After a huge summer of travelling around central and western Japan, this month’s photo of the month comes from Okayama city in the Chūgoku region of Japan.

Okayama is a fun city for the traveller, offering lots of culture and some great restaurants and bars (Aussie Bar is my favourite).

Korakuen park and Okayama Castle at night photo.
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.

Google Map of the Karakuen and Okayama castle area.

If you visit Okayama, be sure to check out the nearby – and very historical – Meiji Era town of Kurashiki.