Okayama is probably most easily recognized by tourists as the largest stopover between Kobe and Hiroshima, and sort of a gateway to Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea. There is little to do there that is explicitly destination-worthy which, in a word, is wonderful. In late summer or early fall you can find some of the most expensive and mind-bendingly delicious grapes grown anywhere around Japan - or earlier in the Summer, peaches. The riverside garden and park next to the ebony-facade castle has a rental spot for paddle boats that feels more Seattle than Kansai. There is a sort of relaxed, local vibe that permeates everything.
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Sushi En sits behind an almost entirely unmarked entrance (aside from a small lit "縁") in a neighborhood that seems to be mostly populated with host/hostess clubs and is steps away from a bar that appears to inexplicably be gorilla-themed. I guess this is sort of unassuming and charming all at once. The sushi here, however, rivals top shops throughout Japan in both precision and quality, with the added twist that nearly all the ingredients are sourced locally in the Setouchi area. It was no surprise to me that it is one of the highest Tabelog-ranked sushiya in the region. Less