coat of arms.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"419\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/21234004\/castle-shachihoko-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"73823\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/21234004\/castle-shachihoko-2.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?attachment_id=73823\" class=\"wp-image-73823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/21234004\/castle-shachihoko-2.jpg 419w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/21234004\/castle-shachihoko-2-324x500.jpg 324w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Gold Shachihoko (mythical carp with the head of a tiger) and 5th-floor views.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Okayama Castle was <strong>founded by Lord Ukita Hideie in 1597<\/strong> and eventually expanded to include a salt warehouse, 35 turrets, and 21 gates. In 1869, the main buildings became the property of the Meiji government and had been preserved as national property until an air raid on June 29, 1945, burnt most of the castle complex. <strong>The only surviving building in the central area was the 1620 Tsukimi Yagura<\/strong> (\u6708\u898b\u6ad3, Moon-viewing Turret), that feature special eyelets for spotting enemies embedded on the northwest walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okayama Castle\u2019s present 6-story, 21-meter-tall <em>tenshukaku<\/em> was reconstructed in 1966, along with three main gates. The main building now serves as a museum, equipped with an elevator, cafe, shop in the basement, and a studio to craft your own <strong>Bizenyaki<\/strong> (\u5099\u524d\u713c) pottery. But it also exhibits a replica of a Lord\u2019s chamber and artifacts such as swords, calligraphy, lacquerware, ornate stitched armor, and preserved parched letters written to the castle\u2019s sitting lords. The <strong>regal lookout views<\/strong> are from the 5th and 6th floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Art and Design at Yumeji Art Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just north across the river from Korakuen is a more contemporary landmark of Okayama: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/yumeji-art-museum.com\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Yumeji Art Museum<\/a><\/strong> (\u5922\u4e8c\u90f7\u571f\u7f8e\u8853\u9928), dedicated to the works of <strong>Takehisa Yumeji<\/strong> (\u7af9\u4e45\u5922\u4e8c), <strong>Japan\u2019s most famous Romantic artist of the Taisho period<\/strong> (1912-1926). Easily recognizable by the weathercock on its roof, the old Korakuen train station was renovated and opened as a museum in 1984. Despite the prolific artist&#8217;s European influences and cosmopolitan designs, Yumeji remained loyal to his roots in Okayama, where he was born in 1884.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"387\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20193224\/yumeji-kazamidori.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"73638\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20193224\/yumeji-kazamidori.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?attachment_id=73638\" class=\"wp-image-73638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20193224\/yumeji-kazamidori.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20193224\/yumeji-kazamidori-500x189.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A self-taught <strong>painter, poet, illustrator, and graphic designer<\/strong>, Yumeji gained sudden fame after winning first prize in <em>Chugakusekai<\/em> (\u4e2d\u5b66\u4e16\u754c) magazine\u2019s illustration contest at age 22. He went on to design and publish his own books of poetry and drawings for book covers, newspaper caricatures, magazines, postcards, and music scores, often juxtaposing ultra-modern graphics with traditional Japanese elements. At the same time, Yumeji developed the <strong>Nihonga<\/strong> (\u65e5\u672c\u753b, Japanese style) illustrations of Western-inspired <strong><em>bijin<\/em><\/strong> (\u7f8e\u4eba, beautiful women) for which he is best known, in oil paintings, watercolors, woodcuts, and other prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131906\/yumeji-portrait.jpg\" alt=\"museum exhibition room\" data-id=\"73619\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131906\/yumeji-portrait.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yumeji-portrait\/\" class=\"wp-image-73619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131906\/yumeji-portrait.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131906\/yumeji-portrait-500x273.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Yumeji&#8217;s print designs, illustrations, and books<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari.jpg\" alt=\"Books open to illustrations\" data-id=\"73621\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yumeji-tsumujimagari\/\" class=\"wp-image-73621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari-500x250.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131913\/yumeji-tsumujimagari-670x335.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Yumeji&#8217;s illustrated poetry books (1918-1919)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20180801\/yumeji-tatsutahime-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"73627\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20180801\/yumeji-tatsutahime-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?attachment_id=73627\" class=\"wp-image-73627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20180801\/yumeji-tatsutahime-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20180801\/yumeji-tatsutahime-1-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A room featuring Yumeji&#8217;s famous <em>Tatsuta Hime<\/em> (\u7adc\u7530\u59eb, autumn princess)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Yumeji Art Museum has a <strong>total collection of about 3,000 artworks and documents<\/strong>, lovingly researched and preserved by three generations of collectors and museum directors. Several hundred works are digitized and viewable in extreme detail on a large screen, while <strong>thematic exhibitions are renewed each almanac season<\/strong> to spotlight a particular aspect of Yumeji\u2019s body of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"375\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131900\/yumeji-kuronosuke.jpg\" alt=\"Black cat with red ribbon\" data-id=\"73616\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131900\/yumeji-kuronosuke.