is the
capital
Capital may refer to:
Common uses
* Capital city, a municipality of primary status
** List of national capital cities
* Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences
* Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
of
Okayama Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,906,464 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 7,114 Square kilometre, km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefectur ...
in the
Chūgoku region
The , also known as the region, is the westernmost region of Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It consists of the prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In 2010, it had a population of 7,563,428.
History
'' ...
of Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. , the city has an estimated population of 720,841 and a population density of 910 persons per km
2. The total area is .
The city is the site of
Kōraku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden reached its modern for ...
, known as one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan, and
Okayama Castle
is a Japanese castle in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The main tower was completed in 1597, destroyed in 1945 and replicated in concrete in 1966. Two of the watch towers survived the bombing of 1945 and are now listed by ...
, which is ranked among the best 100
Japanese castle
are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such ...
s. The city is famous as the setting of the Japanese
fable
Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to a particular mo ...
"
Momotarō
is a Folk hero, popular hero of Japanese folklore. His name is often translated as ''Peach Boy'', but is directly translated as ''Peach + Tarō (given name), Tarō'', a common Japanese given name. ''Momotarō'' is also the title of various books, ...
". Okayama joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.
History
Sengoku period to Teisho period
![Okayama Castle, IMG 5839-5841 AutoAdaptive](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Okayama_Castle%2C_IMG_5839-5841_AutoAdaptive.jpg)
Before the
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
, Okayama was one corner of a farm region and included a small castle built by the Kanemitsu. In the
Sengoku period
The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
,
Ukita Naoie
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period. He was born in Bizen Province, to Ukita Okiie, a local samurai leader and head of the Ukita clan.
Biography
Naoie's grandfather Yoshiie was killed by Shimamura clan in 1534, Naoie narrowly es ...
attacked Okayama and attacked the castle for the transportation resources and extensive farmland in the region. Naoie remodeled the castle, built the old Sanyo road to the central part of the castle town, and called in craftsmen both from inside and outside of
Bizen Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchū and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces.
Bizen ...
. Okayama became the political and economical capital of Bizen Province.
Edo period
In 1600,
Ukita Hideie
was the ''daimyō'' of Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of Five Elders appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Son of Ukita Naoie, he married Gōhime, a daughter of Maeda Toshiie. Having fought again ...
, who was the son of Naoie and the lord of Okayama, lost at the
Battle of Sekigahara
The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu prefecture, Japan, at the end of ...
. The next year,
Kobayakawa Hideaki
(1577 – December 1, 1602) was the fifth son of Kinoshita Iesada and the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was gained the rank of ''Saemon no Kami'' (左衛門督) or in China ''Shikkingo'' (執金吾) at genpuku and held the court title o ...
came to Okayama and became the feudal lord of
Okayama Domain
The was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was associated with Bizen Province in modern-day Okayama Prefecture.">DF_18_of_80">"Ikeda"_at_''Nobiliare_du_Japon'',_p._14_[PDF_18_of_80/nowiki>_retrieved_2013-4-25.
# .html"_;"title="DF_18_of_8 ...
. Hideaki died in 1602, however, ending the Kobayakawa line. Ikeda Tadatugu, who was the feudal lord of Himeji Domain, became the next lord of Okayama. After this time, Okayama was ruled by the Ikedas until the latter part of the 19th century. Continuing its economic development, Okayama became one of the ten best large castle towns in Japan in the 18th century. The Korakuen Garden was developed by the fourth feudal lord,
Ikeda Tsunamasa
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period. He was the head of the Okayama Domain.Edmond_Papinot.html" ;"title="DF_18_of_80/nowiki>_retrieved_2013-4-25.
# .html"_;"title="DF_18_of_8 ....Edmond Papinot">Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ...
.
Meiji Restoration to World War II
![Okayama after the 1945 air raid](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Okayama_after_the_1945_air_raid.jpg)
On August 29, 1871, the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan replaced the traditional
feudal domain system with centralized
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
authority (Prefectures of Japan). Okayama became the capital of Okayama Prefecture. In 1889, Okayama City was founded. In the
Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
, a railroad was built in Okayama city that greatly enhanced the development of the city. For example, the and were established in Okayama City. Okayama became one of the most important places in western Japan for transportation and education. When World War II began, Okayama city had a
Japanese Army
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...
base camp. On June 29, 1945, the city was attacked by the
US Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
with
incendiary bombs
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices, incendiary munitions, or incendiary bombs are weapons designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using fire (and sometimes used as anti-personnel weaponry), that use materials such as napalm, th ...
. Almost all the city was burned, and more than 1700 people were killed. Okayama suffered terrible damage in the war, losing more than 12,000 households.
