Okayama

This city is where the legendary Peach Boy is said to have lived and boy is the city proud of this fact. As soon as you step off the train you will be confronted by everything peach themed from the kitkats to the sewer covers and just outside the station is a giant Momotaro statue as well. Leaving the station area there is plenty of other things to see such as:

Okayama Castle

In rivalry of Himeji - the White Egret Castle - the lord of Okayama built his own castle and painted it black, earning it the nickname of the Black Crow Castle. Like most castles this one has been rebuilt however two original watch towers are still standing.

Inside the castle there is a dress up area where visitors can put on court garb, and during Golden Week it was FREE.

Kohraku Garden

Directly behind Okayama Castle is one of the 3 Great Gardens of Japan. (the other two are in Ibaraki and Ishikawa prefectures) Admission is 600 yen which gets you into a very spacious garden with many different themes, leave at least two hours to fully enjoy wandering. Inside are two tea houses where you can rest your legs and there is also a small aviary where you can see giant cranes. Between the gardens and Okayama Castle is a river where you can rent swan boats, dock closes at 5 though so plan ahead.