Okayama Castle

岡山城

Okayama

CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 70

What makes this castle distinctive

Look at the foot of the black keep and you'll see its base is not square but a lopsided pentagon.

Why?

The keep's stone base was built by Ukita Hideie by 1597, and its plan is an irregular pentagon. This is said to be because it followed the shape of the original hill, called Okayama. The keep rebuilt in 1966 keeps that pentagonal first floor.^[1][2]

Three things not to miss

The pentagonal base and the black keep

Where: The top level of the main enclosure (hondan), walking around the keep and viewing its stone base.
What to look at: The black wooden cladding, the golden shachihoko roof ornaments, and the irregular pentagonal shape of the base.
Why it's interesting: Its black-lacquered wooden walls earned it the nickname Ujo, "Crow Castle." Excavations have also turned up gold-leaf roof tiles from Ukita Hideie's time. The 14.9 m stone base rests against the hard rock face of the original hill. The keep burned in 1945 and was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1966.^[1][2][3]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideThe exterior is free to view. Entry to the keep is charged (9:00–17:30).

Tsukimi Yagura, a turret with two faces

Where: The northwest corner of the middle level of the main enclosure.
What to look at: How it looks two-storied from outside and three-storied from inside; the iron-clad bay windows with drop-holes on the outer side, and the railing and veranda on the top floor facing in.
Why it's interesting: Built by Ikeda Tadakatsu in the 1620s, it is the only Edo-period building left in the main enclosure and an Important Cultural Property. The outer face is all defense, built for watching and fighting off attackers, while the inner face has the refinement its moon-viewing name suggests, reflecting a time when the age of war was drawing to a close.^[2][5][6]
Can you see it?: Partly visibleExterior only, except during special openings (November 1–3, 2026; free, no booking needed).

Stone walls from before Sekigahara

Where: The main enclosure's walls, at the spots marked on the official map as the tallest pre-Sekigahara wall and the wall showing later extensions.
What to look at: Walls of unworked natural stone, and at the corner, the difference between the original stones and those added later.
Why it's interesting: The walls Ukita Hideie built by 1597 originally stood 15.6 m high, which the castle describes as among the tallest anywhere in Japan from before the Battle of Sekigahara (1600). Nearby you can see where Kobayakawa Hideaki later extended a corner, and compare Hideie's large, stable stones with Hideaki's rounder ones.^[2]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideFree to view inside the main enclosure.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station: 10 min walk from Shiroshita tram stop
Climb: Some climbing
Time neededEditors' estimate: About 1–1.5 hours for the main enclosure and keep; half a day if you add Korakuen.
Admission: Adults (15 and over) 500 yen (400 yen for groups of 20+); free for junior high students and younger. Combined tickets: with Korakuen 800 yen; with Korakuen and Hayashibara Museum 1,280 yen; with Korakuen and Yumeji Art Museum 1,440 yen.
Hours: 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00); longer on some event days
Access: Open to visitors
The main enclosure (Ujo Park) is free to walk around. Entry to the keep is charged. Tsukimi Yagura's interior opens only for special viewings. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is near reception on the keep's basement floor.

Checked: 2026-10-03

View on map Open in Google Maps Okayama Castle official site Okayama Castle (English)

The story of this castle

Historical record

Three hills by the Asahi River

Along the Asahi River here there were once three hills: Okayama, Ishiyama and Tenjinyama. In the 1570s the warlord Ukita Naoie is said to have taken a castle on Ishiyama and made it his base, putting Okayama on the map of the warring states period.^[1]

Historical record

Built by one of Hideyoshi's great lords

Naoie's son, Ukita Hideie, became one of the most powerful lords under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1590 he moved the main enclosure from Ishiyama to the hill of Okayama and began building; the keep is said to have been finished in 1597, which the castle counts as its founding year. Edo-period records say Hideyoshi guided the design. The keep was clad in black-lacquered boards, and gold-leaf tiles adorned the main buildings.^[1]

Historical record

Sekigahara and new lords

At the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Hideie fought as a leading commander of the losing Western army and was later exiled to the island of Hachijojima. Kobayakawa Hideaki took over, reworked the castle and dug an outer moat, but died suddenly in 1602. From 1603 the Ikeda family held the castle until the end of the shogunate.^[1][2]

Historical record

The Ikeda era and Korakuen

Under the Ikeda family, Ikeda Tadakatsu built Tsukimi Yagura in the 1620s, and Ikeda Mitsumasa founded the Shizutani School, open even to commoners. In 1687, work began on the lord's garden, today's Okayama Korakuen, which took shape by 1700.^[1][2]

