A tour of modern and contemporary architecture in Okayama City- from masters of modernist architecture to famous contemporary architects -

Okayama Prefecture Official Tourism Site

• Table of contents
• Okayama Prefecture Office Building
• Kitchen Horiguchi
• Okayama Shinkin Bank Uchisange Square
• Hayashibara Museum of Art
• Okayama City Orient Museum
• Breakthrough (Taro Okamoto)
• Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
• Okayama Prefecture Tenjinyama Culture Plaza
• Yumeji Art Museum
• Conclusion
• Map of the facilities introduced

Okayama Prefecture Office Building

The Okayama Prefecture Office Building was built in 1957 and was designed by Kunio Maekawa, one of Japan's leading postwar architects. Earthquake-resistance renovations were completed in 2024, and the building has been registered as a national tangible cultural property as a building that clearly displays the characteristics of postwar modernist architecture. The Maekawa Architecture and Prefectural Office Building Gallery is located on the first floor of the main building, and is open to the public on opening days.

A distinctive feature of this building is the presence of a "pilotis" in the middle of the facade, which gives the building an open space despite its horizontal wall-like design. This is a technique introduced by Maekawa's mentor, Le Corbusier, as an element of modern architecture, and similar features can be seen in the Kurashiki City(now Kurashiki City Museum of Art) and Kagawa Prefecture Government Building, both of which were designed by his student, Kenzo Tange, in the same period. At a time when prefectural offices were perceived as somewhat authoritarian and closed off compared to city and town halls, you can sense the desire of our predecessors to create a government building that was more open to the people of the prefecture.

Passing through the pilotis, you will come to an open courtyard known as the Sunken Garden. The courtyard is home to a monument called "Ring," created by Yasuhide Kobashi, a sculptor from Kurashiki City. It was removed in 2021 for earthquake-resistance construction work, but its striking design drew many requests for its reinstallation, and it was reinstalled in 2023.

If you go down the stairs from the courtyard, you will find Okayama Hare no Kuni Shokudo in the basement, which was renovated and reopened in 2024. The day we visited was a holiday, so it was closed, but it is open on weekdays from 11:00 to 18:00 and is open to the public. [Okayama Hare no Kuni Shokudo]

Address: Okayama Prefecture Prefectural Government Office Kita Ward , 2-4-6 Uchisange ku, Okayama City City , Okayama Prefecture, 1st basement floor

TEL: 086-233-0080

Business hours: 11:00-18:00 (last order 17:30)

Holidays: Closed days

Parking: Available *1 hour free

The handrails on these stairs are made of precast concrete, which was pre-fabricated in a factory and then installed on-site. The curved design is an ingenious attempt to soften the cold texture of the concrete.

During the Okayama Art Summit, an international contemporary art exhibition held in 2016, numerous messages left by Kunio Maekawa were inscribed on the barricade in the front yard, which was under construction. Although some of the expressions may not be appropriate for today's society, the messages were written in their original form to convey his thoughts to future generations.

Okayama Prefecture Government Office: Address: 2-4-6 Uchisange , Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture

TEL: 086-226-7499 ( Okayama Prefecture Building Guidance Division, Building Inspection Section)

Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays (exterior and courtyard tours are available)

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Kitchen Horiguchi

A recommended spot for lunch is the Western restaurant Kitchen Horiguchi, located just to the right of the Okayama Prefectural Office, with the exposed concrete West Building (completed in 1971) on your left.

This chic restaurant is located on the first floor of a retro building and has been known as a popular restaurant with long lines since it opened in 2015.

The writer's recommendation is the generously portioned fried chicken. It is a dish that is popular with both men and women, as it comes with plenty of vegetables.

[Kitchen Horiguchi] Address: 1F Uchisange F Mansion, 2-5-2 Uchisange , Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward

TEL: 086-206-3701

Opening hours: 11:00 - closes when sold out

Closed: Sundays, public holidays, and the first Monday of the month

Parking: None (use nearby paid parking) *Payment by cash only

Kitchen Horiguchi | Official Instagram

Okayama Shinkin Bank Uchisange Square

This modern building with exposed concrete stands about a five-minute walk from the Okayama Prefectural Government Office, next to the Renaiss Hall (former Okayama branch of the Bank of Japan). Designed by Tadao Ando, ​​a world-renowned Japanese architect, it was built in 2013 on the site of the birthplace of Okayama Shinkin Bank to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its founding. Tours of the building are available on business days.