Since World War II
During Japan's economic boom of the 1960s, Okayama developed rapidly as one of the most important cities in the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions. In 1972, the
San'yō Shinkansen
The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Osaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan. Operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West), it is a westward cont ...
began service between and stations. Two years later, Shinkansen service was extended to .
In 1988, the
Seto-Ōhashi Bridge
The is a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Built over the period 1978–88, it is one of the three routes of the Honshū–Shikoku Bri ...
was opened, and connected Okayama with Shikoku directly by rail and road.
The city became a
core city
In urban planning, a core city, principal city metropolitan core, or central city, is the largest or most important city or cities of a metropolitan area. A core city is surrounded by smaller satellite cities, towns, and suburbs. A central city i ...
in 1996 and a
designated city
A , also known as a or , is a Japanese city that has a population greater than 500,000 and has been designated as such by order of the Cabinet of Japan under Article 252, Section 19, of the Local Autonomy Law.
Designated cities are delegat ...
on April 1, 2009.
Geography
![Okayama Station west side - panoramio](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Okayama_Station_west_side_-_panoramio.jpg)
The city of Okayama is located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, which in turn is located in western part of the island of
Honshū
, historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separa ...
. The city is bounded on the south by the
Inland Sea
An inland sea (also known as an epeiric sea or an epicontinental sea) is a continental body of water which is very large and is either completely surrounded by dry land or connected to an ocean by a river, strait, or "arm of the sea". An inland se ...
.
Asahi River
The Asahi River is a river in Okayama Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,906,464 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 7,114 Squ ...
crosses Okayama.
Since Okayama became a
designated city
A , also known as a or , is a Japanese city that has a population greater than 500,000 and has been designated as such by order of the Cabinet of Japan under Article 252, Section 19, of the Local Autonomy Law.
Designated cities are delegat ...
in 2009, the city has been divided into four
wards
Ward may refer to:
Division or unit
* Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward
* Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...
(''ku'').
Mergers
* On March 22, 2005 - the town of
Mitsu
Mitsu may refer to:
* Mitsubishi Motors, a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer
Places
* Mitsu, Hyōgo, former town in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
* Mitsu, Okayama, former town in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
People
* Okita Mitsu (1833 ...
(from
Mitsu District), and the town of
Nadasaki (from
Kojima District) were merged into Okayama.
* On January 22, 2007 - the town of
Takebe (from Mitsu District), and the town of
Seto
Seto may refer to:
Places
*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005
*Seto, Ehime, facing the Seto Inland Sea
*Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture
*Seto Inland Sea of Japan
*Setomaa (''Seto la ...
(from
Akaiwa District) were merged into Okayama.
Kojima, Mitsu, and Akaiwa Districts have all since been dissolved as a result of these mergers.
Climate
Okayama has a mild climate in comparison to most of Japan. It has the most rain-free days (less than 1mm of precipitation) of any city in Japan. It is ranked as the second driest and the fourth sunniest city in the Chūgoku region. The climate is classified under the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
as
humid subtropical
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
(''Cfa'').
The local climate is warm enough throughout the year to support
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...
trees. Okayama is often called "Land of Sunshine" because of its low number of rainy days per year.
Economy
Agriculture
The city is located in the Okayama Plain, where rice, eggplant, and white Chinese chives are notable products. White peaches and grapes are cultivated in the mountainous, northern part of the city.
Industry
In 2005, the city's gross domestic product was 800 billion yen, nearly 10% of the GDP of
Okayama Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,906,464 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 7,114 Square kilometre, km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefectur ...
.
Greater Okayama, Okayama
Metropolitan Employment Area
is a definition of metropolitan areas used in Japan, defined by the Center for Spatial Information Service of the University of Tokyo. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defined 233 areas for the UEAs of Japan. It is different from ...
, has a GDP of US$63.1 billion as of 2010. The main industries are machine tools, chemicals, foodstuffs and printing. Kōnan, a district in the southern part of the city, is the most developed industrial zone.
Commerce
Okayama is the core of the Okayama metropolitan area, which includes the cities of
Kurashiki
is a historic city located in western Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 483,576 and a population density of 1,400 persons per ...
and
Sōja
is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2020, the city has an estimated population of 69,343 and a population density of 322 persons per km2. The total area is 211.90 km2.
History
In the 7th century, Ki Castle was built atop ...
. The main commercial district is Omotechō, near
Okayama Castle
is a Japanese castle in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The main tower was completed in 1597, destroyed in 1945 and replicated in concrete in 1966. Two of the watch towers survived the bombing of 1945 and are now listed by ...
and
Kōraku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden reached its modern for ...
, and the area surrounding
Okayama Station
is a railway station in Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
Lines
Okayama Station is one of the major intersections of railways in the Chūgoku region. All trains conn ...
. Omotechō has many covered shopping arcades.
The headquarters of
Aeon Corporation, a private English language school with more than 3,000 employees, is located in Okayama.
