Japanese Gardens, Okayama Koraku-en

Located near the Okayama's black castle (known in Japanese as Ujo - "crow castle" - because of its color), Okayama Korakuen is one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, next to the Kenrokuen from Kanazawa and Kairakuen from Mito.

The construction of the garden started in 1687 and took 13 years to complete. Built by Tsuda Nagatada, a vassal of Ikeda Tsunamasa, the garden was a place for entertaining important guests, but regular visitors were also allowed in certain days. In 1884 the garden was given to the Okayama Prefecture and it became a public garden.

This is one of the few Japanese gardens that still looks exactly like in the Edo period. There were a few changes made by several daimyo, but since paintings and documents were available, it was restored to its original aspect.
Here is one of the garden's attractions, the Yatsuhashi Bridge: