Published on Jan, 2025
I had an amazing day in Okayama with Mari, who was an incredible guide. Mari is an excellent communicator. She reached out before our tour to ask me about my preferences and to offer suggestions. When I asked for some restaurant and shopping recommendations, she gave me wonderful options. Before we began our Okayama adventure, we had a brief chat and discussed our plan for the day. We went over our route (Mari had maps and photos) and then headed out to Korakuen Garden. We had a great time seeing the crane aviary and the lovely gardens, ponds, and streams - lots of great photo ops. Korakuen is beautifully designed. There is even a bamboo grove where we took even more photos. We stopped at one of the gorgeous buildings at Korakuen to sit on cushions on the tatami covered floor and we played Tosenkyo - a traditional Japanese game. We drank authentic amazake out of Bizen pottery mugs and had a sweet treat at a charming tea house right on the grounds of Korakuen. Then we set out to see the wonderfully restored Okayama Castle (the Crow Castle) with its black exterior. Mari was a superior guide. She is smart, friendly, organized, enthusiastic, and knows Okayama and its history well. Her English is stellar. We had a great time exploring Okayama together.