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Japan: Okayama Castle and Korakuen
Japan Japan Retrospective

Japan: Okayama Castle and Korakuen

Chris Tham
Chris Tham
17 September 2021 at 8:00:00 pm AEST

Okayama Castle is another reconstructed castle (the original was destroyed in World War II by air raids). Nearby is Korakuen which is regarded as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

Japan: Okayama Castle and Korakuen Japan: Okayama Castle and Korakuen
Japan: Okayama Castle and Korakuen

Okayama Castle (岡山城) is another reconstructed castle (the original was destroyed in World War II by air raids). Nearby is Korakuen (後楽園) which is regarded as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

Okayama Castle is nicknamed Crow Castle (烏城, U-jō) or "castle of the black bird" as the exterior of the castle is black (in contrast to Himeji Castle which is white). Originally, the fish headed gargoyles were gilded, so it was even called Golden Crow Castle (金烏城). After the Meiji Restoration, the castle became the property of the Ministry of War, and was completely destroyed by air bombing during World War II. The reconstructed castle (completed in 1966) features elevators and air conditioning and is now a museum.

Please click on any photo to view in a lightbox. Use arrow keys or swipe to navigate.

Korakuen is designed in the Kaiyu ("scenic promenade") style which presents the visitor with a new view at every turn of the path which connects the lawns, ponds, hills, tea houses, and streams. It is one of the few gardens that is well known due to paintings and historical documents. So when it was badly damaged in floods and severely bombed in World War II, it has been fully restored to its former glory.

It is designed to be a mini version of Japan, with a central hill (Yuishinzan), several ponds (the main one Sawa-no-ike has a number of small islands, some of which contain buildings), tea plantation, and rice fields. There are several rest houses, tea houses, shrines and even a Noh stage.

Please click on any photo to view in a lightbox. Use arrow keys or swipe to navigate.

#castle #garden #Japan #Korakuen #Okayama
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