岡山旅行で発見した魅力！倉敷・岡山城・グルメを楽しむ旅｜船橋で英会話ならJabble

Hi everyone! It’s Angie from Jabble Funabashi Eikaiwa .

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer holiday. I certainly did! As some of you might know, I’m on a journey to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan, and I’m proud to say I can check another one off the list. This summer, I visited Okayama Prefecture, the Land of Sunshine.

While one of my friends had lived in Okayama for a little while, I never really thought much about the prefecture. When it was brought up in conversation, it was always to acknowledge its delicious fruits or the famous “Momotaro” folktale. (Coincidentally, I dressed up as Momotaro for the Jabble Halloween Party a couple of years back!)

As such, I expected to spend my trip eating peaches and leisurely exploring the local castle, but not much more than that. Imagine my surprise when this trip turned out to be one of my favorite yet!

The first day of my trip was spent familiarizing myself with Okayama. The city is bisected by a canal, decorated with colorful umbrellas and lights. I spent quite a while just walking along the canal and admiring the art installations. Parallel to the canal, there was the Omotecho Shopping Street arcade. It was the perfect escape from the heat as the afternoon sun beat down on us.

Of course, no trip to Okayama would be complete without trying some of its famous local food! One of my favorite treats was a peach parfait. Okayama is famous for its delicious peaches, so I was very excited to try one. The peach was incredibly juicy and sweet, and the parfait was the perfect summer dessert. 🍑

I also tried some local savory dishes, including Demi-glace tonkatsu don and ebi rice. The demi-glace tonkatsu don was crispy, hearty, and covered in a rich demi-glace sauce, while ebi rice was a delicious combination of fried rice and shrimp with a flavorful sauce. Both were very different from the typical Japanese dishes I usually eat, so it was fun discovering these Okayama specialties.

On another day, I took a short trip to Kurashiki, and it quickly became one of the highlights of my visit. The historic Bikan district felt completely different from Okayama City, with its beautiful traditional buildings, white-walled storehouses, willow trees, and peaceful canal running through the center. It was easy to forget that I was still in modern-day Japan!

I wandered around the narrow streets, browsed the little shops, and, of course, stopped to enjoy some local treats along the way. I even tried the famous Denim Blue ice cream, which was bright blue and surprisingly fun to eat! I also had a Denim Blue nikuman (steamed meat bun), which was the perfect snack while exploring the area. Between the beautiful scenery and all the delicious food, I spent the whole day wandering around Kurashiki.

Of course, I couldn’t visit Okayama without seeing Okayama Castle. And I was especially lucky because the nighttime illumination happening during my visit had a Pokémon theme! Once the sun went down, the castle and surrounding area were beautifully lit up with colorful Pokémon-themed displays. Seeing a historic Japanese castle transformed into a Pokémon-inspired nighttime attraction was such a fun and unexpected experience! As a Pokémon fan, it was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

Right next to the castle is Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s three famous gardens. I visited in the afternoon, and it was such a beautiful place to take a break and enjoy the scenery. I wandered through the spacious garden, admiring the ponds, greenery, and traditional Japanese landscapes.

Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying some kibidango, a traditional Okayama sweet associated with the famous Momotaro folktale, along with a cup of matcha. Sitting in the garden and enjoying the sweet and slightly bitter combination was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. It was the perfect place to slow down and take in the beauty of Okayama.

By the end of the trip, I was definitely convinced that Okayama has much more to offer than just peaches!

From exploring the historic streets of Kurashiki to seeing Okayama Castle illuminated at night, enjoying matcha and kibidango in Korakuen Garden, and discovering all kinds of delicious local food, there was something new around every corner.

Looking back, I think what surprised me most about Okayama was just how much there was to see and do. I arrived expecting peaches, Momotaro, and a castle, but I left with memories of beautiful historic streets, peaceful gardens, amazing food, and a wonderfully relaxing summer trip.

Needless to say, Okayama has definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite prefectures!

And now, I’m one prefecture closer to visiting all 47! I wonder where my journey will take me next…

Until next time!

【スタッフによる要約】

日本全国47都道府県制覇を目指しているAngie先生が、夏休みに訪れた岡山県について紹介します。岡山市の街歩きや岡山名物の桃パフェ、デミカツ丼、えびめしをはじめ、倉敷美観地区、岡山城、ポケモンをテーマにした夜間ライトアップ、後楽園など、岡山旅行で訪れたさまざまな場所や食べ物を紹介。桃と桃太郎のイメージだけだった岡山県が、旅行を通してお気に入りの県の一つになったという、旅行好きのAngie先生らしい内容です。