Near Okayama, Kurashiki is an ancient merchant town. In stately times, it was an active port for the rice trade. There are still several old rice warehouses witnesses of this time. An atmosphere of bygone eras and numerous museums form the charm of the city.
Places to visit
Ohara Museum of Fine Arts
This two-story white building, inspired by the Greek Parthenon, houses a rich collection of Western Art: El Greco, Corot, Rodin, Gauguin, Picasso, etc. Over time, the collections have been enriched with modern Japanese paintings, and traditional Japanese arts and oriental antiques.
- A 15 minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
http://iwe.kusa.ac.jp/OHARA/om_op.html
Bikan Historic Quarter
In the stately era, the city of Kurashiki was administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo (Tokyo). The city was particularly prosperous as evidenced even today by the 17th century warehouses, which with their white walls and gleaming black tiles, line both sides of the canal lined with weeping willows. Many of these warehouses and commercial houses can be visited or have been transformed into museums.
- A 15 minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
Kurashiki Folk Art Museum
Three rice warehouses have been transformed into a museum, with their white walls and black tiles characteristic of this type of construction from the Edo period. Here more than 4,000 objects of Japanese and foreign folk art are exhibited: ceramics, wooden objects, bamboo, textiles, etc.
- 18 minute walk from Kurashiki train station.
http://iwe.kusa.ac.jp/FOLK/folk_op.html
Japanese traditional toy museum
It is a house converted into a museum where the public can admire nearly 5,000 traditional toys from both Japan and around the world.
- A 20 minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
Kurashiki Ivy Square
This old red brick textile factory is an example of rehabilitation, having been transformed into a leisure place where you can find shops, hotels and other activities around a small pond.
- A 20 minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
Kurashiki Archaeological Museum
In this museum, located in an old rice warehouse, archaeological pieces found in the region are exhibited, but also others from abroad, such as South America.
- A 15 minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
Honmachi and Higashimachi streets
In this old street, where you can still find a traditional sake factory, a special atmosphere reigns. In October the festival of the screens is celebrated.
- A 10 minute walk from Kurashiki Station
A little further
Kibi
Between Kurashiki and Okayama is the Kibi region, which flourished from the 4th century on. This is a land of legends, which narrate the mythological origins of Japan. It can be visited by walking or cycling.
The Kibitsu Shrine
it is consecrated to Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, ancestor of the lords of the Kibi region. The main sanctuary is built in a very elegant style, and has a double tympanum and a 400 m gallery that outlines a slight curve.
Tsukuriyama’s Kofun
Mausoleum built in the 5th century by the feudal lord of the region. It is 350 m long, 24 meters high and is surrounded by six other lesser burial mounds.
Bichu kokubunji
It was founded in the 8th century, but the current building dates from the mid-Edo era. Its 5-story pagoda is a symbol of the Kibi region.
- From Okayama Station it is 15 minutes by train, taking the JR Kibi Line to Kibitsu Station, and then a 5-minute walk to the Kibitsu Shrine.
- From Kurashiki Station, it is a 10-minute train ride to Soja Station on the JR Hakubi Line, plus a 20-minute bus ride (90-minute frequency) to Bichu Kokubunji Temple.
Bicycle rental is available at Bizen-Ichinomiya and Soja stations, as well as at Bichu Temple and Kokubunji Temple.
Transport
- Okayama Station> (14 minutes on the Sanyo Line)> Kurashiki Station