Okayama Prefecture

Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo is 3.5 hours; from Kyoto 45 minutes. Okayama Station is also a major hub for limited expresses to Shikoku and the San'in coast (Tottori, Yonago).

Different. Okayama City has Korakuen Garden and the black castle — pure-Japan headliners. Kurashiki has the canal-and-warehouse Bikan Quarter — uniquely atmospheric. Most travellers do both as a one-day combination from Okayama Station.

The "sea of clouds" phenomenon at the castle peaks September to December, on cold mornings with high humidity and clear skies after rain. Sunrise from the dedicated Tenkū-no-Yakata observation deck offers the best chance — check the Takahashi tourism site's daily forecast.

Korakuen Garden — one of Japan's three great gardens — paired with the black Okayama Castle, the canal town of Kurashiki, and the Momotaro peach-boy folk tale that originated in the Kibi region.

One day for Okayama City and Korakuen. Two days adds Kurashiki. Three days opens up the Kibi Plain cycling route or Bitchu Matsuyama Castle. A long weekend with Tsuyama or Ushimado included works well too.

The Kibi Plain cycling route past Kibitsu Shrine, the hilltop Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi (Japan's highest castle), the Aegean-feel olive village of Ushimado in Setouchi, and the imposing stone walls of Tsuyama Castle ruins in the north.