Okazaki
Introduction
Okazaki is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It sits within a total area of roughly 387 square kilometres, and its population is spread across the city at a density of about 999 persons per square kilometre.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know that Okazaki's local tourist association maintains a guide site, though it is written in Japanese and relies on integrated machine translation to serve visitors who don't read the language. Plan on consulting it with that limitation in mind, and expect translated phrasing to be rough in places rather than polished English.Getting there
Okazaki is served by three train stations, each useful for different parts of the city. JR Okazaki station, on the Tokaido Main Line, sits in the southern part of the city, close to the Yamasa Institute, and is where you can pick up the Aichi Loop Line for Toyota. Higashi-Okazaki, on the private Meitetsu Line, is in the central part of the city and is the most convenient station for the main tourist sites, including Okazaki Castle, Rokusho Jinja, Iga Hachimangu and Daijuji temple; it also connects directly to Chubu Centrair International Airport. Naka-Okazaki, on the Aichi Loop Line, is an alternative approach to Okazaki Castle and the adjacent Ieyasu Museum in Okazaki Park, with the castle an easy walk from the station. From Tokyo, the easiest route by train is to take a shinkansen to the transit hub in Nagoya, then backtrack to Okazaki. Tokaido Main Line trains reach Okazaki from Nagoya in about half an hour, and from Toyohashi in about twenty minutes by shin-kaisoku. Meitetsu trains reach Higashi-Okazaki from Nagoya in around forty minutes, and from Toyohashi in about twenty-five minutes by kyuko; faster Meitetsu "Myu" trains shorten the run for an added surcharge. The Japan Rail Pass covers the routes above except the Meitetsu and Aichi Loop Line trains.Getting around
Okazaki has no metro or tram network, so you'll get around by rail, bus, bicycle or on foot. The rail system splits between two networks serving different parts of the city. Higashi-Okazaki Station, on the private Meitetsu line, puts you in the central area and is the most convenient station for the main sights, including Okazaki Castle, Rokusho Jinja, Iga Hachimangu and Daijuji temple. JR Okazaki Station, on the Tokaido Main Line, serves the southern part of the city near the Yamasa Institute, and is where you connect to the Aichi Loop Line toward Toyota. Naka-Okazaki Station on the Aichi Loop Line offers an alternative approach to Okazaki Castle and the adjacent Ieyasu Museum in Okazaki Park; take the Tokaido Main Line to Okazaki, change to the Loop Line, and walk to the castle. If you're arriving from Chubu Centrair International Airport, the Meitetsu line connects directly to Higashi-Okazaki, making it the natural choice if you're heading straight to the castle area. Note that the Japan Rail Pass covers JR trains but not Meitetsu services or the Aichi Loop Line, so budget for separate tickets on those.
Buses are extensive, run by a mix of operators including Meitetsu and JR buses, but they're difficult to use unless you can speak and read some Japanese, so treat them as a fallback rather than a primary way to get around. The central and southern parts of the city are fairly flat, which makes them ideal for exploring by bicycle. Walking also works well: the cluster of sights around Okazaki Park, including the castle and the Ieyasu Museum, is an easy walk from Naka-Okazaki Station, and the central sights near Higashi-Okazaki Station are convenient on foot from that station.
Where to stay
Okazaki has no luxury hotel, so plan for comfortable mid-range or business accommodation. The Okazaki New Grand Hotel sits close to the castle and is the most comfortable option in the city, with facilities at roughly three-star standard. If you prefer a business hotel, the Okazaki Dai-ichi Hotel stands next to the Sugo river near the castle, about five minutes on foot from Higashi Okazaki station, with several good restaurants and bars in the surrounding streets.
