Editing Okayama Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Okayama Prefecture
| native_name             = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|岡山県}}}}
| settlement_type         = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1          = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type     = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info     = {{lang|ja|岡山県}}
| translit_lang1_type1    = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1    = {{lang|ja-Latn|Okayama-ken}}
| image_skyline           = Christmas tree lighting (6471182605).jpg
| image_caption           = A street in [[Okayama City]], Okayama Prefecture at night
| image_flag              = Flag of Okayama Prefecture.svg
| flag_size               = 100px
| image_blank_emblem      = Emblem of Okayama Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size       = 80px
| blank_emblem_type       = Symbol
| image_map               = Map of Japan with highlight on 33 Okayama prefecture.svg
| coordinates             = {{Wikidatacoord|Q132936|scale:500000|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|Japan}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] ([[San'yō region|Sanyō]])
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Honshu]]
| seat_type               = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat                    = [[Okayama]]
| parts_type              = Subdivisions
| parts_style             = para
| p1                      = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 10
| p2                      = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 27
| leader_title            = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name             = [[Ryūta Ibaragi]]
| area_total_km2          = 7,114.50
| area_water_percent      = 0.3
| area_rank               = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|17th]]
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_total        = 1,826,059
| population_as_of        = 1 February 2025
| population_rank         = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|20st]]
| population_density_km2  = auto
| demographics_type2      = GDP 
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=18 May 2023 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja |archive-date=24 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924062316/https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1    = Total
| demographics2_info1     = [[JP¥]] 7,842 billion<br />[[US$]] 71.9 billion (2019)
| iso_code                = JP-33
| anthem                  = [[:ja:岡山県の歌|Okayama-ken no uta]]
| website                 = {{URL|www.pref.okayama.jp}}
| module                  = {{Infobox place symbols
 |embedded = yes
 |country  = Japan
 |bird     = Lesser cuckoo (''[[Cuculus poliocephalus]]'')
 |fish     = 
 |flower   = [[Peach]]&nbsp;[[blossom]] (''Prunus&nbsp;persica'' var.&nbsp;''vulgaris'')
 |tree     = Red pine (''[[Pinus densiflora]]'')
 }}
}}
{{nihongo|'''Okayama Prefecture'''|岡山県|Okayama-ken|{{IPA|ja|o.kaꜜ.ja.ma, o.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Chūgoku region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Okayama-ken" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 745|page=745}}; "Chūgoku" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 127|page=127}}.</ref> Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,826,059 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 7,114 [[Square kilometre|km<sup>2</sup>]] (2,746 [[sq mi]]). Okayama Prefecture borders [[Tottori Prefecture]] to the north, [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] to the east, and [[Hiroshima Prefecture]] to the west.

[[Okayama]] is the capital and largest city of Okayama Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Kurashiki]], [[Tsuyama]], and [[Sōja]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Okayama" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 745|page=745}}.</ref><ref name="enc">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Okayama Prefecture |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=1 August 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |oclc=56431036 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="nipponika">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) |title=岡山（県） |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=15 August 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |trans-title=Okayama Prefecture |oclc=153301537 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2007}}</ref> Okayama Prefecture's south is located on the [[Seto Inland Sea]] coast across from [[Kagawa Prefecture]] on the island of [[Shikoku]], which are connected by the [[Great Seto Bridge]], while the north is characterized by the [[Chūgoku Mountains]].

== History ==
{{See also|Historic Sites of Okayama Prefecture}}
Prior to the [[Meiji Restoration]] of 1868, the area of present-day Okayama Prefecture was divided between [[Bitchū Province|Bitchū]], [[Bizen Province|Bizen]] and [[Mimasaka Province|Mimasaka]] Provinces. Okayama Prefecture was formed and named in 1871 as part of the large-scale administrative reforms of the early [[Meiji period]] (1868–1912), and the borders of the prefecture were set in 1876.<ref name="enc" /><ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Map of Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Map of Okayama Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#D8E|Government Ordinance Designated City}} {{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]
Okayama Prefecture borders [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], [[Tottori Prefecture]], and [[Hiroshima Prefecture]].<ref name="enc" /> It faces [[Kagawa Prefecture]] in [[Shikoku]] across the [[Seto Inland Sea]] and includes 90 islands in the sea.

