Korakuen is in the heart of Okayama city along the Asahi River. You can see Okayama Castle from the garden.

Korakuen at night with Okayama Castle in the background. This was September's Photo of the Month on JapanTravelMate.com.

Every year in summer (during August but the date is set by the lunar calendar, so the actual date varies) is the Moon Viewing ceremony. Around this time the park is opened at night for a few weeks. You can simply stroll around the garden or bring a rug and relax with a beer and bento on the spacious lawns.

The view from the edge of the garden looking across one of the many streams and open lawns.

The spacious lawns is what makes Korakuen really unique. Especially at night, the garden paths lead you through amazing views with different places lit up by fire or specially placed lights.

They get pretty creative with the lights, pyramid lamps, flares, floodlights, floating candles and even lights submersed in the steams.

The view from any part of the garden at night is amazing. My camera doesn't do the view much justice, but you get the idea...

The garden has a history of about 325 years. Initially it took 13 years to build. For a long time the garden was exclusively for high ranking lords, although occasionallly the public were allowed in. Since 1884 it has been opened to the public.

One of the tea houses where the lords would entertain guests or simply relax and take in the view.

Each area and building in the garden served a different purpose at one time or another, for example, tea ceremony houses, halls, an archery range, shrine and stage areas to receive guests. The garden contains steams, ponds, a small man-made lake, a small hill (a lookout point of the garden) and bridges, native plants, rock gardens and even tea and rice fields, and much more.

Enyo-tei House was used to receive daimyo (feudal lords). This is one of the most prominent buildings in the garden, by the main entrance.

Entry is 400 yen for adults and you can buy a combined pass to get you inside Okayama Castle as well.

Korakuen is amazing in all seasons, take a look at the official English pamphlet (in English)?http://okayama-korakuen.jp/guide/index.html#pamphlet.

You can also check out the high-resolution photo of Korakuen and Okayama Castle, as well as a map of the exact location at the Japan Photo of the Month for September 2011 post.

Related posts:

1. Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle – Japan Photo of the Month (September 2011)
2. Kurashiki – historic Japanese city in Okayama
3. Japanese cherry blossom – photos and info

Kurashiki is a short drive (about 30) from Okayama city, and it is a very quick trip by train. We passed by Kurashiki on the way to Shikoku for Awa Odori, as it is on the northern edge of the Seto Inland Sea (the sea between the Japanese mainland and Shikoku island).

A typical alleyway in the area.

Tourists to the area will want to head straight for the Bikan historical area. It is full of things to do and see, you can enjoy a whole day here. Unfortunately when I visited, it was the middle of summer and the temperature was over 35 degrees Celsius. We only lasted a couple of hours.

The bikan area is mostly around the canal.

A hard to miss building in the area is Ivy Square, an old factory which now serves basically as a tourist attraction centre, containing various special art shows, souvenirs and snacks. It is hard to miss as it is one of the biggest buildings in the area and is covered in vines.

Another standout building is the Ohara Museum of Art, which contains paintings from some of the worlds most famous artists. The reason it is such a standout, is its ancient Rome inspired architecture. With massive stone columns and sandstone appearance, I guess it speaks of the relationship of the neoclassic era, the same time which the Bikan district preserves, the Meiji era.

The Bikan area has been maintained to keep the same appearance it had in the Meiji era (late 1800s) of Japan.

Enjoy a gondola ride on the canal.

The canal is surrounded by weeping willows, yet on a gondola ride you can view the historic buildings.

Many swans were taking shade from the summer heat in the canal, under the willows.

Relics of an older time are strewn throughout the area.

The area is filled with different souvenir shops, restaurants, sweet stores and more. There are a lot of local hand made crafts, pottery and arts. Even outside the Bikan area, there is still a lot to see, the main difference is you won’t see any power lines inside the Bikan area (this is to ensure it replicates the area as it was hundreds of years ago).

Truly a great place to experience historic Japan.

The traditional black tiles are another historic aspect of Kurashiki.

Getting to Kurashiki

Kurashiki is in Okayama prefecture, not far from Osaka. It is easy to reach by train from Okayama city, taking only about 15 minutes. From Kurashiki train station it is about a 15 minute talk to the Bikan area and Ivy Square.

Walking directions:

View Larger Map

Things to do in Japan during summer

Well, actually, things to do almost anytime in Japan. This article and photos are from my summer in Japan. This isn’t just a travelogue, the series is full of great things to do in Japan. See all the articles in the series.