- Okazaki New Grand Hotel — close to the castle, the city's most comfortable stay, around three-star facilities
- Okazaki Dai-ichi Hotel — business hotel by the Sugo river near the castle, five minutes' walk from Higashi Okazaki station, dining and bars nearby
- Other business hotels — several more cluster near the castle
Food & drink
For a small city, Okazaki has a decent spread of places to eat, though you should be ready for a language barrier in several of them. Near the Yamasa Institute you'll find Kitsutsuki, a small, quiet and fairly cheap coffee shop whose curry and rice is a highlight; the menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English. Also within walking distance is Beverly Hills, a coffee lounge with a serene atmosphere and a pricier but delicious menu, plus a wide range of cakes, cookies and other sweets sold gift-wrapped — handy if you need a present. Its menu is Japanese-only too. If you'd rather not wrestle with a menu, head for the Indian and Nepali options. Maya Indian and Nepali restaurant sits in Onishi-cho, Higashi Okazaki, a few minutes' walk from Uniqlo in front of FamilyMart, and serves plenty of curry and all types of naan, with takeout available. Welcome Nepal, halfway between Higashi-Okazaki Station and Aeon Mall, offers Nepalese and Indian cuisine in a nice atmosphere at reasonable prices, with curry spiciness graded from mild to very spicy and particularly good naan — and, unusually for the city, English-speaking staff and menus. For something different, Peppers near Higashi Okazaki is a tex-mex spot with tacos, quesadillas and wraps at fairly inexpensive prices, though again the menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English.What to see and do
Okazaki Castle anchors the city's sightseeing, set within a park dotted with statues, including a bronze figure of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and known as a spot to view cherry blossoms in April. The castle is a short walk from Okazaki Koen-mae Station on the Meitetsu Main Line or Naka-okazaki Station on the Aichi Loop Line. Beyond the castle grounds, you can visit Takisan Temple, built in the 7th century, along with the adjoining Takisan Toshogu shrine, which is counted among the top three Toshogu shrines in Japan alongside Nikko and Kunozan. West of the castle near the Yahagi river, you can join a Hatchō Miso tour: the old tile-roofed buildings are heritage listed, one company has been a family business for 18 generations, and tours run every 30 minutes with free samples. South of the Aeon shopping mall, several burial mounds from the Kofun period remain visible at the Toyama Kofun archaeological site, and Iga Hachimangu Shrine is another worthwhile stop. Okazaki's festival calendar is a major draw. The large fireworks festival, which people come from all over Japan to see, is held annually on the first Saturday in August in the area surrounding Okazaki Castle. Each February, on the Saturday closest to the lunar calendar New Year, Takisan Temple hosts a fire festival in its main hall.Festivals & events
Okazaki's festival calendar is anchored by two very different spectacles. In February, the fire festival brings a dramatic winter event to the city, while August is given over to a fireworks festival that lights up the summer sky.Three days in Okazaki
Day one: Arrive in Okazaki and get your bearings. The city sits in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and is easy to reach by train. JR Okazaki is on the Tokaido Main Line, with connections from Tokyo, Nagoya and Toyohashi, and the Meitetsu Line also serves the area. If you are coming from Chubu Centrair International Airport, plan your route in advance. A Japan Rail Pass can help with the JR portions of your journey. Once settled, walk the central streets and get a feel for the layout before a full day of sightseeing.
Day two: Focus on the history. Okazaki Castle and the surrounding Okazaki Park are the heart of the city, and the Ieyasu Museum sits within the park. Rokusho Jinja, Iga Hachimangu and Daijuji are all worth visiting, and each tells you something about the area's past. Note that some information is in Japanese, so carry a phrasebook or translation app if your Japanese is limited. In the evening, explore the Naka district for food and a sense of local life.
Day three: Branch out. The Aichi Loop Line connects Okazaki with Toyota and other parts of the prefecture, and the Meitetsu network gives you further options. Buses and walking will cover most of what you want to see in town. If you have time before your departure, revisit a favourite spot or simply wander. The Okazaki New Grand is a local landmark you may pass. From Okazaki Station, whether JR or Meitetsu, you can plan your onward journey with ease.