Okayama Prefecture is home to the historic town of [[Kurashiki]]. Most of the population is concentrated around Kurashiki and [[Okayama]]. The small villages in the northern mountain region are aging and declining in population - more than half of the prefecture's municipalities are officially designated as depopulated.<ref>[http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/gaiyou/gaiyou.html Okayama official website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102235712/http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/gaiyou/gaiyou.html |date=2 January 2013 }} accessed November 2007</ref>

As of 1 April 2014, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]], namely the [[Daisen-Oki National Park|Daisen-Oki]] and [[Setonaikai National Park|Setonaikai]] National Parks; the [[Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park]]; and seven Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |date=1 April 2014 |access-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421180819/http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |archive-date=21 April 2012}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{See also|List of cities in Okayama Prefecture by population}}
[[File:Okayama city view from Sankunjinja remains.JPG|thumb|Okayama City]]
[[File:Tsuyama Castle01s5s5000.jpg|thumb|Tsuyama]]
[[File:Takahashi -01.jpg|thumb|Takahashi]]
[[File:Niimi city.jpg|thumb|Niimi]]
Fifteen cities are located in Okayama Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Akaiwa, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Akaiwa]]
|赤磐市
|209.43
|44,498
|[[File:Akaiwa in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Asakuchi, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Asakuchi]]
|浅口市
|66.46
|35,022
|[[File:Asakuchi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Bizen, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Bizen, Okayama|Bizen]]
|備前市
|258.23
|35,610
|[[File:Bizen in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ibara, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ibara]]
|井原市
|243.36
|41,460
|[[File:Ibara in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kasaoka, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kasaoka]]
|笠岡市
|136.03
|50,160
|[[File:Kasaoka in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kurashiki]]
|倉敷市
|355.63
|483,576
|[[File:Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Maniwa, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Maniwa]]
|真庭市
|828.43
|44,265
|[[File:Maniwa in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mimasaka, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mimasaka, Okayama|Mimasaka]]
|美作市
|429.19
|28,502
|[[File:Mimasaka in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Niimi, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niimi]]
|新見市
|793.27
|30,583
|[[File:Niimi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Okayama, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Okayama]] (capital)
|岡山市
|789.92
|720,841
|[[File:Okayama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Setouchi, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Setouchi, Okayama|Setouchi]]
|瀬戸内市
|125.51
|37,934
|[[File:Setouchi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sōja, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sōja]]
|総社市
|212
|67,059
|[[File:Soja in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Takahashi, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takahashi, Okayama|Takahashi]]
|高梁市
|547.01
|31,556
|[[File:Takahashi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tamano, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tamano]]
|玉野市
|103.61
|60,101
|[[File:Tamano in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tsuyama, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsuyama]]
|津山市
|506.36
|102,294
|[[File:Tsuyama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|}

===Towns and villages===
These are the towns and villages in each [[Districts of Japan|district]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Type
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hayashima Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hayashima]]
|早島町
|7.62
|12,671
|[[Tsukubo District, Okayama|Tsukubo District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hayashima in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kagamino, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kagamino]]
|鏡野町
|419.69
|14,651
|[[Tomata District, Okayama|Tomata District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kagamino in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kibichūō, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kibichūō]]
|吉備中央町
|268.73
|11,989
|[[Kaga District, Okayama|Kaga District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kumenan, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kumenan]]
|久米南町
|78.65
|4,962
|[[Kume District, Okayama|Kume District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kumenan in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Misaki, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Misaki, Okayama|Misaki]]
|美咲町
|232.15
|17,776
|[[Kume District, Okayama|Kume District]]
|Town
|[[File:Misaki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nagi, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nagi, Okayama|Nagi]]
|奈義町
|69.54
|5,861
|[[Katsuta District, Okayama|Katsuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nagi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nishiawakura, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nishiawakura]]
|西粟倉村
|57.93
|1,437
|[[Aida District, Okayama|Aida District]]
|Village
|[[File:Nishiawakura in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Satosho, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Satoshō]]
|里庄町
|12.23
|11,204
|[[Asakuchi District, Okayama|Asakuchi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Satosho in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shinjō, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shinjō, Okayama|Shinjō]]
|新庄村
|67.1
|951
|[[Maniwa District, Okayama|Maniwa District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shinjo in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shoo, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shōō]]
|勝央町
|54.09
|11,237
|[[Katsuta District, Okayama|Katsuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shouou in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Wake Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Wake, Okayama|Wake]]
|和気町
|144.21
|14,191
|[[Wake District, Okayama|Wake District]]
|Town
|[[File:Wake in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yakage, Okayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yakage, Okayama|Yakage]]
|矢掛町
|90.62
|14,041
|[[Oda District, Okayama|Oda District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yakage in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|59x59px]]
|}

===Mergers===
{{Main|List of mergers in Okayama Prefecture}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Okayama prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Okayama prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
Per Japanese census data,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/cities/okayama/ |title=Okayama (Japan): Prefecture, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=2022-05-12 |archive-date=2022-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512013633/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/cities/okayama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-japanpref.htm |title=Japan Prefectures Population from 1920 and Area |website=www.demographia.com |access-date=2020-11-25 |archive-date=2017-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429232102/http://www.demographia.com/db-japanpref.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Okayama prefecture has had continual negative population growth since 2005

