Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture, located in the Chūgoku region of western Japan. Founded on June 1, 1889, the city serves as a primary urban center with an estimated population of 700,940 as of February 2023. It covers a total area of 789.95 square kilometres with a population density of approximately 890 people per km2.
The city is the core of the Okayama metropolitan area, which contains the largest urban employment zone in the Chūgoku region. It functions as a significant regional hub for commerce and labor within western Japan.