Related posts:

1. Pink Lotus Flower in Japanese Buddhist Water Garden – Japan Photo of the Month (October 2011)
2. Korakuen in Okayama at Night – One of Japan’s Top 3 Most Beautiful Gardens
3. Fukuoka – things to do

An icon of buddhism, Shinto Buddhism is widely practiced in Japan.

If you’re travelling near Okayama then Kurashiki is a great place for a day trip. There are many historic buildings, many with white walls, which Kurashiki is famous for.

In my series of posts from my summer traveling Japan, a detailed post on Kurashiki is next on the list. I’ve been really slow in posting these articles, as lots of time has been spent launching a website with a guide to creating websites.

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Related posts:

1. Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle – Japan Photo of the Month (September 2011)
2. Great Buddha Hall in Nara – Japan Photo of the Month (June 2011)
3. Atera Gorge in Nagano – Japan Photo of the Month (July 2011)

A once-in-a-year experience that proved to be super scenic.

Every year during the summer, Korakuen Garden is open at night for 2 weeks. The gardens and the various buildings are lit up for visitors to stroll around the park. There are also large grassed areas to sit down and have a picnic or enjoy a beer in the balmy evening.

Okayama castle, seen lit up in green in the background, is actually across the river from the garden (see the map below). From certain spots in the park you can see Okayama castle perched above the trees. Unlike the special event in the garden, Okayama castle is usually lit every night of the year.

Download a high resolution wallpaper version of the Korakuen Park and Okayama Castle photo. The wallpaper is 2560 px wide by 1600 px high, suitable for most screens, optimised for 16:10 widescreen.

Related posts:

1. Korakuen in Okayama at Night – One of Japan’s Top 3 Most Beautiful Gardens
2. Pink Lotus Flower in Japanese Buddhist Water Garden – Japan Photo of the Month (October 2011)
3. Mountain Shrine and Garden Statue – Japan Photos of the Month (May 2011)

The trip took me to Okayama (west of Himeji and Osaka), then a day trip to the amazing Awa Odori festival of Tokushima and ending with a few days in Kyoto. Although I’d been Kyoto before, there really is so much to see in this beautiful city so I had to go back.

I’ll be posting more detailed articles (with photos and some videos) on each of the places I visited below. Getting email alerts or grabbing the RSS (Feedburner) feed is the best way to stay up to date, and make sure you receive notice when the in-depth articles are posted.

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Shinkansen from Nagoya to Okayama

Read the post: Shinkansen: riding the bullet train in Japan – photos and HD video with all the information you need about bullet trains in Japan.

It’s been a while since I’ve ridden the bullet train. The other option to get to Okayama was an overnight bus (leaving Nagoya at about 11PM, arriving in Okayama at 7AM), and I can’t sleep on buses. So, I took the Nozomi shinkansen, it takes about 1.5 hours.

HDR photo of one of the 700 series shinkansen waiting at the station.

I’ve never ridden the Nozomi before, when I used bullet trains before in Japan it was using the JR Pass. With the JR Pass you can use almost all bullet trains, except for the Nozomi. The Nozomi is a super express, usually the newer 700 series super-cool looking train. I got to the platform very early to take some photos and videos of the shinkansen.

In Okayama I met some of my girlfriend’s family and friends. Had a fun time at an Izakaya with a cool Japanese guy who is an electronic music producer.

A day trip to Awa Odori in Takamatsu, Shikoku

Read the post: Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima, Shikoku – lots of photos and HD video from the front row of the festival’s main stage.

Next on the itinerary was a bus trip from Okayama to spend the day at Takamatsu for Awa Odori. Actually, it was only a few hours, but we saw the best of it.

The bus left Okayama station around 9AM. We stopped about everything 30 minutes at designated road-rest areas along the way. The best bit of the bus trip was travelling over the Seto Inland sea and the amazingly huge bridges.

Chanting and dancing, was truly a spectacle.

Awa Odori was just awesome. Since we were with a kind of tour, we had purchased seat tickets and had a great seat. We were in the second row of the main festival dancing stage. There are 4 such stages, as well as dancing in the streets. The dancing in the streets is free for all, so it’s hard to get such a good spot to see the dancing.

Day trip to Kurashiki

Read the post: Kurashiki and the historic Bikan district – a bit of history on a sweltering day.

Kurashiki is a unique small town on the outskirts of Okayama city. It is unique and famous for its buildings which have white walls with dark wooden frames. We spent a little over an hour roaming the streets.

A typical white walled building in Kurashiki, this one selling souvenirs.

But it was a very hot and humid day, so we didn’t last too long.

Night trip to Karakouen

Read the post: Korakuen in Okayama at Night – One of Japan’s Top 3 Most Beautiful Gardens.

