Okayama is the prefecture but is also the main station name in the prefecture (bullet train station name too.)
For me, you can’t go to Okayama without visiting beautiful Kurashiki – BUT – if you’d prefer to stay in a more major city than Kurashiki or just want some kid-friendly meal suggestions in downtown Okayama – here are my suggestions.
The main tourist attraction in Okayama is Okayama Castle.
You can also get to Hiroshima easily from Okayama on the bullet train or a local express train.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
WHERE TO STAY IN OKAYAMA WITH KIDS
Okayama Koraku Hotel
Some rooms can sleep up to 4 people and there are also two connecting rooms.
This hotel is just 5 minutes walk from Okayama Station ( or 6 mins in a taxi/ approx 800 yen.). There are microwaves for guests to use on every second floor and an in-house coin laundry on floor 7.
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
WHERE TO EAT IN OKAYAMA WITH KIDS?
Okayama is the closest “big city” near Kurashiki (also the home to the closest bullet train stop to Kurashiki) and is 30 mins away by train.
If you find yourself here and are looking for something to eat – I recommend visiting Alara Curry (11 mins walk from Okayama Station.)
Alara Curry serves Japanese curry and desserts – also wine and cocktails.
I recommend trying a retro melon soda here. You can make reservations or try your luck with a walk in.
I would budget around 2000 yen for an adult meal here. Alara Curry accept most major credit cards.
Some parts of the restaurant do allow smoking.
ALARA CURRY, OKAYAMA
OPEN 6PM-5AM
A HEARTY MEAL WITH ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAD OR RICE!
A fabulous lunch or dinner option for kids (and parents) who want a really hearty meal,I recommend Bakery & Restaurant Saint Marc.
This is a restaurant where you order your meal and also enjoy all you can eat bread (or switch bread for rice if you prefer!)
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. They have a place to store your stroller while you dine.
There is also a kid’s menu that includes options like a kid’s Japanese curry, macaroni gratin or children’s doria with potato wedges, broccoli and tomatoes, mini hamburgers served with wedges and salad and also a kid’s bento plate that has a piece of chicken, a burger patty, some broccoli, tomato and corn with wedges with some small jellies. Kids meals are all under 1000 yen.
The meals for adults are mostly steaks and hamburger steaks served on sizzling hot plates or pastas or salads and main dishes can come as an all you can eat bread or rice set. You can also pay a few hundred yen extra and make use of the all-you-can-drink soft drink and juice bar.
To eat here for lunch and dinner time I would budget 2000 yen per adult.
This restaurant is 5 mins walk from Okayama Station. It does have nice views from the restaurant too.
See photos of how big and lovely this restaurant is here.
An example of a kid’s meal at Bakery & Table Restaurant Saint Marc
BAKERY & RESTAURANT SAINT MARC, AEON MALL OKAYAMA
岡山県北区下石井1-2-1 イオンモール岡山 6F
6TH FLOOR, AEON MALL OKAYAMA, 1-2-1 SHIMOISHII, KITA-KU, OKAYAMA
OPEN 11AM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM
and in the same mall as Saint Marc (but on the 7th floor) is casual tonkatsu restaurant Tonkatsu Wako. They have high chairs here. They also accept most major credit cards. Walk ins only. See the full Tonkatsu Wako menu in English here. And the adorable kids menu plates here. Each kids meal comes with a small toy.
TONKATSU WAKO, AEON MALL OKAYAMA
岡山県北区下石井1-2-1 イオンモール岡山 6F
6TH FLOOR, AEON MALL OKAYAMA, 1-2-1 SHIMOISHII, KITA-KU, OKAYAMA
OPEN 11AM-10PM
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
