About This Destination
Ukita Hideie finished this castle in 1597 and had the exterior boards lacquered black, which earned it the name Ujo, the crow castle. The roof ridge carried gilded ornaments and gold leaf appeared on the tiles, so the black and gold combination was deliberate and expensive.
The original keep survived until June 1945, when it burned in an air raid. The present one is a 1966 concrete reconstruction, and it was closed for a full renovation that finished in November 2022. What reopened is a genuinely modern museum: displays on the Ukita, Kobayakawa and Ikeda families who held Okayama, a good deal of interactive material, and English throughout. There is a floor where you can try on a kimono and one aimed squarely at children.
The real reason to come is what is across the river. Korakuen, one of the three great gardens of Japan, sits on the opposite bank of the Asahi and was laid out by the Ikeda lords in 1700 with the castle deliberately borrowed as scenery. A footbridge connects them, and a combined ticket costs less than the two separately. Do the garden first and the castle after, so the black keep is the thing you have been looking at all along.
Entry to the castle is around 400 yen. Boats run on the moat side in season, and the castle is lit at night.
Okayama Station is a Shinkansen stop, so this and Korakuen together make a comfortable three-hour break in a journey between Kansai and Hiroshima.
Location
Prefecture: Okayama
Address: Okayama, Japan
Nearest Station: Okayama Station
Best time to visit: Spring for cherry blossoms along the Asahi River; the black keep is dramatically floodlit after dark year-round
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Accepted
Food Options: A small cafe inside the castle serves light refreshments. Combined visits with Korakuen Garden's tea houses recommended.
Access
Okayama, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Okayama Castle and what's the entry fee?
From JR Okayama Station, take the Higashiyama-bound tram to Shiroshita stop (5 min, ¥160) then walk 10 minutes east. Adult entry is ¥500 for high-school age and over, and free for middle-school age and under; the combined ticket with Korakuen Garden is ¥800 and can be bought at either site. Open 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00), year-round except December 29–31. Free Wi-Fi available throughout the keep.
Why is it called the 'Crow Castle'?
The black wooden cladding on the exterior, unusual among Japanese castles, which typically feature white plastered walls, earned the nickname 'Ujo' (literally Crow Castle) from how it appears to perch like a black bird against the sky. Lord Ukita Hideie chose the colour as a contrast to the rival Hakuro-jo (White Heron Castle, today's Himeji). The 1966 reconstruction faithfully kept this distinctive look, and the recent 2022 renovation restored the deep colour.
What can I see and do inside the castle?
The 6-floor interior is now a museum: armor and weaponry on the lower floors, Edo-era Okayama town life on the middle floors (including a video introduction in English), and a top-floor observation deck with sweeping views of Korakuen Garden and the Asahi River. Free samurai-armor and kimono try-ons (with photo) on weekends are popular with families. Allow 60–90 minutes.
Are there evening illuminations?
Yes. The castle is illuminated nightly from sunset to 23:00 in white light, transforming the black tower into a glowing landmark visible from across the river. During special seasons (cherry blossoms in early April, autumn maples in November, year-end), evening tower entry is sometimes extended to 21:30 with coloured projection-mapping shows. Check the castle's official site for current schedules; admission is included with the regular daytime ticket on extended-hour days.
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