Okayama

Okayama is the capital of Okayama Prefecture and a major transportation hub of the Chugoku Region. The city is most famous for Korakuen, known as one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens.

Korakuen is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens (the other two are Kanazawa's Kenrokuen and Mito's Kairakuen).

The garden, which was built in the 17th century by the local feudal lord, contains ponds, teahouses, pavilions, woods, an artificial hill, several small shrines and wide lawns. Okayama Castle stands just next to Korakuen.