Okayama Shinkin Bank Uchisange Square Address: 1-7-1 Uchisange, Kita Ward, Okayama City Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-223-1710

Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays

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Hayashibara Museum of Art

The Hayashibara Museum of Art was designed by Kunio Maekawa, who also designed the Okayama Prefecture Government Office, and opened as the Okayama Museum of Art in 1963. It is known for its collection, including swords designated as national treasures.

Upon entering the impressive gate, you will see a building designed to blend in with the Ishigaki in front of you, harmonizing beautifully with the surrounding landscape.

It has also been used as one of the venues for the Okayama Art Exchange, which has been held every three years since 2016 (the photo is from 2016).

Hayashibara Museum of Art : Address: 2-7-15 Marunouchi, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward

TEL: 086-223-1733 (Hayashibara Museum of Art)

Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, and exhibition changeover periods

Parking: Available

Hayashibara Museum of Art

2-7-15 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-0823

Opened in 1963. The museum's main collection includes daimyo tools inherited from the Ikeda family, former feudal lords of Okayama, and the collection of the late Ichiro Hayashibara. Contains approximately 9,000 items. It also houses many national treasures and important cultural properties. We hold original planned exhibitions and special exhibitions 5 to 6 times a year. [About the Hayashibara Museum of Art building] This is the first art museum building for Kunio Maekawa, who previously worked on the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Overcooked bricks are used for the exterior walls of the exhibition building. Although they are irregular in shape and color, they have a texture and harmonize with the greenery of the surrounding trees. Architect/Year of completion: Kunio Maekawa/1963 Regarding tours and photography: Photography is not allowed in the exhibition room.

Okayama City Orient Museum

Opened in 1979, this museum houses artworks from the ancient Orient and was designed by architect Shinichi Okada, who has worked on many excellent public buildings, including the Supreme Court. The stone exterior, reminiscent of ancient ruins, is similar to his masterpiece, the Supreme Court, but the natural light coming in from the large windows gives the building a somewhat open atmosphere. This museum is also used as one of the venues for the Okayama Art Summit.

[Okayama City Orient Museum]

Address: 9-31 Tenjincho , Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture

TEL: 086-232-3636

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays (December 28th to January 4th), and during exhibition changeovers (as needed)

Parking: None

Okayama Orient Museum

9-31 Tenjin-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-0814

Housed in a building with an exterior reminiscent of an ancient Iraqi temple, it is a specialized museum that introduces Oriental culture that originated in Mesopotamian civilization and reached the Islamic era. It has a collection of approximately 5,000 excavated artifacts and works of art such as stone tools dating back 50,000 years. [About the building of Okayama Orient Museum of Art] The only public art museum in Japan that specializes in ancient oriental art. The three large atriums that appear inside the building, which look like stacked boxes, incorporate elements of Oriental architecture that architect Shinichi Okada experienced during his research trips throughout West Asia. Unusually for an art museum, natural light is incorporated in various ways, and the soft light falling from the top lights (lighting windows) creates a rich and atmospheric space. Regarding tours and photography: Photography is not allowed in the exhibition room.

Breakthrough (Taro Okamoto)

Between the Okayama City Oriental Museum and the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art is the RSK Sanyo Broadcasting building, which moved to a new building in 2021. One place you should definitely stop by is this avant-garde ceramic mural at the outdoor entrance. It was created by Taro Okamoto, one of Japan's leading postwar artists who left behind many works, including the Tower of the Sun. It was originally installed at JR Okayama Station to commemorate the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama in 1972. It was relocated here in conjunction with the renovation of JR Okayama Station and the relocation of Sanyo Broadcasting to its new building.

[RSK Sanyo Broadcasting]

Address: 9-24 Tenjincho , Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture

* "Leap Forward" is an outdoor work and is open to the public.

Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

This art museum opened in 1988 next to the Okayama Prefecture Tenjinyama Cultural Plaza and hosts a variety of fascinating special exhibitions throughout the year. Like the nearby Okayama City Orient Museum, it was designed by Shinichi Okada and has a unified exterior.

Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art: Address: 8-48 Tenjincho , Kita Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture

TEL: 086-225-4800

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, and during exhibition changeovers

Parking: Available

Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art

8-48 Tenjin-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-0814

In addition to collecting and displaying outstanding works of art related to the local area, we also hold exhibitions and workshops that introduce domestic and foreign artistic activities. [About the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art building] This art museum is located on a corner of Mt. Tenjin where Okayama Castle once stood. While the Okayama Orient Museum, designed by the same designer, Mr. Okada, represents architecture through a collection of walls, the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art represents architecture through a collection of blocks. The top lights visible from the stairs leading to the second floor exhibition hall illuminate the Art Forum (indoor plaza) with soft light similar to sunlight filtering through the trees. Architect/Year of completion: Shinichi Okada/1987 Regarding tours and photography: Photography is not allowed in the exhibition room.

Okayama Prefecture Tenjinyama Culture Plaza

It opened in 1962 as the Okayama Prefecture Prefectural Cultural Center, and is currently used primarily as a base for artistic and cultural activities for the prefecture's residents.

Like the Okayama Prefecture Office and Hayashibara Museum of Art, this building was designed by Kunio Maekawa, and features modernist architecture built around 1960 can be seen throughout.

The "Bird Pillar" is a relief that runs through the atrium of the building, which is built to jut out from the slope of the mountain. It is 18 meters high and represents life with the motif of a bird soaring from the sea into the sky (excerpt from the leaflet).

The first floor piloti is compact yet brightly colored, giving it an open feel.

A floating staircase and lobby lighting that evokes the image of a starry sky.

Additionally, at the Cultural Information Center inside the museum, you can watch videos and read reference books about the building.

[Okayama Prefecture Tenjinyama Culture Plaza]

Address: 8-54 Tenjincho , Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture

TEL: 086-226-5005

Closed: Mondays, New Year's holidays (December 28th to January 4th)

Parking: Available

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Yumeji Art Museum

Located a 10-minute walk from the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art and just across the bridge from the main gate of Okayama Korakuen Garden , this museum features a distinctive red brick exterior. Since its opening in 1984, it has been run by the Ryobi Cultural Promotion Foundation and exhibits works by Takehisa Yumeji, a Japanese painter from Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture , who is a representative of Taisho Romanticism.

The building was designed by Shizutaro Urabe, an architect from Kurashiki who has left behind many buildings that are deeply rooted in the city of Kurashiki , such as Kurashiki Ivy Square and Kurashiki City . The elegant building, made using brick, which is Urabe's specialty, blends in with the landscape along the Asahikawa.

Yumeji Art Museum : Address: 2-1-32 Hama , Naka Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-271-1000

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, and during exhibition changeovers

Parking: Available

Yumeji Local Art Museum Main Building

703-8256 2-1-32 Hama, Naka-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

This is an art museum dedicated to Yumeji Takehisa, a poet, painter, and pioneer of designer who was born in Okayama and represents the Taisho Romantic period. This small facility located right next to Korakuen is filled with adorable art of sad-looking women in kimonos and black cats. Exhibits include magazine illustrations, watercolors, woodblock prints, and folding screens. It will give you something you can read in English, so you won't miss out on the explanations. Here, there is ``Kuronosuke'' who looks exactly like the black cat Yumeji drew. Kuronosuke goes to work whenever he wants, so if you want to meet him, please check his work status on Instagram. Next door there is a cozy cafe and a great museum shop. At the cafe, in addition to lunch menus such as Chiya beef curry made with Okayama ingredients, sweets such as Yumeji's beloved baked confectionery ``Galbarji'' are also popular. The shop also has a wide variety of original goods that can only be purchased here.

Conclusion

What did you think of the many modern and contemporary buildings scattered along the Asahikawa from the Okayama Prefectural Office? You can easily walk around in about an hour, but we also recommend taking your time and enjoying the exhibits at each facility. Also, if you combine your visit with a visit to Okayama Korakuen Garden or Okayama Castle , you can return to the starting point of the Okayama Prefecture Office, so it might be a good idea to combine your visit with these.

Map of the facilities introduced

Map of the facilities introduced