By Bryce Marley-Jarrett
When most tourists head to the south of Japan, normally they hit up Kyoto and Hiroshima. However, there are some amazing places in between them that are often completely looked over by foreign tourists, and they are some of the most beautiful areas in Japan. Today we are showing you the town of Kurashiki, which lies just north of Hiroshima, in the Okayama prefecture. This quaint town has a historic canal district that sweeps you into the Edo period of Japan.
The Okayama Prefecture is located in Chugoku region of southern Japan. Located less than an hour north of Hiroshima by shinkansen. Kurashiki is a small regional town with one of the most beautiful historic districts in Japan.
Just a short walk from Kurashiki Station and you’ll arrive at the Canal District. Strolling through the streets, surrounded by old store houses and the canals, you can’t help but feel like you’ve been transported back to the Edo period in Japan. The merchant homes and storehouses that line the canals (called kura, which is where the city takes its name from), with their distinct white-walled, black tiled roofs were once used to store the rice that was transported by boats and barges traversing the canal.
During Edo times, rice was the most important commodity in Japan, and this area was such a critical point in the transportation routes, that control of the town was held by the shogunate government.
The area was made an Important Traditional Structures Conservation Area by the government and has kept its original look and feel because of it. Today, because of this, it is known as the “Bikan Chiku” historical area of Kurashiki.
Today the merchant houses and storehouse have been vacated of their rice to make way for cute cafes, cozy shops and fascinating museums. There is even a world famous art museum that was the first to house Western Art in Japan, and still holds the most of all of Japan.
Let’s check out some of the stand out sights and attractions not to be missed in this historic area of Kurashiki
Ohara Museum
Ohara is actually not one of the more historic buildings from the Edo period. The building was purpose built in 1930 as the first museum in Japan to house Western Art. A must for art lovers, with a notable collection of masterpieces from some of the most famous artists through western history. You will find works from Picasso, Rodin, Pollock, Kandinsky, Monet, and more.
INFORMATION
- Open: Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a public holiday) and New Year’s holiday period
- Admission: ¥1300 Yen
- Japlanning Tip: English Audio guides are available for free
Japanese Rural Toy Museum
Located in a pristine storehouse, this specialty museum houses more than 5000 toys from all over Japan ranging from the 1600s through to 1990s. A fascinating look at toys through the ages, this Museum also has a wonderful store with unique Japanese gifts, as well as little cafe.
INFORMATION
- Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Closed: January 1st
- Admission: ¥400 Yen
Kurashiki Mingeikan - Japanese Folk Craft Museum
The second folk craft museum in Japan, these storehouses were the first to be converted to a museum. Housing a collection from the first president of the museum, Kichinosuke Tonomura, it holds a historical range of everyday, practical goods, such as textiles, ceramics, baskets, wood works, metal works and more - in fact there are more than 10,000 items in their collection.
INFORMATION
- Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a Public Holiday) and New Year’s Holiday period.
- Admission: ¥700 Yen
Archaeological Museum
Located at a turn point of the canals, just over the stone bridge, this museum is housed in an old whitewashed storehouse. On display are a large range of prehistoric Japanese stone implements and pottery, almost all from the region.
INFORMATION
- Open: Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays (unless the day is a public holiday) & New Year’s holiday period.
- Admission: ¥400 Yen
Traditional Boat tours
Enjoy the picturesque district from a different angle, from the canals! Hop on board a traditional Japanese boat and cruise up and down the canals of Kurashiki. Go under the beautiful weeping willow trees that line the canal, under historic stone bridges and admire the whitewashed storehouses lining the canal from the comfort of your traditional boat.
INFORMATION
- Open: 9:30am - 5:00pm
- Closed: During the months of December - February the boat tours do not run on weekdays
- Admission: ¥500 Yen - Tickets are purchased from the Kurashiki Tourism Office.
Ohashi House
This historic home of the Ohashi family is open to the public to tour. The Ohashi family were one of the most prestigious families in the merchant class in Kurashiki. The tour gives you a glimpse of how the wealthiest lived in 1700s. Tour through and see the elegant screen door artwork, hanging scrolls and the various areas of a traditional machiya (townhouse) of the region in the Edo period. The house is located a block up before the canal begins in the historic district.
INFORMATION
- Open: Saturday - Thursday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Closed: Fridays and New Year’s holiday period.
- Admission: ¥500 Yen
Ivy Square
Much like the name suggests, Ivy square is a series of brick buildings covered in ivy. Originally built in 1889, they were built as the first ‘modern’ cotton mill in Japan. You can wander through the buildings and admire the architecture and buildings covered in Ivy. The complex houses many museums, including Kojima Museum, which houses art from Japanese artist Kojima Torajiro. Japlanning Tip - Your admission ticket to Ohara Museum gets you into the Kojima Museum too. The complex also houses various shops, restaurants, and even a hotel.
INFORMATION
- Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Admission: ¥Free (Museum admissions vary)
Kurashiki is located in the Okayama Prefecture. You can get there by Train. The most direct route is a Shinkansen on the Sanyo Line.
- Take the Shinkansen to Okayama Station then change to the Sanyō Line towards Itozaki.
- After 4 stops disembark at Kurashiki Station.
The historical district is a short walk once you exit the east exit. Follow the street signs to the district.