Rainy Day in Okayama: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Hayashibara Museum of Art

Close to Okayama Castle, this is a celebrated museum known to those in the know, housing treasures secretly handed down over generations by the Ikeda family, the former feudal lords of Okayama. The collection, condensing the "aesthetics of the samurai" such as swords, armor, and Noh costumes, is filled with a deep, quiet dignity that is a world apart from flashy showiness. You instinctively stop in front of each piece and, before you know it, lose track of time—this sense of immersion is the greatest charm of this place.

Among them, the National Treasure tachi (long sword) is an item you absolutely cannot miss if you come here. The blade still gleams sharply after several centuries, and the delicate craftsmanship infused into it. In that single sword to which the samurai of old entrusted their lives, you can feel with your skin a timeless tension and an awe-inspiring beauty. The gold- and silver-thread embroidery on the Noh costumes is so exquisite up close that it takes your breath away. Not only history lovers, but anyone interested in Japan's traditional crafts and aesthetic sense, will surely find something that pierces deep into their heart. A day when the sound of rain shuts out the clamor of the outside world makes for an unbeatable stage to face such serene beauty deeply and carefully.

Best season & recommended hours: Because the way the collection is presented changes depending on the content of special exhibitions, it is best to check the event information on the official website in advance before visiting. As the scale is compact, visiting during the leisurely morning hours lets you appreciate it quietly and deeply without worrying about other visitors.

Hidden-gem info: Compared with the Ohara Museum of Art and Korakuen, its name recognition is modest, but for that very reason it is almost entirely free of crowds. It is a hidden gem among hidden gems where you can spend time slowly in a calm atmosphere. Touring it together with Okayama Castle is the route of local connoisseurs, and the flow of looking up at the castle's grandeur and then encountering the aesthetics of the samurai makes you feel the historical context all the more richly.

Access: About 20 minutes on foot from JR Okayama Station, or right after getting off at the "Kenchomae" bus stop. Because it is close to Okayama Castle, Korakuen, and the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, it is in a great location where you can tour them all together in one day.

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Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

A prefectural museum standing in an unbeatable location right next to Korakuen. Even on a rainy day, you can gaze at the greenery of Korakuen—one of Japan's three great gardens—through large windows while leisurely immersing yourself in the world of beauty Okayama is proud of. Such a luxurious viewing experience awaits here as a matter of course. The garden hazy with rain beyond the windows, and the masterpieces standing quietly indoors. That contrast is irresistibly pleasant, and a special time unique to rainy days flows by.

The core of the collection is a group of masterpieces by artists connected to Okayama. The powerful, soul-stirring brushwork of the master Hasegawa Tohaku, who lived from the Azuchi-Momoyama into the Edo period; the free, poetic, and distinctive worldview of Uragami Gyokudo, a literati painter of the late Edo period—to be able to come so close in Okayama to the "real things" by artists who were somehow distant existences within textbooks. The moment you realize this, the joy of travel swells especially large. Special exhibitions that read Japanese art from a local perspective are also substantial every time, and the museum has many repeat visitors. It is a place where you are sure to make new discoveries no matter how many times you visit.

Best season & recommended hours: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) often see special exhibitions held, making these seasons especially worth visiting. The morning right after opening is the least crowded, so it is especially recommended for those who want to appreciate the art carefully without worrying about crowds.

The local way to enjoy it: After viewing, the local standard course is to leisurely stroll the adjacent Korakuen while waiting for the rain to let up. The museum shop inside has an abundance of tasteful goods themed on artworks connected to Okayama, which comes in handy for finding souvenirs for yourself or gifts.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Okayama Station. If you use the tram (Okayama Electric Tramway), getting off at the "Shiroshita" tram stop puts you about 5 minutes on foot away, making access even easier. A tram journey where you can gaze at Okayama's townscape from the window is itself full of travel sentiment, so be sure to experience it once.

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Kurashiki Ivy Square

A complex facility representative of Kurashiki, created by renovating the entire former Kurabo (Kurashiki Boseki) factory site built in the Meiji era. Where its true value shines most is, in fact, on rainy days. The green of the ivy that densely covers the exterior walls, deepening moistly when wet with raindrops, has a charm reminiscent of an old European castle. Simply walking slowly through the brick courtyard under an umbrella gives you a strange sensation of having wandered into a nostalgic yet exotic scene from a movie.

Within the facility are exhibition spaces that carefully convey the history and industry of Kurashiki, and cafes and shops with a retro, stylish atmosphere dotted about, making it perfect for spending time leisurely while sheltering from the rain. The time spent carefully choosing local artists' handcrafted items and one-of-a-kind original goods colors your travel memories more richly and more vividly. A moment spent with a hot coffee in hand while walking the brick corridor where the sound of rain echoes—that alone will make you feel it was worth visiting this place.

Best season & recommended hours: From early summer to summer, when the ivy is verdant and lush, is an especially worthwhile season in terms of the beauty of the exterior. In the evening, the courtyard is lit up, showing an expression completely different from daytime, fantastical and warm. If you have time to spare, by all means extend your stay into the evening hours.

Hidden-gem info: Compared with the central part of the Bikan district where tourists concentrate, the courtyard of Ivy Square has a surprisingly quiet and calm atmosphere. A moment spent listening to the sound of rain while walking the brick corridor is one to which the word "luxury" fits well. Because it is in the same area as the Ohara Museum of Art, touring them as a set lets you enjoy the charm of Kurashiki to the fullest.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station. It is almost the same distance as the Ohara Museum of Art, so enjoying both spots together as a half-day course is the classic way to tour Kurashiki. On rainy days, renting an umbrella in front of the station or making use of a taxi is the smart move.

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Access Information

[Kurashiki Area] Hayashibara Museum of Art, Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Kurashiki Ivy Square About 15 minutes on foot from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station. Getting a map at the tourist information center in front of the station before you set out will help you move smoothly. On rainy days, it is reassuring to also keep taxis and buses in mind. Note that since there are no coin lockers within the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, the trick is to leave your luggage in the lockers at JR Kurashiki Station and walk around light.

[Okayama Area] Hayashibara Museum of Art, Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art About 15–20 minutes on foot from JR Okayama Station, or right after getting off at the "Shiroshita" tram stop on the tram (Okayama Electric Tramway). Okayama Castle, Korakuen, the Hayashibara Museum of Art, and the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art are gathered in a compact area, so you can tour them all efficiently in a single day.

[Tips for Travelers]

• On rainy days, stone pavements and brick surfaces become slippery, so choose comfortable, walkable shoes with firm soles
• Whether flash photography or photography in general is allowed inside the museums differs by spot, so be sure to check with staff upon entry
• Weekends and holidays tend to be crowded, so a weekday visit is recommended for the most leisurely viewing
• The stretch between JR Okayama Station and JR Kurashiki Station is well served, about 16 minutes on the JR Sanyo Main Line. A plan to enjoy both areas carefully over two days and one night is the form of travel that lets you savor Okayama's charms to the fullest