Introducing the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle

As a study for reporting on travel, I'll introduce the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle.
Many people go by streetcar, but it's a walkable distance. About 20-30 minutes.
A bit less than 2 kilometers? (Google Maps route search shows 1.8km)
JR Okayama Station. The Shinkansen and conventional lines are in the same station. The station facility "Sansute" is well-equipped. Convenient for travelers for souvenirs and meals.
There's also a supermarket, Muji, bookstore, etc., and I think many people use it regularly.

Exiting the east exit, you can see Takashimaya on the right and Bic Camera on the left. (Incidentally, the west exit has ANA Hotel and a highway bus terminal.) The station square often has events. In the photo, it's small and hard to see, but there's a statue of Momotaro and his companions, and a fountain with an unusual shape. Someone uploaded a video.

Okayama Station Square Fountain (YouTube)

The streetcar stop at Okayama Station. There are 2 lines: "Higashiyama Line" and "Seikibashi Line." When going to the castle, take the "Higashiyama Line." The one in front is the Seikibashi Line with the new streetcar "MOMO." Okayama's streetcars have various trains like this.

Momotaro-dori. Bic Camera on the left, streetcar on the right. Walk straight on this Momotaro-dori to the castle.

The sidewalk is wide and tiled, making it easy to walk. You should watch out for bicycles.

Walking for a while, you cross Nishikawa Greenway Park, a park that continues along a river. There's a fountain on the left. On the opposite side after crossing the road, there's a police box.

You come to a large intersection called Yanagawa. About halfway between the castle and the station.

Approaching the streetcar "Joka" stop. There's an underground parking lot, and you can see Okayama Symphony Hall with a lavender-colored lower structure.

On the left is "Tenjin Ramen," an old-fashioned ramen shop typical of Okayama. I haven't eaten there yet. It seems to be open until around 2:30 PM, so there aren't many chances to eat.

The streetcar "Joka" stop and Okayama Symphony Hall. If you take the streetcar to the castle, get off at this stop. I think it was 100 yen from the station.

A slight slope from Joka to the castle. There's a stone monument saying "Crow Castle Road." Okayama Castle is also called "Crow Castle" (Ujo).

Going up "Crow Castle Road" a bit, you come to a park-like entrance with Korakuen on the left and the castle on the right. Just a bit more.

The moat is the Asahi River. Crossing the bridge over that river leads to Korakuen.

It's characterized by black lacquered weatherboards. So the overall impression is of a black castle. This castle also seems to have burned in the war, so it's made of concrete.

The stone walls are beautiful because islands in the Seto Inland Sea, which is a source of stone, were territories or nearby.

The beauty of the stone walls is recommended. Also, it's good that the castle isn't over-maintained. Of course, Korakuen can be enjoyed in each season, so I definitely want to visit in autumn too.