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yumeji-kuronosuke\/\" class=\"wp-image-73616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131900\/yumeji-kuronosuke.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131900\/yumeji-kuronosuke-332x500.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">The museum mascot, Kuronosuke<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131853\/yumeji-cats.jpg\" alt=\"Drawings of cats\" data-id=\"73614\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131853\/yumeji-cats.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yumeji-cats\/\" class=\"wp-image-73614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131853\/yumeji-cats.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131853\/yumeji-cats-500x275.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Drawings by Yumeji<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2017, the museum has a mascot: <strong>Kuronosuke<\/strong> (\u9ed1\u306e\u52a9), a black cat who was rescued from a busy intersection in front of Korakuen, and who uncannily resembles Yumeji\u2019s original illustrations. Across the garden, the newly opened <strong>Art Caf\u00e9 and gift shop<\/strong> extend Yumeji\u2019s world to sell original prints and products in a gourmet setting. In addition to original sweets, the caf\u00e9 serves <strong>Michelin-starred <em>chiyagyu<\/em><\/strong> (\u5343\u5c4b\u725b), a luxury beef from northern Okayama prefecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20181614\/yumeji-cafe-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20181614\/yumeji-cafe-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20181614\/yumeji-cafe-1-500x297.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Art Caf\u00e9 Yumeji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gustatory Delights of Okayama Old-Style Sushi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just west of Okayama station, near the Hokancho shopping arcade, the Japanese sushi restaurant <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fukuzushi-okayama.jp\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Fukuzushi<\/a><\/strong> (\u798f\u5bff\u53f8) specializes in <strong><em>sawara<\/em><\/strong> (\u9c06, Spanish mackerel). According to the chef, <em>sawara<\/em> is the defining element of <strong>barazushi: a luxurious style of sushi made in homes around Bizen, Saidaiji, and Okayama from the early Meiji period to the 1930s. <\/strong>A scattering of raw fish and other ingredients laid on top of and mixed into vinegared rice is the Barazushi signature. Unlike chirashizushi, which features popular fish such as salmon and tuna, barazushi\u2019s ingredients are much more varied and subtle\u2014with no soy sauce in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131731\/barazushi.jpg\" alt=\"Barazushi served in a clay bowl\" class=\"wp-image-73592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131731\/barazushi.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131731\/barazushi-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Bizen Barazushi by Fukuzushi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Chef Kubota makes <strong>Bizen Barazushi<\/strong> (\u5099\u524d\u3070\u3089\u305a\u3057) the old-fashioned way, as a <strong>\u201cfaithful reproduction\u201d of the historical dish<\/strong>, using only fresh, natural, regionally sourced ingredients. Discovering it for the first time, I was captivated by the <strong>luxurious combination of tastes and textures<\/strong> presented in the giant clay bowl: vinegary <em>sawara<\/em> (Spanish mackerel) and <em>mamakari<\/em> (Japanese sardinella), lemony <em>kotai<\/em> (small sea bream), salty <em>anago<\/em> (saltwater eel), wrinkled <em>mogai<\/em> (algae shellfish), crispy lotus root, chewy gobo burdock root, crunchy green beans, juicy gourd, spicy pink ginger, soft ginkgo nuts, succulent shiitake mushrooms, tender taro stems, and one whole chestnut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinegar is a fundamental flavor in the dish, and the chef advises to begin eating anywhere you like and to chew slowly to give each ingredient time to permeate your palate. I finished my meal by nibbling on delicate fern leaf, which left tangy-sweet flavors on my tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hot Spring Baths in a Mountain Onsen of Okayama<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Less than an hour north of Okayama station by train is the <strong>rural village of Takebe that straddles the Asahigawa River up in the mountains<\/strong>. There, rice paddies abound, and wildlife thrives&nbsp;\u2014 hawks soared overhead, a white crane posed in the middle of a yellow field, a swan floated quietly on the river, and turtles basked on the rocks. The main road is flanked by fields and houses on either side, a path that penetrates the forest, and a promenade along the riverbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"479\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131829\/takebe-river.jpg\" alt=\"Asahi river in Takebe  in Okayama\" class=\"wp-image-73607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131829\/takebe-river.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131829\/takebe-river-500x234.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131842\/takebe-sign.jpg\" alt=\"A sign points to Kamogawacho in front of agricultural fields in Okayama\" data-id=\"73611\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131842\/takebe-sign.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-sign\/\" class=\"wp-image-73611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131842\/takebe-sign.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131842\/takebe-sign-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131846\/takebe-swan.jpg\" alt=\"Swan floating on the river, turtles basking on rocks in Okayama\" data-id=\"73612\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131846\/takebe-swan.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-swan\/\" class=\"wp-image-73612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131846\/takebe-swan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131846\/takebe-swan-500x325.