Okayama Castle.

Nicknamed "Crow Castle" for its striking black timber boarding and gilded roof ornaments, Okayama Castle stands as a dramatic, dark contrast to Japan’s typically white fortresses. Though the original 1597 keep was destroyed in World War II, this 1966 reconstruction faithfully replicates the Azuchi-Momoyama exterior while offering a thoroughly modernized interior, complete with elevators and air conditioning. Inside, the six-story museum traces regional feudal history, while the ground floor hosts hands-on Bizen-yaki pottery workshops. For genuine Edo-period architecture, look to the surviving 1620 Tsukimi Yagura (Moon-Viewing Turret) on the grounds. The castle sits along the Asahi River, directly across from the famous Korakuen Garden, making the two an easy double-billing.