Historical record

The keep survives Meiji, then burns in 1945

The keep survived the Meiji era, and detailed drawings were made of it in the early Showa years, but it burned in an air raid in 1945. Tsukimi Yagura and Nishinomaru Nishite Yagura escaped the fire and remain today as Edo-period buildings designated Important Cultural Properties.^{[1][5][6][7][10]}

Historical record

Rebuilt in 1966, renovated in 2022

The keep was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1966. The "Reiwa Great Renovation," including earthquake strengthening, began in 2021, and the keep reopened on November 3, 2022. The exhibits were completely redone under the supervision of Okayama-born historian Isoda Michifumi, the main enclosure was made more barrier-free, and the night lighting was extended to the walls and paths.^{[1][4][8][10]}

People of this castle

Lord who built the present castle

Ukita Hideie

宇喜多秀家

1572–1655

Son of Ukita Naoie and one of the most powerful lords under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He began building Okayama Castle in 1590, and its keep is said to have been finished in 1597.

Okayama lord who built Tsukimi Yagura

Ikeda Tadakatsu

池田忠雄

1602–1632

Son of Ikeda Terumasa and Tokuhime, a daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He succeeded his brother Tadatsugu as lord of Okayama Castle in 1615.

Okayama lord who founded the Shizutani School

Ikeda Mitsumasa

池田光政

1609–1682

Grandson of Ikeda Terumasa, builder of Himeji Castle. As lord of Tottori he expanded Tottori Castle for a 320,000-koku domain, and later became lord of Okayama.

Lord

Ikeda clan

池田氏

Lord

Ukita clan

宇喜多氏

Lord

Kobayakawa clan

小早川氏

Rebuilt / expanded

Kobayakawa Hideaki

小早川秀秋

1577–1602

Timeline

1590
Ukita Hideie moves the main enclosure to the hill of Okayama and begins building^[1]
1597
The keep is said to be completed (the castle's official founding year)^[1][9]
1600
Battle of Sekigahara; Kobayakawa Hideaki becomes lord^[1]
1603
The Ikeda family takes over^[1]
1945
The keep burns in an air raid^[1][10]
1966
The keep is rebuilt in reinforced concrete^[1]
2022
The keep reopens after the Reiwa Great Renovation^[8][4]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Modern reconstruction

Burned in 1945 and rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1966; the castle describes it as a rebuilt keep recalling its former appearance. Strengthened and refitted in the 2021–22 Reiwa renovation.

The site today

The main enclosure is Ujo Park, with exhibits inside the keep. Most of the moats were filled in and built over. Okayama Korakuen garden lies across the Asahi River, and Nishinomaru Nishite Yagura survives in the city to the west, away from the main enclosure.

Main buildings

Modern reconstruction

Keep (tenshu)

Completed around 1597, burned in 1945, rebuilt in 1966. Houses exhibits.^[1]

OriginalImportant Cultural Property

Tsukimi Yagura (moon-viewing turret)

Built by Ikeda Tadakatsu in the 1620s; the only Edo-period building left in the main enclosure. Interior open only for special viewings.^[2][5][6]

OriginalImportant Cultural Property

Nishinomaru Nishite Yagura (turret)

Built at the very start of the Edo period by Ikeda Toshitaka to guard the front of the western enclosure. Stands away from the main enclosure.^[7][10]

Exterior restored

Akazu-no-mon (gate)

Gate to the top level; torn down in the Meiji era, rebuilt in outward appearance in 1966.^[2]

Modern reconstruction

Roka-mon (corridor gate)

Gatehouse at the back of the main enclosure whose upper floor served as the lord's private corridor. Rebuilt in 1966.^[2]

Lost

Onando Yagura and Kurogane-mon

The castle's largest turret and an iron-clad gate; neither survives.^[2]

Key facts

Type: Castle
Setting: Hilltop castle (hirayamajiro)built on a low hill rising from the plainEditorial article
Period: Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu): Modern reconstructiona keep rebuilt in the 20th century or later; shape or position may differ from the originalEditorial article
Built by: Ukita HideieJapan Castle Foundation
Built: 1597Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords: Ikeda clan, Ukita clan, Kobayakawa clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned: 1873Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see: Turrets or turret bases, Stone walls, Moats, Gates, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Keep base (tenshudai)Editorial article
Designation: National Historic Site (Okayama Castle ruins) (1987); Important Cultural Properties (Tsukimi Yagura, Nishinomaru Nishite Yagura) (1950)Editorial article
Selection: Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 70Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Open to visitors

The main enclosure (Ujo Park) is free to walk around. Entry to the keep is charged. Tsukimi Yagura's interior opens only for special viewings. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is near reception on the keep's basement floor.