Culture
Okayama Castle
is a Japanese castle in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The main tower was completed in 1597, destroyed in 1945 and replicated in concrete in 1966. Two of the watch towers survived the bombing of 1945 and are now listed by ...
and
Kōraku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden reached its modern for ...
are Okayama's most notable attractions.
Okayama Castle (nicknamed ( 'crow castle') was constructed in 1597 by
Ukita Naoie
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period. He was born in Bizen Province, to Ukita Okiie, a local samurai leader and head of the Ukita clan.
Biography
Naoie's grandfather Yoshiie was killed by Shimamura clan in 1534, Naoie narrowly es ...
, a Japanese feudal lord. It was destroyed by bombing in 1945 during World War II but reconstructed in 1966.
Kōraku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden reached its modern for ...
, known as one of the three best traditional gardens in Japan, lies south of the castle grounds. Kōrakuen was constructed by
Ikeda Tsunamasa
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period. He was the head of the Okayama Domain.Edmond_Papinot.html" ;"title="DF_18_of_80/nowiki>_retrieved_2013-4-25.
# .html"_;"title="DF_18_of_8 ....Edmond Papinot">Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ...
over 14 years, and completed in 1700.
Sōgen-ji, a large
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
belonging to the
Rinzai sect, is located near the center of the city. Several of the abbots of major monasteries in
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
are from Sōgen-ji.
Festivals
Every August since 1994 Okayama has seen the Momotarō Matsuri (Festival), which is an amalgam of three different festivals, including the 'ogre' festival, which is a kind of
Yosakoi
Yosakoi () is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan and that is performed at festivals and events all over the country. The first Yosakoi festival was held in 1954 in Kōchi, Japan, on the island of Shikoku. Yosakoi-style dancing has ...
dance.
Music and the arts
![Okayama symphony hall01s3s3300](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Okayama_symphony_hall01s3s3300.jpg)
Okayama has a professional symphony
orchestra
An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families.
There are typically four main sections of instruments:
* bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...
, the Okayama Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the
Okayama Symphony Hall
is a concert hall in Okayama, Okayama, Japan. It opened in 1991 and seats 2,001. Yoshinobu Ashihara was the architect, with acoustical design by Nagata Acoustics.
See also
* Shoebox style (architecture)
In architecture, shoebox style is a f ...
.
There are many museums in the city, including the
Okayama Prefectural Museum
is a museum in Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan. It was built to house important artifacts from the prefecture dating from prehistory through modern times.
Notable exhibits
The museum houses one National Treasure, red-laced '' yoroi'' armor from the 12th ...
, the
Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
The is located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's many museums which are supported by a prefecture.
The museum, by architects Okada & Associates, opened in 1988 and has a collection of around two thousand works.
See al ...
, the
Hayashibara Museum of Art
The is an art museum owned by the Hayashibara Group, and located at 2-7-15 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama, the site of a former guesthouse beside the inner moat of Okayama Castle. Its 6,832 square meter interior was designed by Kunio Maekawa. ...
, the
Okayama Orient Museum
is a museum of Ancient Near Eastern, Roman provincial, Byzantine, Sassanian, and Islamic Art in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2007 there were some 4,852 items, including winged Assyrian reliefs. The museum is a prize-winning design ...
, the Yumeji Art Museum, and the Okayama Digital Museum.
Cuisine
Okayama has several traditional dishes.
Barazushi, a dish made with sushi rice, contains fresh fish from the Seto Inland Sea.
Kibi dango (Okayama)
A , is a type of wagashi sweet or snack with an eponymous reference to Kibi-no-kuni, an old province roughly coincident with today's Okayama Prefecture. It is made by forming gyūhi, a sort of soft mochi, into flat round cakes.Shinmura (1991), ...
() gel-like balls made from a powder of
millet
Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...
and rice, are well known sweets from the area.
Media
![The Sanyo Shimbun headoffice](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/The_Sanyo_Shimbun_headoffice.jpg)
The ''
Sanyo Shimbun
The is a Japanese language daily newspaper published by . The company was founded in 1879.
The newspaper is based in Okayama City, Japan. The newspaper covers national and international news stories and also news from Okayama and neighboring pr ...
'' is the local
newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports a ...
serving the greater Okayama area. There are six television stations serving the Okayama area and part of
Kagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Kagawa Prefecture has a population of 949,358 (as of 2020) and is the smallest prefecture by geographic area at . Kagawa Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the southwest and Tok ...
. Three FM and three AM radio stations also serve the region.
;TV Stations
;Radio Stations
Sports
Okayama has many sports teams. In recent years,
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
team
Okayama Seagulls
is a women's volleyball team based in Okayama, Okayama, Okayama city, Okayama, Japan. It plays in V.League (Japan), V.League Division 1. The club was founded in 1999.
