Onomichi or Okayama

Hello,

I am planning to visit Japan on August for my 5th time, around 8th of August I have to choose among Onomichi or Okayama.

I have been to Chuugoku before, mainly Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Tottori city and Matsue and Izumo but never to any of those 2.

As for Okayama, I know there's a famous garden, I'm not superfan of gardens, but is one of the best in Japan, previously I've been to Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, Yuushien in Shimane prefecture and Ryoan-ji, besides the garden there's a route by bike which I don't know if it's worth , I think is called Kibi plains.

As for Onomichi, it's because of a videogame that I would consider it (Ryuu ga gotoku 6) and because of the Seto inland sea and I've heard there's a nice shotengai.

So please help me choose please and give me reasons if possible to choose one among the other.

Thanks in advance

I've only been to Okayama.
Personally, I like Kenrokuen much better than Korakuen.
If you go to Okayama, I recommend Kurashiki rather than Okayama City.
I have only been to Kibitsu-jinja Shrine, but it has a relaxed atmosphere and there are not many tourists.
I like cycling, so I ride a bike even in summer, but I don't recommend summer cycling to people who don't usually ride.
It's quite hot, so if you don't drink a lot of water, you may get heatstroke. There are many rice fields, so there may not be many vending machines, so please be careful.
Trains and buses are air-conditioned, so there is no burden on the body even in summer.
There are many shops in Kurashiki, so if it is hot, you can go into the shops and museums to cool down.
I highly recommend the Ohara Museum of Art.
I've never been to Bitchu-Takamatsu Castle or Takahashi, but they look good too, but it seems hot to walk in summer.

I've been to both multiple times. Well first, don't decide on going to a place because of a video game. The main thing with Onomichi is the temple tour - which takes a fair amount of time and it is rather easy to get lost among the narrow paths between temples. The cat alley is another place within you can see. One of the other nice places in Onomichi is really off the radar - go to one of the smaller islands by ferry and visit the Kosanji Temple - you'll find why a lot of people who go there call it a "Buddhist Disneyland".
https://youtu.be/97Q5EjEOXI8

Okayama offers a lot more variety, and Korakuen is a very beautiful garden and definitely worth seeing. The Handayama Botanical Garden is not too far away and quite nice as well, particularly in cherry blossom season. There is also Okayama Castle, recently renovated, but it is really like Osaka Castle - a modern museum with a castle facade. You could go to the Kibi Plain or Kurashiki instead if you like.

Cycling in August can be too hot. Itfs not the temperature (probably around 30-33C) but the humidity that makes it unbearable unless you are used to such kind of climate.

If you want to cycle though, both are great places.
Kibi plain: http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/day-45-kibi-plain-and-k...
Shimanami Kaido (starting in Onomichi): http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/day-48-shimanamikaido-p...

If it wasn't August I'd 100% recommend the Shimanami Kaido cycle route from Onomichi-Imabari but in August that can be really tough with the heat/humidity. There are electric bikes available at the Giant store in Onomichi - but it will still be hot! In Onomichi I recommend the Setouchi SeaPlane Tour for a fabulous tour/views throughout the islands - but only if you can share the costs with others and it's a fine day. I've done it a couple of times - awesome! The Setouchi Sea is stunning in fine weather - the cobalt blue sky, the bold green foliage of the islands and the incredible azure blue of the sea with its many huge whirlpools.

i also did both, but i personally liked onomichi more.

okayama has the nice garden and a quite boring castle and is more of a big city.

onomichi is nice for walking especially if you do the full temple tour, which is a beautiful stroll with a lots of small temples. additionally you will see modern architecture at the top of the hill (i highly recommend not to take the cable car, but walk upwards in order so see the "cat path"). also from a culinary point onomichi has the famous "onomichi ramen", made from high quality small fish from tomonoura and pork back fat - if you are into food.

also agree that kurashiki museum is great as third option, even if kurashiki iteself is super crowded and overtouristic.

I have been to both cities. I would say this depends on your interests. Okayama has a (rebuilt) castle with a nice view of the city and the garden. The garden is awesome.
Onomichi is a smaller town, with amazing views. The temple walk is really enjoyable (and the cats are so cute!). I personnally prefered Onomichi because it was more relaxed and closer to seto inland sea islands. I rented a bike and explored nearby islands.

I've also done most of the above (including Kurashiki) and they all offer something a bit different.

Okayama is nice and there are also some reasonable museums to visit if it's raining and you want to do something a bit different. I also found the garden to be a bit different than some of the others in Japan.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2516
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1407

Kurashiki is a pretty little town that is quite nice to walk around at night. It's only 20 minutes by train from Okayama

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1414

The Kibi Plain is also a nice bike ride but would be hot in summer

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1411

Inujima Art Park is a cool diversion not too far from this location.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1410

I also enjoyed Bitsu-Takahashi which is more inland and might not be as hot

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1413

Onomichi is an interesting one. I did not think much of it from a temple perspective - as they are just general temples one after the often with sometimes spectacular views. For a person who has not visited Japan extensively - I would definitely see the charm of this walk. I'd consider it to be a relaxing day if it was completed. For people who have visited Japan extensively - I'd expect that a persons opinion would probably be more extreme. They'd either love it (it also feels a bit gritty which I started to like only a few years ago) or find it unimpressive.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1415

If it was me and I had a bit of time - I'd wait until a few days before and decide what I wanted to do depending of the weather, energy levels and interest at the time.

Sorry guys,

I did not say, I've been in Kurashiki and also did Shimanami Kaido back in 2016 Spring. But with the explanations you said I'd go then Onomichi, I don't see myself riding bike during summer.

As someone may have already answered, here are the places that appear in "Ryuu ga gotoku 6".
https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/six/map/

These articles may also be helpful for your trip.
https://kitsuneko-style.com/seichijyunrei_onomichi_ryuugagotoku/
https://ameblo.jp/mjm560/entry-12334792576.html
https://youtu.be/BPFrMJ78fIo?si=atvlvJpSNViXqFAk
https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/six/adventure/adventure01/

Personally, I think of Okayama as a great place to stay (but not really to sightsee), and Onomichi as a great place for a day trip (if it isnft raining). I hate to say it, but I think of Korakuen as a place to go if I canft think of anything better to do. It isnft a bad garden, but in my opinion it doesnft even come close to gone of the best in Japanh level. I havenft been to Kibitsu Shrine yet but it looks very interesting (on my list for my next trip). If you are already in Okayama it is a short and cheap train ride to get there.

In Onomichi, you can spare yourself a lot of perspiration by taking the ropeway to Senkoji. The views up there are great, the temple is fairly interesting, and itfs a nice walk down. Doing the entire temple walk is not something I would undertake in the summer. I really liked the shotengai. It has some new, trendy places in it but in a sense is a throwback to earlier days (as in the latter part of the Showa era). I had a great seafood teishoku lunch there in an old-style shokudo.

I have visited Onomichi as a relaxed day trip from Okayama, but round-trip tickets for the fastest way to get there (involving the shinkansen to Fukuyama) get pretty pricey without a rail pass. The nationwide JR pass has become too expensive for most peoplefs itineraries, but some of the regional passes cover both cities and are still a relative bargain.