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Okayama began to prosper just over 400 years ago, a relatively short history for a Japanese city. The foundations of the modern city were laid in 1573 when the feudal lord Ukita Naoie (1530–1582) ordered the town rebuilt as his capital around Okayama Castle. Today Okayama retains many significant historical sites. The Okayama Korakuen garden, for example, is considered one of the three finest gardens in Japan; it was built by order of the lord of the local domain over a 14-year period from 1686 to 1700. Okayama also features many museums and art galleries and is a tourist destination for visitors from throughout Japan.
In addition to this plethora of culture and history, the city’s natural surroundings are another of its charms. The Seto Inland Sea to the south makes the climate warm and helps support the local economy with abundant fishing. Two crystal-clear rivers flow through town and have helped make the soil perfect for farming crops such as rice and fruit. Such riches from sea and soil alike find their way to residents’ tables daily. Standing quietly near the seashore or the river banks brings a peaceful feeling and restores a sense of calm and ease. Over the centuries, the people of Okayama have made their homes on a plain warmed by abundant sunshine; this is a place where Japanese sensitivities and ways of life still pulsate in the everyday lives of the local people. |
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| Employees of the Sumikin Bussan Okayama office |
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