Category:Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture is located in the **Chūgoku region** of western Honshū, along the Seto Inland Sea. The prefecture is known for its mild climate, fertile plains, and extensive river systems, which have supported agriculture and artisanal production for centuries. Historically, Okayama also lay on key transportation routes that connected the Kansai region with western Japan.

The capital, Okayama City, is home to **Okayama Castle** and **Kōraku-en**, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, reflecting the region’s historical refinement and cultural sophistication. Smaller towns and rural areas retain deep craft traditions linked to everyday life, agriculture, and regional identity.

Culturally, Okayama has long been associated with **durable, practical crafts** and natural materials. The prefecture is especially known for its **Bizen pottery**, one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions, characterized by unglazed clay fired in wood-fired kilns. Okayama is also historically linked with textile production, paper-making, and folk crafts passed down through generations.

Signature Crafts of Okayama Prefecture

• Bizen ware (備前焼) – one of the “Six Ancient Kilns,” known for unglazed, wood-fired stoneware with warm natural surfaces.
• Kurashiki cotton and denim – textiles rooted in the region’s cotton heritage, now internationally recognized in Kurashiki’s denim workshops.
• Handmade washi (和紙) – traditional paper produced in rural communities for calligraphy and craft use.
• Local woodworking and folk craft traditions – shaped by agricultural life and regional resources.