Okayama Caste is a reconstructed castle sitting in the center of the city of Okayama. Built in the late 16th century by Hideie Ukita, the castle was constructed with black lacquer walls giving it a dark and menacing appearance earning it the nickname of Ujô (Crow Castle). Because the castle was designed to face west, it left the rear of the fortress (the east side) vulnerable to enemy attack, so the surrounding land was literally carved out to divert the Asahi River (Asahigawa) around the castle foundations to make a natural moat. Later, when the conflicts of the Waring States Period subsided, the daimyo relocated merchants and crafts studios into the center of the castle town to change it from a military complex to a real thriving city. Unfortunately, the castle was ultimately destroyed in the Second World War, so the buildings you see today are reconstructions from the 1960’s. One structure, the Moon Viewing Turret, survived the war and dates back to the 1620’s.

For visitors: 8.

Okayama Castle doesn’t have the same kind of notoriety like many of the other castles I have written about, but it actually works for this location. Many of the older, more authentic castles, are constantly struggling to preserve the original structures and the original image of the castle. As a result, there is often little you can do or enjoy outside of looking at the buildings and doing stuff outside on the grounds. Okayama Castle is able to move past that because it has been rebuilt. For example, once visitors are done climbing to the top of the six-story tower, they can go down and enjoy the special exhibits of armor and weapons, make local Bizen-yaki ceramics, take photos in kimono, or grab lunch in a small restaurant, and all of this still being in the tower keep. And if none of that sounds like your cup of tea, you can cross the bridge to the Korakuen Gardens on the north bank of the river. This garden used to be the private property of the daimyo until it was opened to the public following the Meiji Restoration.

The butterfly was one of several prominent symbols associated with Hiedei Ukita and his clan.

View of the Korakuen Gardens from the tower keep.