Honours
;V.League (Japan), V.League/V.Premiere League
*Champions (0):
*Runn ...
and
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club
Fagiano Okayama
is a Japanese football club based in Okayama, the capital of Okayama Prefecture. They play in the J2 League, the second tier of the country's football league system. Their home stadium is City Light Stadium, in Okayama City, though some home ma ...
have been established. In 2009, Fagiano Okayama FC gained promotion to the
J. League
The , officially is Japan's professional football league including the first division J1 League, second division J2 League and third division J3 League of the Japanese association football league system. J1 League is one of the most succe ...
, the highest football league in Japan.
Okayama was the birthplace of the 31st
Yokozuna
, or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.
This is the on ...
,
Tsunenohana Kan'ichi
was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okayama. He was the sport's 31st ''yokozuna''.
Career
He was born . He made his professional debut in January 1910 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in May 1917. He won his first top divis ...
, in 1896. He won 10 championships, 8 during his time as a Yokozuna.
Education
Okayama University
is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Tsushima-Naka, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture.
The school was founded in 1870 and it was established as a university in 1949.
History
Okayama University was originally founded as t ...
, founded as a medical school in 1870 and established in 1949 as a national university, is in the city. Today, Okayama University is one of Okayama's largest universities, with 11 faculties and six graduate schools.
There are seven private universities, three
junior colleges
A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in su ...
, 24
high schools
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
(16 public, eight private), seven combined junior high/high schools (two public, five private), 37
junior high schools
A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...
(36 municipal, one national) and 93
elementary schools
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
(91 municipal, two private) in the city.
Universities
*
Okayama University
is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Tsushima-Naka, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture.
The school was founded in 1870 and it was established as a university in 1949.
History
Okayama University was originally founded as t ...
(national)
*
Notre Dame Seishin University
is a private university, private women's colleges, women's college in Okayama, Okayama, Japan, run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The predecessor of the school, women's school, was founded in 1886, and it was chartered as a university in ...
(private)
*
Okayama University of Science
is a private university in Okayama, Okayama, Japan, established in 1964. It is predominantly a school of science and engineering.
Notable events
From 2015–2018, Okayama University of Science's operator, the group Kake Gakuen, applied for ...
(private)
*
Okayama Shoka University
is a private university in Tsushimakyomachi 2-10-1, Kita-Ku,Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, ...
(private)
*
Sanyo Gakuen University
is a private university in Okayama, Okayama, Japan. The predecessor of the school, Sanyo Eiwa Women's School, was founded in 1886, and was chartered as a junior college, Sanyo Gakuen College
is a private junior college in Naka-ku, Okayam ...
(private)
*
Shujitsu University (private)
*
Chugoku Gakuen University
is a private university in Okayama, Okayama, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, ...
(private)
*
International Pacific University
is a private university
Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public stu ...
(private)
High schools
*Okayama Joto Senior High School
*Okayama Ichinomiya Senior High School
*Okayama Asahi Senior High School
*Okayama Sozan Senior High School
*Okayama Hosen Senior High School
*Okayama Gakugeikan High School
Transportation
Intercity rail
JR West's
Okayama Station
is a railway station in Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
Lines
Okayama Station is one of the major intersections of railways in the Chūgoku region. All trains conn ...
is a major interchange, with trains from
Shikoku
is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...
,
Sanin and
Sanyo
, stylized as SANYO, is a Japanese electronics company and formerly a member of the Fortune Global 500, ''Fortune'' Global 500 whose headquarters was located in Moriguchi, Osaka, Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo had over 230 subsidiari ...
connecting to the
Sanyo Shinkansen
, stylized as SANYO, is a Japanese electronics company and formerly a member of the Fortune Global 500, ''Fortune'' Global 500 whose headquarters was located in Moriguchi, Osaka, Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo had over 230 subsidiari ...
. Local rail lines serving Okayama Station include:
Sanyo Main Line
, stylized as SANYO, is a Japanese electronics company and formerly a member of the ''Fortune'' Global 500 whose headquarters was located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo had over 230 subsidiaries and affiliates, and was founded b ...
,
Hakubi Line
The is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in the mountainous area of the Chūgoku region of Japan. It begins at the south end of Okayama Prefecture at Kurashiki Station in Kurashiki, passing through Niimi Station on ...
,
Akō Line
is a railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Aioi, Hyōgo to Okayama, Okayama in Japan. A loop line off the Sanyō Main Line, the Akō Line commences at Aioi, is situated south of the main line approximately parall ...
,
Uno Line
The is a Japanese railway line which connects Okayama Station in Okayama to Uno Station in Tamano, both in Okayama Prefecture. It is owned and run by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is also referred to as the . Part of the line, b ...
,
Seto-Ōhashi Line
The is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) in Japan which links Okayama Station in Okayama Prefecture with Takamatsu Station in Kagawa Prefectu ...