{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 1,218,000
| 1930 | 1,284,000
| 1940 | 1,329,000
| 1950 | 1,661,000
| 1960 | 1,670,000
| 1970 | 1,707,000
| 1980 | 1,871,000
| 1990 | 1,926,000
| 2000 | 1,950,828
| 2010 | 1,945,276
| 2020 | 1,920,739
| align = none
| footnote = 
}}

== Education ==
=== Universities ===
* Okayama
** [[Notre Dame Seishin University]]
** [[Okayama Shoka University]]
** [[Okayama University]]
** [[Okayama University of Science]]
** [[Sanyo Gakuen University]]
**[[Shujitsu University]]
* Kurashiki
** [[Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare]]
** [[Kurashiki Sakuyo University]]
** [[Okayama Gakuin University]]
* Soja
** [[Okayama Prefectural University]]
* Tsuyama
** [[Mimasaka University]]
* Niimi
** Niimi Public University

=== High schools ===
* Okayama
**Kurashiki High School
**Okayama Asahi Senior High School
**[[Okayama Prefectural Takahashi High School|Okayama Takahashi High School]]
**Okayama Ichinomiya Senior High School
**Okayama Hosen Senior High School
**Okayama Joto Senior High School
**Okayama Sakuyo High School<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sakuyo-h.ed.jp/ |title=岡山県作陽高等学校 |website=www.sakuyo-h.ed.jp |access-date=24 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111190411/http://www.sakuyo-h.ed.jp/ |archive-date=11 January 2018}}</ref>
**Okayama Sozan Senior High School

== Transportation ==
[[File:岡山駅 東口 2022.jpg|thumb|[[Okayama Station|JR Okayama Station]]]]
[[File:Okayama Airport 2017-10-29 (38496563031).jpg|thumb|[[Okayama Airport|Okayama Momotarō Airport]]]]
===Rail===
* [[JR West]]
** [[Ako Line]]
** [[Geibi Line]]
** [[Inbi Line]]
** [[Hakubi Line]]
** [[Kibi Line]]
** [[Kishin Line]]
** [[Sanyo Shinkansen]]
** [[Sanyo Line]]
** [[Tsuyama Line]]
** [[Uno Line]]

* JR West and JR Shikoku
** [[Honshi-bisan Line]]
** [[Seto-Ōhashi Line]]
* Chizu Express
* [[Ibara Railway]]
* [[Mizushima Rinkai Railway]]

===Tramways===
* [[Okayama Electric Tramway]]

===Roads===

====Expressways====
* [[Chugoku Expressway]]
* [[Okayama Expressway]]
* [[Sanyo Expressway]]
* Seto Central Expressway
* [[Tottori Expressway]]
* [[Yonago Expressway]]

====National highways====
* Route 2 ([[Osaka]]-[[Kobe]]-[[Himeji]]-Bizen-Okayama-Kurashiki-Asakuchi-[[Onomichi]]-[[Hiroshima]]-[[Shūnan]]-[[Shimonoseki]]-[[Kitakyushu]])
* Route 30 (Okayama-Uno-[[Takamatsu]]
* Route 53 (Okayama-Tsuyama-[[Tottori (city)|Tottori]])
* Route 179
* Route 180 (Okayama-Takahashi-Niimi)
* Route 181 (Tsuyama-Maniwa-[[Yonago]]-[[Yasugi]]-[[Matsue]])
* Route 182
* Route 183
* Route 250 (Okayama-Setouchi-[[Akō, Hyōgo|Ako]]-[[Aioi, Hyōgo|Aioi]]-[[Takasago, Hyōgo|Takasago]]-[[Akashi, Hyōgo|Akashi]])
* Route 313 ([[Fukuyama, Hiroshima|Fukuyama]]-Takahashi-Maniwa-[[Kurayoshi]])
* Route 373
* Route 374
* Route 429
* Route 430
* Route 482 ([[Kyotango]]-[[Toyooka]]-[[Wakasa, Tottori|Wakasa]]-Kagamino-Maniwa-[[Kōfu, Tottori|Kōfu of Tottori]]
* Route 484

===Airport===
* [[Okayama Airport]]

== Culture ==
* [[Bizen ware|Bizen-yaki]] (Bizen pottery)
* Bizen Osafune/Bitchu Aoe swords

===Association with Momotarō legend===
Okayama Prefecture is closely associated with the folklore hero, [[Momotarō]]. This tale is said to have roots in the legendary story of [[Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto]] and Ura which explains that the Prince Ura of Kudara used to live in Kinojo (castle of the devil) and was a cause of trouble for the people living in the village. The emperor's government sent Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto (Momotarō) to defeat Ura. The city of Okayama holds an annual ''Momotarō-matsuri'', or Momotarō Festival.<ref name="nipponika" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Okayama History |url=http://www.okayama-japan.jp/en/history.html |access-date=24 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522182456/http://okayama-japan.jp/en/history.html |archive-date=22 May 2012}}</ref>

