Okayama University
(http://www.okayama-u.ac.j...) has around 14,000 students, with over 500 foreign students from 50 different countries.
Okayama Institute of Languages
The Okayama Institute of Languages (http://www.harenet.ne.jp/...) has ties with the popular Two Worlds United exchange program. It offers Japanese courses from beginner to advanced.
Kubo Fruit Farm
Okayama is known throughout the county for producing some of the most delicious fruits Japan has to offer. Most visitors are aware of the local peaches, but the Japanese will often cite Okayama's muscat grapes è¡è BudÅ as its premier offering. Visitors can tour the farm to see how the grapes are grown and harvested. You are also permitted and even encouraged to eat as much as you like, making a tour of the farm as delicious as it is interesting! Although the grapes are the star attraction, you can also see the harvesting of shiitake mushrooms, persimmons, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts. Visitors are also permitted to picnic and camp here.
Cycle the Kibi Plain
The Kibiji District, a 15 kilometer trail extending from Okayama to Soja, is a scenic cycling path, voted as one of the top 100 cycling paths in the nation. There is no need to bring your own bike, because you can rent your bike upon arrival. Bike rentals are available adjacent to the JR station at Bizen Ichinomiya upon exiting the station, the rental area is directly to the right. To reach Bizen-Ichinomiya from Okayama Station transfer to the 'Local lines' section. Two lines run on this track, so ask an attendant which train to take to Bizen-Ichinomiya if you are not sure. The ride should only take about 10 minutes. They will provide you with a map, although the entire trail is quite well-marked. Signs along the path have "Kibiji District" written on them in English and Japanese. You can return the bicycle at Soja station. The rental cost is ¥1000 per bicycle per day. The sites along the trail are free, so expenses are quite nominal, making the cycling trail a highly affordable way to see a wide variety of cultural sites. The official estimated time to cycle the trail is two hours; however, if you take the time to thoroughly explore the sites, you can easily make it a half-day excursion, perhaps combining it with a visit to some of the other sites in the area. Although it is a cycling course, it is possible to use the trail for hiking. In order to see all the sites before evening, you should arrive at Bizen Ichinomiya Station no later than 10AM. It is unlikely that you will be able to see any of the other sites in the area, since it will take most of the day to walk the trail. Hiking the trail is ambitious, as you will also be walking around the grounds of each of the sites along the way, so make sure to wear appropriate footwear and bring food, because you won't reach the restaurants which are mainly located in the Soja portion until late in the day.
Kirin Beer Park
The Kirin Beer Factory is the only brewery in Western Honshu. Beer-lovers can see how the beer is produced and sample fresh brew for ¥400 per pint. There are shuttle buses from JR Mantomi Station; alternately, it's a 15 minute walk southwest of the station.
Events
Naked Man Festival
Okayama's Naked Man Festival, officially called Saidaiji Eyo, is held on the third Saturday in February at Saidaiji. During the coldest month of the year, men wearing only fundoshi traditional Japanese loincloths fight to obtain one of two lucky sticks thrown by the temple priests. The men who catch the sticks will have an entire year of good fortune and also receive a cash reward from the festivals sponsors. All the lights in the temple are temporarily blacked out and other "less-lucky" sticks are also thrown down into the crowd of participants to create even more confusion. Spectators too jostle for viewing spots, but you can choose to pay to watch from the temporary spectator grandstand. Price depends on seating proximity. The festival originated in the 16th century when people would request special talismans thrown out by priests. As word spread that the talismans were bringing those who possessed them good luck, more and more people came to get them, fights broke out and the talismans were damaged. Later this all evolved into a midnight festival with only male participants dressed in loincloths. Today, the fesival continues to evolve, with the "midnight" highlight of the festival recently moved forward 2 hours to finish at 10PM.
Cherry Blossom Festival
One of Okayama's most popular destinations in "cherry blossom season" usually about two weeks at the beginning of April is along the Asahi River, which is on the east side of Korakuen Park. About three hundred cherry blossom trees are decorated with Japanese lanterns, and illuminated after sunset. On the first day, a lighting ceremony is held. There are many street stalls, selling for example cotton candy, octopus fritters, and crepes. Their prices are from three hundred to five hundred yen. People gather for barbecues and picnics under the cherry blossom trees. Barbecue sets hired from nearby yakiniku restaurants offer an alternative to supplying everything and then cleaning the tools afterward.
MomotarÅ Festival
Held annually for two days at the beginning of August in commemoration of the lead character of the children's fairytale and his rival, Ura the ogre. The festival involves Okayama's biggest display of fireworks and numerous public dances and parades throughout the city and its numerous shopping malls. The largest dance parade, the Uraja Dance, is held in the center of Okayama on the street leading from Okayama Station towards City Hall Shiyakusho-suji. Dance participants paint their faces to look like ogres and each team has its own unique homemade costumes. Some dance teams are active all year round, performing at smaller local festivals or as Uraja ambassadors at festivals throughout Japan. Free parking for the event is available around Okayama Dome.