,
Tsuyama Line
The is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting and in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Stations
All-stations and limited-stop services called operate over the line. In the "Rapid" column in the table below, "O" ...
, and
Kibi Line
is a railway line in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is also referred to as the .
Stations
All stations are in Okayama Prefecture.
Rolling stock
* KiHa 40 series diesel multiple units
Fi ...
.
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– San'yo Shinkansen
*
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– San'yo Main Line
* – – – – – – Okayama – –
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– Ako Line
* – – Higashi-Okayama
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– Uno Line
*Okayama – – – – – (Hayashima Town - Kurashiki City) – – –
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– Seto-Ohashi Line
*
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– Tsuyama Line
* Okayama – – – – – – – –
JR West
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
– Kibi Line
*Okayama – – – – – –
Tramway
Okayama has kept an operational
tram system
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
since the
Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
. It is managed by
Okayama Electric Tramway
The is a transportation company in Okayama City, Japan. The private company operates tram lines and bus lines.
The company was founded in 1910, while their first tram line was opened in 1912. This is one of the few Japanese railway operators t ...
and offers two lines: the Higashiyama Main Line and the Seikibashi Line.
Bus
Seven bus companies provide service within the city limits:
,
,
,
,
,
, and
.
Air
Okayama Airport
is an airport in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as Okayama Momotaro Airport.
It is located northwest of central Okayama City and northwest or 30 minutes by bus from Okayama Station. It is about 10 minutes from the Okayama interc ...
, located in the northern part of the city, provides domestic service to Tokyo-Haneda, Sapporo-Chitose, Okinawa-Naha, and Kagoshima.
Kōnan Airport
is a public aerodrome located about south of Okayama Station in Minami-ku, Okayama, Japan.
History
The airport opened on October 13, 1962, as Okayama Airport. It had scheduled service by All Nippon Airways (Tokyo Haneda) and Toa Domestic Airl ...
, located to the south, has been a general aviation airport since the opening of Okayama Airport in 1988.
Notable people
Before the fall of Edo
*
Eisai
was a Japanese Buddhist priest, credited with founding the Rinzai school, the Japanese line of the Linji school of Zen Buddhism. In 1191, he introduced this Zen approach to Japan, following his trip to China from 1187 to 1191, during which he w ...
(Buddhist priest, 1141–1215)
*
Hideie Ukita
was the ''daimyō'' of Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of Five Elders appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Son of Ukita Naoie, he married Gōhime, a daughter of Maeda Toshiie. Having fought aga ...
(Military commander, 1573–1655)
*
Kōan Ogata
A (; , ; ko, 화두, ; vi, công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement which is used in Zen practice to provoke the "great doubt" and to practice or test a student's progress in Zen.
Etymology
The Japanese term is the Sino-J ...
(
Rangaku
''Rangaku'' (Kyūjitai: /Shinjitai: , literally "Dutch learning", and by extension "Western learning") is a body of knowledge developed by Japan through its contacts with the Dutch enclave of Dejima, which allowed Japan to keep abreast of Wester ...
practitioner, 1810–1863)
Arts
*
Shigeru Nanba (painter, 1944– )
*
Takashi Fukutani
Takashi Fukutani (; February 4, 1952 – September 9, 2000) was a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his manga series '' Dokudami Tenement''.
Early life and career
Fukutani was born in the Saidaiji area of Okayama and was rai ...
(manga artist, 1952–2000)
*
Masashi Kishimoto
is a Japanese manga artist. His manga series, ''Naruto'', which was in serialization from 1999 to 2014, has sold over 250 million copies worldwide in 46 countries as of May 2019. The series has been adapted into two anime and multiple films, vi ...
(manga artist, 1974– )
*
Seishi Kishimoto
is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for '' 666 Satan'', which was serialized in ''Monthly Shōnen Gangan'' from 2001 to 2007 and licensed by Viz Media in North America as ''O-Parts Hunter''. He has since completed four more manga ser ...
(manga artist, 1974– )
Politics
*
Ichirō Aisawa
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Mitsu District, Okayama and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Represen ...
(Member of the House of Representatives, 1954– )
*
Kenji Eda
is a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Okayama Prefecture and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1979, at ...
(Member of the House of Representatives, Secretary General of
Your Party
is a Japanese parliamentary caucus consisting of Yoshimi Watanabe and Takashi Tachibana, later Satoshi Hamada after Tachibana forfeited his seat, in the House of Councillors. It was also a political party led by Watanabe from 2009 until its d ...
, 1956– )
*
Satsuki Eda
was a Japanese politician who was the first opposition member to serve as the President of the House of Councillors in Japan. Eda had served for three terms in the House of Councillors before his election as President on 7 August 2007, after the ...
(Member of the
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, ...