Address

2-3-1 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-0823^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

Shiroshita tram stopOkayama Electric Tramway (about 5 minutes from JR Okayama Station on the Higashiyama line)

about 10 min walk · Some climbing

About 10 minutes on foot from the Shiroshita stop. By bus, about 5 minutes on foot from the Kenchomae stop.^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Okayama Castle keep

Hours: 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00); longer on some event days
Closed: December 29–31 (may also close for storms or inspections)
Admission: Adults (15 and over) 500 yen (400 yen for groups of 20+); free for junior high students and younger. Combined tickets: with Korakuen 800 yen; with Korakuen and Hayashibara Museum 1,280 yen; with Korakuen and Yumeji Art Museum 1,440 yen.^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

About 20 minutes east of the Okayama interchange. The keep has no parking of its own; use the nearby Ujo Park lot (open 24 hours; cars 300 yen for the first hour, then 100 yen per 30 minutes). Keep visitors get half off the first hour. Buses must reserve ahead.^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Grounds opening hours

Not confirmed (keep hours as above)Checked: 2026-10-03

Time neededEditors' estimate

About 1–1.5 hours for the main enclosure and keep; half a day if you add Korakuen.

Steps, slopes and footing

The main enclosure has three levels connected by stone steps and slopes.^[2]

Wheelchairs and strollers

The main enclosure was made more barrier-free in the 2021–22 renovation. Inside the keep an elevator runs to the 4th floor (stairs to the 5th and 6th). One wheelchair is available for use inside (first come, first served). There is no elevator or lift up to the keep itself.^[3][4]Checked: 2026-10-03

Toilets and rest

Toilets (men's, women's, accessible) inside the keep; using only the toilets is free.^[3]

English signs / audio guide

The official website has pages in English, Korean and Chinese (simplified and traditional). English signage inside is not confirmed.^[13]

Seasons

The keep is lit up every day from sunset to midnight, in special colors on certain awareness days.^[11]

Photography

Some areas inside are no-photography zones. Monopods, tripods, selfie sticks and other equipment that gets in others' way are not allowed.^[3]

Works, closures and restrictions

Tsukimi Yagura's interior opens specially on November 1–3, 2026 (free, no booking; groups of 15 at a time if crowded).^[5]Checked: 2026-10-03

Around the castle

Garden

Okayama Korakuen

The Ikeda lords' garden, counted among Japan's three great gardens and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. It faces the castle across the Asahi River, and a combined ticket with the keep costs 800 yen.^[12][3][1]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Editors' guide

An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.

Who will enjoy it

Good for travelers looking for an easy castle near the station, those pairing it with Korakuen, and anyone who likes comparing stone walls from different eras.

What makes it interesting

Beyond the black keep and its pentagonal base, the real draw is the stone walls. Take the castle's official map of highlights and look for how the building style changed with each lord: Ukita Hideie, Kobayakawa Hideaki, then the Ikeda. View Tsukimi Yagura from both outside and inside to see its two faces.

Before you go

Today's keep is a 1966 rebuild housing exhibits; last entry is 17:00. Tsukimi Yagura is normally closed inside, but opens specially on November 1–3, 2026. Nishinomaru Nishite Yagura is in the city to the west, away from the main enclosure.

Ways to enjoy it

View the keep across the ponds of Korakuen or from the far bank of the Asahi River to see castle, garden and river together. The keep is lit up every night.

Photos

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Open questions

The castle calls the keep "rebuilt," while Wikipedia calls it an "exterior restoration"; sources disagree on how closely it matches the pre-war exterior. This article follows the official wording.
The years Ukita Naoie took (1570) and moved into (1573) the Ishiyama castle, and Hideyoshi's role in the design, are presented with qualifiers even in official sources.
The National Historic Site year (1987), the 1950 reclassification as Important Cultural Properties, and the air-raid date (June 29, 1945) come from Wikipedia. Okayama City gives January 23, 1933 as the designation date of both turrets (as National Treasures under the old law).
Opening hours for the park and English signage inside the keep could not be confirmed.