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Rural sights of Takebe on the Asahigawa River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When the locals aren\u2019t busy tending to their land, they can also enjoy natural hot springs. The intimate <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.okayama-spa.jp\/en\/takebeyahata\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Takebe Yahata Onsen<\/a><\/strong> (\u305f\u3051\u3079\u516b\u5e61\u6e29\u6cc9) offers several different types of baths, including <strong><em>gensenyu<\/em> (\u6e90\u6cc9\u6e6f), where hot springs get drawn directly from the source<\/strong>, rather than using recycled spring water. There are two square <strong><em>rotenburo<\/em> (\u9732\u5929\u98a8\u5442, open-air baths)<\/strong> and four indoor baths of varying styles and temperatures, including the <strong><em>neyu<\/em> (\u5bdd\u6e6f) where you can recline<\/strong> with a view of the patio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"873\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131825\/takebe-neyu.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen Neyu (\u5bdd\u6e6f) in Okayama\" data-id=\"73606\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131825\/takebe-neyu.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-neyu\/\" class=\"wp-image-73606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131825\/takebe-neyu.jpg 873w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131825\/takebe-neyu-500x355.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 873px) 100vw, 873px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Neyu (\u5bdd\u6e6f)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131834\/takebe-rotenburo.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen Rotenburo (\u9732\u5929\u98a8\u5442) in Okayama\" data-id=\"73609\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131834\/takebe-rotenburo.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-rotenburo\/\" class=\"wp-image-73609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131834\/takebe-rotenburo.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131834\/takebe-rotenburo-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131834\/takebe-rotenburo-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Rotenburo (\u9732\u5929\u98a8\u5442)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131838\/takebe-rotenburo2.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen Rotenburo on the patio in Okayama\" data-id=\"73610\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131838\/takebe-rotenburo2.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-rotenburo2\/\" class=\"wp-image-73610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131838\/takebe-rotenburo2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131838\/takebe-rotenburo2-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131838\/takebe-rotenburo2-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Rotenburo on the patio<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Spend the night in a traditional tatami room, and you will be rewarded in the morning with a sumptuous Japanese breakfast as you contemplate the lush landscape. If you want to soak your feet, there is also a free <strong><em>ashiyu<\/em> (\u8db3\u6e6f, foot bath)<\/strong> outside the building, just above the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"709\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131817\/takebe-breakfast.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast at Takebe Yahata Onsen in Okayama\" data-id=\"73604\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131817\/takebe-breakfast.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-breakfast\/\" class=\"wp-image-73604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131817\/takebe-breakfast.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131817\/takebe-breakfast-500x346.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131813\/takebe-ashiyu.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen Ashiyu (foot bath) in Okayama\" data-id=\"73603\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131813\/takebe-ashiyu.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/takebe-ashiyu\/\" class=\"wp-image-73603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131813\/takebe-ashiyu.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131813\/takebe-ashiyu-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/20131813\/takebe-ashiyu-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Breakfast and foot bath at Takebe Yahata Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Arriving in the evening, I relished in the sudden stillness of the crisp mountain air outside the train station and enjoyed ambling across the river\u2019s many narrow bridges. The spectacular firefly mating season may have ended, but I could still hear the crickets. On a clear night, remember to gaze up at the sky. Even if you can\u2019t view the moon, you will certainly see the stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to <strong>Okayama<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Okayama<\/strong> is a dedicated stop on the Tokaido s<em>hinkansen<\/em> line,&nbsp;just a little over <strong>3 hours from Tokyo<\/strong>, <strong>1 hour from Kyoto<\/strong>, and <strong>35 minutes from Hiroshima<\/strong>.&nbsp;It is also accessible on other train lines using a <strong><a class=\"ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japan-rail-pass-guide-worth-tips\/\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1URNDa6VNi4P7LTjDn87D6nj1Lb0bwEwi&amp;hl=en\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Okayama\u2019s pleasures are rich and varied<\/strong>, spanning styles and centuries back to feudal Japan. Whether you seek <strong>historical sightseeing<\/strong> in the heart of the city or a peaceful soak in a <strong>remote mountain onsen<\/strong>, follow the fabled Peach Boy to embark on your own personal adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><em>Sponsored by Okayama city, Okayama<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The fabled Momotaro Peach Boy may have killed a few ogres, but Okayama (\u5ca1\u5c71) is steeped in many timeless ingredients&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":73598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_meta":"","_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":7,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[1414,23,1],"tags":[1309,1305,1376,1320,1312,1292,1324,1364],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized 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