Now restored to its Edo Period glory, Okayama’s Korakuen Garden has unique features including extensive gardens, a crane aviary, and tea fields.
A short tram ride from Okayama Station takes you to Korakuen, one of Japan’s top three designated gardens. This garden was first built in 1687 by a local daimyo (feudal lord) in order to entertain the ruling family and entertain guests. Damaged by floods in 1934 and heavily bombed in World War II, the garden has been lovingly restored based on woodblock prints and paintings from the Edo Period. Today the garden is a lovely place to spend a few hours exploring, admiring the view from the pagoda that sits atop a small hill, taking the steps across the pond, and visiting the crane aviary.