===Arts===
* [[Inryō-ji|Inryoji Temple]]
* [[Hayashibara Museum of Art]]
* [[Okayama Orient Museum]]
* [[Okayama Prefectural Museum]]
* [[Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art]]
* [[Okayama Symphony Hall]]
* [[Yumeji Art Museum]]

== Sports ==
[[File:Momotaro Stadium 01.jpg|thumb|[[City Light Stadium]].]]
The sports teams listed below are based in Okayama.

===Football===
* [[Fagiano Okayama FC]] ([[Okayama|Okayama city]])
* [[Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC]] ([[Kurashiki]])

===Volleyball===
* [[Okayama Seagulls]] ([[Okayama|Okayama city]])
===Basketball===
* [[Tryhoop Okayama]] (B3 League, Okayama city){{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

== Tourism ==
[[Image:Okayama Korakuen Garden01.jpg|thumb|right|Okayama Korakuen Park and Okayama Castle]]
[[Image:Joyful Park 01.jpg|thumb|right|Hiruzen Plateau and Hiruzen Joyful Park in Maniwa]]
[[Image:Harbor View Park Hinase Bizen Okayama Pref Japan03bs.jpg|thumb|right|Hinase Island and Seto Inlandsea in Bizen]]
[[Image:Bitchu Matsuyama Casle observatory202111-1.jpg|thumb|right|Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi]]
Some tourist attractions are:
* {{nihongo|Bikan Historical Area|倉敷美観地区|Kurashiki Bikan Chiku}}, Kurashiki
* {{nihongo|Bisei Astronomical Observatory|美星天文台|Bisei Tenmondai}}, Ibara Town (following dissolution of Bisei Town)
* [[Bitchu Matsuyama Castle]], Takahashi
* [[Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland]], Kurashiki
* [[Kakuzan Park]], Tsuyama
* [[Koraku-en]] Japanese garden in Okayama
* [[Ki Castle]], Sōja
* [[Maki-do Cave]], in Niimi
* [[Ohara Museum of Art]], Kurashiki
* [[Okayama Castle]], Okayama
* [[Shizutani School]], Bizen

==Notable people==
* [[Yuko Arimori]] (born 1966), marathon runner<ref>{{cite web |url=http://talent.yahoo.co.jp/pf/detail/pp215263 |title=Yuko Arimori's profile |access-date=2013-05-31 |archive-date=2015-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617020821/http://talent.yahoo.co.jp/pf/detail/pp215263 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Kenji Doihara]] (1883–1948), army officer
* [[Tesshō Genda]] (born 1948), voice actor
* [[Morihiro Hashimoto]] (1977–2017), darts player
* [[Naoki Hoshino]] (1892–1978), politician
* [[Koshi Inaba]] (born 1964), singer
* [[Masaki Kajishima]] (born 1962), creator of ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]''
* [[Shiro Kawase]] (1889–1946), admiral
* [[Sadahiko Miyake]] (1891–1956), general
* [[Chiura Obata]] (1885–1975), artist
* Mori Takashi, former member of ''[[Gentouki]]''
* [[Yōji Takikawa]] (born 1949), pedagogist
* Mutsuo Toi (1917–1938), perpetrator of the [[Tsuyama massacre]]
* [[Inukai Tsuyoshi]] (1855–1932), former [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] of Japan
* [[Jiro Watanabe]] (born 1955), boxer
* [[Takeo Yasuda]] (1889–1964), lieutenant general
* [[Eisuke Yoshiyuki]] (1906–1940), author
* [[Fujii Kaze]] (born 1997), singer
* [[Ni-Ki|Nishimura Riki]], also known as Ni-ki of [[ENHYPEN]] (born 2005), K-pop idol,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beliftlab.com/artist/profile/ENHYPEN |title=ENHYPEN's profile |access-date=2024-01-28 |archive-date=2022-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810111203/https://beliftlab.com/artist/profile/ENHYPEN |url-status=live }}</ref> dancer, singer, rapper
* [[Issei Mamehara]] (born 2002), singer, dancer, member of [[JO1]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan Encyclopedia'']. Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; {{OCLC|58053128}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Okayama prefecture}}
{{Wikivoyage|Okayama (prefecture)|Okayama prefecture}}
* {{Official website|http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/}}
* [http://www.okayama-japan.jp/en/ Official tourism site]
* {{YouTube|user=okayamapref|Official account}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|3794962}}
{{Okayama}}
{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Okayama Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Chūgoku region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]