Kurashiki

Thursday, July 23, 2020 Updated

Preserved Storehouses & Merchant Homes | Okayama

Featured Destination on Select Cherry Blossom Japan Tour vacations.

Kurashiki is located in Okayama Prefecture, just beside the prefecture capital of Okayama city. The beautiful street scape of storehouses and merchant homes south of JR Kurashiki Station was selected as an Important Traditional Structures Conservation Area by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and is still protected as such today as the "Bikan Chiku" historical area. The city has a preserved canal area that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), when Kurashiki served as an important rice distribution center. In fact, the name "Kurashiki" can be roughly translated as "town of storehouses".

The area is filled with amazing shopping and art destinations set along the scenic canal. In addition to stores offering traditional craft souvenirs and goods, there are also modern stores like the JUMP Shop for anime fans. The Ohara Museum of Art is also located here and is famous worldwide for it's impressive art collections, including pieces by El Greco, Gauguin and Monet. Fun fact, the Ohara Museum of Art is the first museum of western art in Japan. This museum attracts a constant stream of visitors both nationally and from abroad.

Gondola River Boats

In the Bikan Chiku historical area, two small boats are always combing the river where, during the daytime, visitors can enjoy a view of the riverbanks while experiencing a gondola-style boat ride called the "Kurashiki Kawabune Nagashi". When it gets dark, the streets are gently enveloped by soft illumination, making the area enjoyable at night time as well. The BikanChiku area, which houses the Ohara Museum of Art, Japan's first museum of Western Art, is growing as one of the greatest tourist spots in the prefecture, a unique cultural city in Japan.

Enjoy the traditional streets and classic art Kurashiki has to offer while we explore this beautiful region during our Southern Japan Tours or Highlights Japan | Hiroshima Packages available May through December. You can also choose to create a custom tour for a luxury vacation experience through your choice of select cities.