Okayama Station, located in Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is the main railway station operated by JR West (West Japan Railway Company) and serves as the transportation hub of the city. Adjacent to the station is the Okayama Electric Tramway's Okayama-Ekimae Stop, which provides convenient transfers to city streetcars. Not only is Okayama Station the central station of Okayama Prefecture, but it is also one of the most important rail transportation hubs in the Chugoku–Shikoku region.
The station is served by all operating Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen trains and limited express trains bound for Shikoku and San'in regions. It connects a total of eight conventional JR lines: Sanyo Main Line, Hakubi Line, Seto-Ohashi Line, Uno Line, Tsuyama Line, Kibi Line, Ako Line, as well as Okayama Electric Tramway’s Higashiyama Line and Seikibashi Line, making it a highly integrated and wide-reaching transit hub.
Although its daily average passenger count is slightly lower than Hiroshima Station, Okayama Station is a vital node for travelers heading to and from Shikoku and San’in, making it highly functional and significant. It is also the only station in Japan where the overnight sleeper train "Sunrise Seto/Izumo" is coupled and decoupled regularly.
The station features the shopping complex Sun Station Terrace Okayama (locally known as “Sansute Okayama”), offering a wide range of shopping and dining options. To the east of the station lies the Okayama Ichibangai underground shopping street, which connects directly via underground passage to AEON MALL Okayama, one of the largest shopping malls in western Japan. The west exit leads to key facilities such as the Okayama City Museum, Okayama Convention Center, and the Okayama Medical Association Hall via a pedestrian overpass.
Visitors can conveniently reach Omotecho, the city's main shopping street, by taking either the streetcar or city buses. At the east entrance of the station stands the statue of Momotaro, symbolizing Okayama, which attracts many tourists who stop by for photos.
In summary, Okayama Station is not only the gateway to Okayama City, but also a multifunctional hub that combines transportation, shopping, tourism, and urban amenities—making it an ideal starting point for travelers exploring the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
