Okayama

The glittering capital of the Okayama prefecture and another one of the largest cities in Japan, Okayama was an important city during the Edo Era and continues to be a noble jōkamachi (castle town) till date. Home to another one of the best landscaped gardens in Japan, the Korakuen Garden, Okayama is also a vital transportation hub in the country as this is where the Sanyo Shinkansen meets the only existing rail connection to Japan’s fourth largest island of Shikoku. Yet another striking feature of this destination is the fact that it served as the setting for a popular Japanese fairy tale by the name of Momotaro (Peach Boy), and is therefore loved by both children and adults. To make the most of your day of sightseeing, visiting the all black Okayama Castle (Crow Castle) is imperative, and so is cycling around the quaint Kibi Plain.
As mentioned before, the Okayama station is a vital meeting point for the Sanyo Shinkansen/JR Tokaido line and you could therefore take a train from Kyoto that takes roughly an hour to get you to your final destination. You would ideally have to pay around 7000 Yen for a one way trip if you do not possess a JR Pass. Alternatively, you could take a Nozomi Train to Okayama Station, which unfortunately, does not come under the purview of the Japan Rail Pass.