A botanical/historical style garden across the river from Okayama, Karakouen holds an event each summer where for about 2 weeks, the garden is lit up at night.

A once in a year opportunity to stroll the gardens at night.

There were many awesome sights, including seeing Okayama castle lit up across the river. I utilised my long exposure photography practice from the previous nights bus trip with average results.

A few days in Kyoto

Then we headed to Kyoto for a few days. There was a lot happening in Kyoto, as it was Obon (a festival period honouring the dead) and many families come to Kyoto for various rituals. After a ritual or two, I set off on a mission to see as many of Kyoto’s World Heritage sites that I could in just a few short days…

Kinkaku-ji

Read the post: Amazing Golden Pavilion Temple, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto – lots of photos and a HD video.

After seeing so many photos of this place, the pure impression of seeing the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (as it is sometimes called in English) was that of pure amazement. Perhaps the most famous icon of Japan, there was a huge amount of tourists strolling through.

HDR photo of the famous temple.

Keep an eye on japantravelmate.com, for an in-depth, photo heavy post on my visit to Kinkaku-ji, including a HD video.

Nijo-jo

Read the post: Nijo Caslte in Kyoto?-?as always, lots of photos and information about this World Heritage Ancient Kyoto Monument.

Nijo castle is situated in the heart of the city. However it’s not your typical castle. I was expecting to see a large building, stereotypical of a castle structure (like Himeji castle). However, Nijo-jo is more of a group of buildings, surrounded by a moat and layers of thick walls and battlements.

The main moat and high walls of the central area of Nijo-jo.

Still very impressive, and very easy to access.

Kyoto Gosho

The Kyoto Imperial Palace, and former residence of the Emperor. The palace contains several buildings, and although it isn’t a world heritage site, the grandeur of this place is very impressive.

A main hall inside the Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace).

Accessible only by guided tour (tours available in English), entry is free.

Bicycle Hire

The above all happened on day 1 of my Kyoto trip. We got around all day on some very comfortable bicycles, which were hired from near Kinkaku-ji in the morning and then dropped off near Kyoto station in the late afternoon.

Comfortable and almost new bikes, great way to get around Kyoto.

9 Hours capsule hotel

I’d been really keen to stay here, after seeing this place on the net a few months before. This really is a special capsule hotel, one of the newest in Kyoto. It is within walking distance to the famous Gion area of Kyoto.

A single capsule in the hotel, a specially formed mattress and pillow make for a great sleep.

Walk to Shimogamo-jinja

On the second day I got up before the sun came up, to walk north along the Kamo River towards Shimogamo Shrine is another World Heritage site, open free to the public from 6AM.

A little north of the city, near a fork in the Kamo river you'll find Shimogamo Shrine.

500 yen bus pass

After an entire day cycling, and with the temperature around 35 degrees, on day 2 I got a 500 yen bus pass. It lasts the entire day and get’s you to most of the major sites around Kyoto. A typical one way trip on the city bus is 200 yen.

Probably the cheapest way (besides walking) to get around Kyoto.

Ginkaku-ji

Everyone told me Ginkaku temple (a.k.a Temple of the Silver Pavilion) was nothing impressive at all. Being a Zen Buddhist temple, I found a quiet and welcoming serentity to the temple and its beautiful gardens.

HDR photo of the Silver Pavilion Temple.

Daigo-ji

I was looking for outstanding things in Kyoto, and at Daigo-ji you can stand beside the five-storey pagoda (gojunoto in Japanese), which is Kyoto’s oldest wooden structure that is still in existence today.

The five-storeys of the main pagoda temple in Daigo-ji.

There are many grand temples, modest shrines and beautiful gardens throughout the Daigo-ji temple area.

Kyoto station

Continuing to look for outstanding things, I spent some time in Kyoto station. While hanging around a train station doesn’t really sound like fun to most people, you have to realise that Kyoto station is the biggest train station in Japan.

There is a happy place on the top of Kyoto station.

If you ever visit, be sure to take the many escalators to the Sky Garden where you can look out over Kyoto.

Stained glass windows

Spotted just a few blocks north of Kyoto station, is Yodobashi department store. It must be very new (on Google Maps street view it looks to be under construction). Along the south and west facing streets are these great colourful stained glass windows depicting various scenes from Kyoto.

There was at least 10 of these above various windows and entrances to Kyoto-Yodobashi department store.

…watch this space for photos, videos and more in upcoming posts.

Related posts:

1. Japanese cherry blossom – photos and info
2. Pictures of Japan – 10 photos
3. Pictures of Japan – Best of JTM Photos 51 to 100

Samurai picture from Tokyo, Japan

Katana (sword) wielding samurai are one of the most famous icons of Japan. With such a rich and long history, samurai have been depicted in art, television, anime (cartoons), manga (comics) and movies including a few Hollywood blockbusters.

State of the samurai warrior Kusunoki Masashige in the East Garden outside Tokyo's Imperial Palace.

I took this photo during a holiday to Tokyo. The photo has been published in the Japan Times Online.

Geisha & Maiko

Unique to Japan with their white faces, extravagant hair and expensive kimono, the tradition of Geisha and Maiko survives to this day. Most famously they are shown in paintings from Japan dating back hundreds of years.

The face of traditional Japan is still alive today.

Photo credit: Michael Chandler via Flickr.

Temples and shrines in Japan

Temples and shrines go hand in hand in Japan. Rarely will you find a temple which does not have a shrine, conversely there are many small shrines littered around the country.

Todaiji Temple in Nara, Kansai, Japan (near Osaka).

This picture was taken during a trip to Nara, just near Osaka. Todaiji temple is famous for roaming deer and the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. Temples are always an impressive scene and there are many different types.

Castles

Part of Japan’s history comprises eras of fierce battle between rulers of various areas. As a result, almost every region, town or city of Japan has a local castle. Some are poised atop mountains, others surrounded by moats and large walls. A visit to any castle is a must during a visit to Japan.

Okayama castle, painted in black, it is known as the Crow Castle.

This picture was taken in Okayama, Japan. Unique with black paint, Okayama castle is usually lit at night and can be seen from various places around the city.

The Big City

Japan has the 10th largest population of any country in the world, with about 128 million people. Tokyo alone has more people in one city than Australia does in its whole country.

Tokyo, truly a city that never sleeps.

This picture of Shibuya, Tokyo is from Dan Chui via Flickr. An amazing HDR photo, Shibuya’s famous and massive pedestrian crossing can be seen in the right bottom corner.

Mt Fuji

Perpetually capped with snow, on a fine day Mt Fuji can be seen from Tokyo Tower. Shown in perhaps the most famous piece of art to come out of Japan The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Mt Fuji is reveared by the Japanese people.

Typically in Japanese, mountains are named ‘Mountain Name’ yama, for example Sanage yama (in Aichi, near where I live). However Mt Fuji is called Fuji san in Japanese, san is appended to peoples names, which shows the close relationship people have with Mt Fuji.

Mt Fuji at night.

This brilliant photo of Mt Fuji at night is provided with thanks to (c) Tomo Yun

Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)

Arguably the most famous flower or plant of Japan, and known all over the world is the cherry blossom (sakura in Japanese). Blooming for only a few weeks everywhere, just about every Japanese person will annually attend a cherry blossom festival or spend a day picnicking and viewing cherry blossoms (ohanami in Japanese).

A glimpse of the cherry blossom flower in spring.

This picture of cherry blossoms in Japan was taken during my visit to Okayama castle. Take a look at the articles in the Cherry Blossoms category for more pictures and info.

Bullet Trains (Shinkansen)

There are two photos for this one, for a few reasons: I think shinkansen are awesome; Japan is the pioneer and leader in high-speed trains, the latest bullet train (the E5 Hayabusa) travels at over 300km/h; the E6 (which is red so must be slightly faster!) has already been built and will be in operation in a few years; approval from the Japanese government has been given to JR (Japan Railway) to build a Maglev train between Tokyo and Osaka, it will travel at over 500km/h in an almost straight line!

A wallpaper of the E5 Hayabusa shinkasen from JR East.

An advertising poster for the new bullet train.

Both images are from JR East.

Go to Why go to Japan? Reason #2: Technology to see HD video of the new bullet train.

Japanese People

And last, but of course not least, is the Japanese people themselves. There are many stereotypes of Japanese people; the cosplay style, crazily dressed teen-to-twenty-something in Harajuku; the salary man squashed and asleep on the train; the old man and woman with hunched backs pulling their shopping trolley; ninjas… When you visit Japan you quickly realise that the Japanese hold onto a virtue, and that is general courtesy towards everyone.

Waiting for a train to pass in Tokyo.

This photos was taken by Lee Chapman at Tokyo Times. Personally I am a big fan of the way he captures Japanese people in his pictures.

Related posts:

1. Pictures of Japan – The best of JTM Photos 1 to 50
2. Why travel to Japan? Top 10 reasons to go and visit
3. Pictures of Japan – Best of JTM Photos 51 to 100