, 27th President of the House of Councillors, 1941– )
*
Seiji Hagiwara
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan, Diet (national legislature) representing the Second Dist ...
(31st, 32nd Mayor of Okayama, member of the House of Representatives, fourth Mayor of Mimasaka, Okayama, 1956– )
*
Shigeo Takaya
is the mayor of Okayama, Okayama in Japan. A graduate of Okayama Prefectural University-Junior College, he was first elected in October 2005.
References
See also
* Japanese Wikipedia entry on Okayama, Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama ...
(33rd, 34th Mayor of Okayama, 1937– )
*
Tsuyoshi Inukai
Inukai Tsuyoshi ( ja, 犬養 毅, 4 June 1855 – 15 May 1932) was a Japanese politician, cabinet minister, and Prime Minister of Japan from 1931 to his assassination in 1932. Inukai was Japan's second oldest prime minister while serving, as he ...
(Member of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
, 29th
Prime Minister of Japan
The prime minister of Japan (Japanese: 内閣総理大臣, Hepburn: ''Naikaku Sōri-Daijin'') is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its Ministers of Stat ...
, 1855–1932)
*
Masahiro Ishii
was the governor of Okayama Prefecture in Japan from November 1996 until November 2012. A native of Okayama, Okayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he had worked at the Ministry of Construction since 1969 before being elected governor. ...
(5th Governor of Okayama Prefecture, Member of the House of Councillors, 1945– )
*
Yoshihiro Katayama
was the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan from September 2010 through September 2011. He was the governor of Tottori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Tottori Prefecture is ...
(Governor of Tottori Prefecture,
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications
The is a cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. Its English name was Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) prior to 2004. It is housed in the 2nd Building of the Central Common Government Of ...
, 1951– )
*
Akihiko Kumashiro
is a Japanese evangelical politician in Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus Christ) and former member of the Liberal Democratic Party who served four terms in the House of Representatives of Japan. He held the District 2 seat of Okayama Prefecture. He wa ...
(Member of the House of Representatives, 1940– )
*
Keisuke Tsumura
is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP). A native of Tsuyama, Okayama, he attended the University of Tokyo and received an MBA f ...
(Member of the House of Representatives, 1971– )
*
Michiyoshi Yunoki (Member of the House of Representatives, 1972– )
Literature
*
Suiin Emi (novelist, 1869–1934)
*
Yōko Ogawa
is a Japanese writer. Her work has won every major Japanese literary award, including the Akutagawa Prize and the Yomiuri Prize. Internationally, she has been the recipient of the Shirley Jackson Award and the American Book Award. ''The Memory Po ...
(novelist, 1962– )
*
Hyakken Uchida
was a Japanese author and academic.
Biography
Uchida was born in Okayama to a family of sake brewers whose business later went bankrupt. His real name is Eizo Uchida (内田 榮造 ''Uchida Eizō''). He became a pupil of Natsume Sōseki in ...
(novelist, 1889–1971)
*
Junnosuke Yoshiyuki
was a Japanese novelist and short-story writer, and a member of the so-called " Third Generation of Postwar Writers" (第3の新人).
Life
Yoshiyuki was born in Okayama, the oldest child of author Yoshiyuki Eisuke, but his family moved to Tok ...
(novelist, 1924–1994)
Entertainment
![Koyamada_in_Malibu_May_2015](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Koyamada_in_Malibu_May_2015.jpg)
*
Angela Aki
known professionally as , is a pop singer, songwriter and pianist.
Biography
Early life
Aki was born in the small town of Itano in Tokushima Prefecture, in the mostly rural island of Shikoku. Her mother is Italian American and her father is ...
(singer-songwriter, 1977– ) (attended middle school in Okayama)
*
Yōko Aramaki (impressionist and singer, 1981– )
*
Dorlis Dorlis (born February 23, 1982) is the stage name for a Japanese musician from Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. She started out in classical guitar, but at about age 17 became a street musician and dropped out of high school. In time, she became a jazz ...
(musician, 1982– )
* Satoshi Inoue (member of Jichō Kachō, 1976– )
* Yumbo Dump (comedy geniuses)
*
Hiroto Kōmoto
is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons.
Early life
Kōmoto was born in 1963 in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture and graduated from the junior high school attached to the School of E ...
(musician, 1963– )
*
Shin Koyamada
is a Japanese Americans, Japanese-American actor, producer, entrepreneur, martial artist, and philanthropist. He is best known for his starring roles in ''The Last Samurai'' and the Disney's movie ''Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior'' on Disney+. He ...
(actor, 1982– )
*
Shinji Morisue
is a Japanese gymnast and Olympic champion. He hails from Okayama City and attended the Nippon College of Physical Education (now called Nippon Sport Science University). Morisue is now a show business personality in Japan and is frequently seen ...
