Okayama Castle (nicknamed Uj? meaning "crow castle") was constructed in 1597 by Ukita Naoie, a Japanese feudal lord. It was destroyed by bombing in 1945 during World War II but reconstructed in 1966.
K?raku-en, known as one of the three best traditional gardens in Japan, lies south of the castle grounds. K?rakuen was constructed by Ikeda Tsunamasa over 14 years, and completed in 1700.
S?gen-ji, a large Buddhist monastery belonging to the Rinzai sect, is located near the center of the city. Several of the abbots of major monasteries in Kyoto are from S?gen-ji
