[Japan Winter Vacation 2023] 2D1N stay in Okayama

April 29, 2023

Okayama, the Land of Sunshine is often overlooked by most visitors, but in my personal opinion, it has a lot to offer. Okayama is located on a shinkansen (bullet train) line, so it is pretty easy to reach quickly and comfortably from Hiroshima. It took us around 35-40 minutes.

A monument situated outside the Okayama Station, the Momotaro Sculpture or the Peach Boy is a must-see for Momotaro fans and tourists. Momotaro is a famous hero in Japanese folklore born directly from a giant peach, and when he grew up, he fought with demons at the Demon Island.

We only spent 2D1N in Okayama and managed only to visit a few places without having to move our luggage around. Staying near to the JR Okayama station at Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama made my outings more convenient! The hotel features a public onsen, and breakfast was included!

Kurashiki is the most popular place to visit from Okayama for a day's trip, and it is only 15 minutes away by train. To reach the Bikan Historical Quarter, it is about one kilometer from Kurashiki Station and approximately a ten-minute walk.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, also known as the Bikan area is a preserved historic district. The picturesque area features traditional Japanese houses which attracts many visitors.

We had our lunch at Restaurant Kiyutei which is located near to the Kurashiki River, and they offer Japanese fusion cuisine (Western European cuisine with Asian-Japanese cuisine).

I ordered a Hot Yuzu drink for myself

I had the Omu-rice with Japanese Curry Set which came with Salad and Soup!

Baby had Hayashi Rice which came with Salad, and he ordered a Peach Cocktail!

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter sits along the Kurashiki River and is known as Japan’s ‘Little Venice’. There are many trendy cafes, boutique shops, and interesting museums.

We came across an interesting shop that sell denim chopsticks (Hashi). We purchased 2 pairs of chopsticks and got our names engraved on them!

Kurashiki is also known as the birthplace of Japanese denim. Lined with shops along the Kurashiki River, Kurashiki Denim Street is where these domestically produced denim products are packed together on display.

To my surprise, there were even original drinks and desserts in an eye-catching denim hue. The soft-serve ice cream also showcases this beautiful indigo blue, and the Denim Bun has gained much popularity for its bold color, which is an item you’ll definitely need to try!

The street is brimming with fashion items, which naturally includes jeans, denim dresses, jackets, bags, and accessories.

We stumbled upon the Miffy Storehouse Kitchen & Bakery, and purchased some bakeries and some kitchen featured Miffy merchandises.

A town filled with historic background in Okayama Prefecture!

Our room stay was inclusive of breakfast, and we headed down to the café to enjoy the Breakfast Buffet Spread.

Okayama Castle is also known as 'Crow Castle' because of its unusual black façade. We took many random photos from the outside of the impressive castle, and we enjoyed the view too. On the inside of the castle, there were many showcases and displays about the castle’s history. A great and iconic castle with lots of history.