(former
artistic gymnast
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics in which athletes perform short routines on different apparatuses. The sport is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), which designs the Code of Points and regulates ...
and TV personality, 1957– )
*
Matsunosuke Onoe
, sometimes known as Medama no Matchan (''"Eyeballs" Matsu''), was a Japanese actor. His birth name is Tsuruzo Nakamura. He is sometimes credited as Yukio Koki, Tamijaku Onoe, or Tsunusaburo Onoe, and as a kabuki artist he went by the name Tsuru ...
(actor and film director, 1875–1926)
*
Kōji Satō (actor, 1963– )
*
Etsuko Shihomi
Etsuko (written: 悦子, 英津子, えつ子, えつこ in hiragana or エツコ in katakana) is a feminine Japanese given name. The most common meaning is joy child. Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese football player
*, Japanese c ...
(actress, 1955– )
*
Yukiko Takaguchi
is a Japanese voice actress. Her biggest role was in the anime '' The Wallflower'' where she voiced Sunako Nakahara. Other major roles include Soreto in ''Fantastic Children'', Setsuko Ohara in ''Super Robot Wars Z'', Vante in '' Queen's Blade: ...
(voice actor, 1974– )
*
Tomu Uchida
, born Tsunejirō Uchida on 26 April 1898, was a Japanese film director. The stage name "Tomu" translates to “spit out dreams”.
Early career
Uchida started out at the Taikatsu studio in the early 1920s, but came to prominence at Nikkatsu, ada ...
(film director, 1898–1970)
* Riki Nishimura, (member of the K-pop boy group
Enhypen
Enhypen (; ja, エンハイプン; ''Enhaipun''; stylized as ENHYPEN) is a South Korean boy band formed by Belift Lab, a joint venture between CJ ENM and Hybe Corporation, through the 2020 survival competition show ''I-Land''. The group is com ...
, born 2005 )
* Misa (Bassist for
Band-Maid
Band-Maid (stylized as BAND-MAID® until 2016) is a Japanese rock band formed in 2013, consisting of singer Saiki Atsumi, guitarist/singer Miku Kobato, lead guitarist Kanami Tōno, bassist Misa, and drummer Akane Hirose. The band combines a rock ...
- October 15)
* Miku Nishizaki (member of
Ocha Norma
is a Japanese idol girl group that formed in 2021. They released their debut single, "Koi no Crouching Start / Omatsuri Debut da ze!", on July 13, 2022.
History
On March 7, 2021, it was announced by Mizuki Fukumura
is a Japanese singer, ...
- born 2006)
Sports
*
Noboru Akiyama
was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, originally from Okayama, Okayama. He played with the Taiyo Whales. He is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
The is a museum which includes a library, reference rooms and .
It f ...
(professional baseball player and coach, 1934–2000)
*
Yuko Arimori
is a Japanese professional marathon runner and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Career
Arimori competed for Japan in the 1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano ...
(athlete, 1966– )
*
Naoko Hashimoto
Naoko Hashimoto (橋本直子 ''Hashimoto Naoko'', born July 11, 1984) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Il Bisonte Firenze.
Career
Hashimoto debuted with the senior national team in 2013.
Clubs
* Hisamitsu Springs (2003-2009)
* ...
(volleyball player, 1984– )
*
Shigeaki Hattori
Shigeaki "Shige" Hattori (服部 茂章, November 3, 1963) is a Japanese professional race car driver and team owner based in the United States. As a driver, he competed in the CART and IndyCar Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now th ...
(racing driver and team owner, 1963– )
*
Kinue Hitomi
was a Japanese track and field athlete. She was the world record holder in several events in the 1920s – 1930s and was the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic medal. She was also the first woman to represent Japan at the Olympics.
Biograph ...
(athlete, 1907–1931)
*
Masahiro Kawai
was an infielder for 23 years in Nippon Professional Baseball, primarily with the Yomiuri Giants. Known for his defense and bunting, he won several Gold Gloves, made two All-Star teams and set several sacrifice hit records.
Kawai was a pitche ...
(professional baseball player, 1964– )
*
Issei Morita
is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball'' ...
(professional baseball player, 1989– )
*
Hikaru Sato
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, better known by the ring name . Sato started his MMA career in February 2000, fighting for Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling. During the next eight years, Sato fought, on average, five time ...
(professional wrestler and
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...
, 1980– )
*
Hinako Shibuno
is a Japanese professional golfer who won the 2019 Women's British Open.
Early years
Shibuno was born in Okayama, Japan on 15 November 1998. Her father was a discus thrower and her mother was a javelin thrower. She is the middle child of the ...
(professional golfer, 1998- )
*
Kiyoshi Tamura
is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Once a student of legendary professional wrestlers Billy Robinson, Lou Thesz and Akira Maeda, Tamura was known for his skills in catch wrestling and is considered to be one of ...
(professional wrestler, 1969– )
*
Hisashi Tsuchida
is a former Japanese football player.
Club career
Tsuchida was born in Okayama on February 1, 1967. After graduating from Osaka University of Economics, he joined Japan Soccer League club Mitsubishi Motors (later ''Urawa Reds'') in 1989. He play ...
(soccer player, 1967– )
Inventions
*
Seiichi Miyake
was a Japanese engineer and inventor best known for his work on tactile paving (or "Tenji bricks", "Tactile bricks/blocks") to aid the visually impaired at traffic crossings. Miyake's system of tactile paving was first introduced at a school for ...
(inventor of
tactile paving
Tactile paving (also called tenji blocks, truncated domes, detectable warnings, tactile tiles, tactile ground surface indicators, tactile walking surface indicators, or detectable warning surfaces) is a system of textured ground surface indicat ...
, 1926–1982)
Twin towns – sister cities
Okayama is
twinned with:
*
Luoyang
Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River (Henan), Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the ...
,
Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
, China (1981)
*
Plovdiv
Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the c ...
, Bulgaria (1972)
*
San José, Costa Rica (1969)
*
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, s ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, United States (1976)
*
San Jose,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, United States (1957)
*
Ninh Binh,
Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam (2018)
Friendships
*
Bucheon
Bucheon () is a administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is located away from Seoul, of which it is a satellite town, satellite city. It is located between Incheon and Seoul.
Bucheon is the second ...
,
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...
, South Korea (2002)
*
Hsinchu
Hsinchu (, Chinese: 新竹, Pinyin: ''Xīnzhú'', Wade–Giles: ''Hsin¹-chu²'') is a city located in northwestern Taiwan. It is the most populous city in Taiwan Province not among the special municipalities, with estimated 450,655 inhabi ...
, Taiwan (2003)
*
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
,
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
, India (2014)
Points of interest
*
Korakuen Garden In Japanese, the term kōraku in Kōrakuen (後楽園, "Kōraku Park") refers to later pleasures. It comes from a yojijukugo which means "hardship now, pleasure lat" It is derived from a poem by Fan Zhongyan.
Places named Korakuen include:
*Kōrak ...
*
Handayama Botanical Garden
The is a botanical garden located at 2-1319 Kitagata, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan. It is open daily except Tuesdays; an admission fee is charged.
The garden was founded in 1953 on a hillside site overlooking the city by the Okayama Waterworks. It wa ...
*
Okayama Castle
is a Japanese castle in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The main tower was completed in 1597, destroyed in 1945 and replicated in concrete in 1966. Two of the watch towers survived the bombing of 1945 and are now listed by ...
*
Okayama Prefectural Museum
is a museum in Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan. It was built to house important artifacts from the prefecture dating from prehistory through modern times.
Notable exhibits
The museum houses one National Treasure, red-laced '' yoroi'' armor from the 12th ...
*
Okayama Orient Museum
is a museum of Ancient Near Eastern, Roman provincial, Byzantine, Sassanian, and Islamic Art in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2007 there were some 4,852 items, including winged Assyrian reliefs. The museum is a prize-winning design ...
*
Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
The is located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's many museums which are supported by a prefecture.
The museum, by architects Okada & Associates, opened in 1988 and has a collection of around two thousand works.
See al ...
*
Hayashibara Museum of Art
The is an art museum owned by the Hayashibara Group, and located at 2-7-15 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama, the site of a former guesthouse beside the inner moat of Okayama Castle. Its 6,832 square meter interior was designed by Kunio Maekawa. ...
*
Yumeji Art Museum
is an art museum in Okayama Prefecture split between the main museum in Naka-ku, Okayama and the Yumeji Seika and Shonen Sanso annex built in Setouchi, the birthplace of Yumeji Takehisa, a poet and artist who was active in the early 1900s.
Bui ...
*
Kibitsu Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the Kibitsu neighborhood of Kita-ku, Okayama in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Bitchū Province. The main festivals of the shrine is held annually on the second Sunday of May and on October 1 ...
*
Kibitsuhiko Shrine
*
Okayama Symphony Hall
is a concert hall in Okayama, Okayama, Japan. It opened in 1991 and seats 2,001. Yoshinobu Ashihara was the architect, with acoustical design by Nagata Acoustics.
See also
* Shoebox style (architecture)
In architecture, shoebox style is a f ...
*
Okayama University
is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Tsushima-Naka, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture.
The school was founded in 1870 and it was established as a university in 1949.
History
Okayama University was originally founded as t ...
References
External links
Okayama City official website
I Love Okayama - Okayama global brand*
{{Authority control
Cities in Okayama Prefecture
Port settlements in Japan
Populated coastal places in Japan
Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan