The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is free to enter and explore. There are multiple shops, cafes, and restaurants which line the streets of the townscape, and one can spend hours walking around and checking out the different food and goods sold in the area. As a historical district, there are also a considerable number of museums, old family residences, and shrines which guests can tour. While the shrines can be visited for free, the museums and residences charge entry fees. Overall, there are a great number of activities to take part in when visiting the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. If you’d like to know a bit more about the townscape’s history, the top sightseeing spots within it, or are wondering how to get to it, then take a look through the information below.
-- Where is the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter?
-- Tours Visiting the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
WHERE IS THE KURASHIKI BIKAN HISTORICAL QUARTER?
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter lies within Kurashiki, one of Okayama Prefecture’s cities. It is a comfortable walking distance away from Kurashiki Station, taking only about 15 minutes to get to the district. Kurashiki itself is easy to access starting from Okayama Station, as it is only 17 minutes away by train.
HISTORY OF KURASHIKI
During the Edo period (1603-1867) the present-day city of Kurashiki fell under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan’s military government. Even though it was ruled by the shogunate, for the most part it functioned as an autonomous town of merchants managed by dispatched magistrates. Throughout the Edo period, Kurashiki became an important trading and distribution hub, with many boats traveling along the Kurashiki River at all times of the day.
The soil in Kurashiki was not suitable for growing agricultural products, and as such, cotton became the main crop planted in the area. During the Edo period, this cotton was mainly sold and traded, but later on, it led to Kurashiki’s transformation into a textile town. Throughout the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kurashiki became on of the leading textile manufacturers in all of Japan.
As Kurashiki flourished, many wealthy merchant families began to arise in the area. One of these was the Ohara family, which founded Japan’s first modern cotton mill, Kurashiki Spinning Works, in 1889. Another affluent family were the Ohashi’s, who developed new rice fields in the Kurashiki region. Residences belonging to both of these families still remain in Kurashiki today.
Efforts to preserve the historic buildings and old-fashioned landscape of Kurashiki began in 1969. 10 years later, it was classified as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the government.
SIGHTSEEING SPOTS
The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter has many fun, unique, and interesting places to visit. Below, we have listed some of the top sightseeing spots which you can find within the townscape. These are by no means the only visit-worthy locations, but rather a selection of the ones we find most fascinating.
Ohara Museum of Art
The Ohara Museum of Art was built in 1930 by a member of the Ohara family, Ohara Magosaburo. He was a businessman who further developed the textile industry of Kurashiki. The architecture of the museum’s building is quite unique, as it resembles a Greek temple on the outside. Inside, there are about 3,000 works of art, some belonging to extremely famous artists such as Monet, Renoir, and El Greco.
Achi Shrine
Achi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located at the top of Mount Tsurugata. It is said that it was first founded in the 4th century, but due to a fire which destroyed the original, the main hall only dates back to 1749. The shrine is dedicated to the Munakata Goddesses, who are considered the deities of safe sea travels. Achi Shrine is well-known for its wisteria tree, which is estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old.
Kurashiki Ivy Square
The Kurashiki Ivy Square is a hotel made up of brick buildings which used to be a part of the Kurashiki Spinning Works cotton mill. As this was the first modern cotton mill built in Japan, the area holds a lot of cultural meaning. Ivy was planted outside the buildings in the past to manage the inner temperature, and since then it has become the structure's most identifiable feature. Guests not staying at the hotel can still walk freely around its perimeter and there are some cafes and restaurants where one can enjoy some food surrounded by the vibrant greenery.
Kurashiki Denim Street
There is a district in Kurashiki known as Kojima, which is described as the birthplace of domestically produced jeans in Japan. There, one can find the famous "Jeans Street" which is lined with multiple shops selling denim products. In the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, there is a much smaller version of this street, the "Kurashiki Denim Street," which sells goods originally produced in Kojima. It is quite a unique place since there are stalls selling blue colored snacks and stores which sell exclusive denim versions of toys and accessories. While fashion enthusiast will most definitely get the most out of this street, it is still an enjoyable location for anyone to visit.
HOW TO GET TO KURASHIKI
As mentioned previously, the Kurashiki Bikan Historical District is located not too far from Kurashiki Station. Thus, your first step will be arriving at said station. Most travelers will be starting from Okayama Station, where you must board a train on the local San-yo Line or the Hakubi Line. These trains are usually bound for the following destinations: Konko, Mihara, Niimi, Fukuyama, Soja or Kurashiki. You only need to get off at Kurashiki Station, which is generally the 4th stop. Once you arrive at Kurashiki, you will exit the station through the South Exit and walk down Kurashikichuo-dori street until you reach the historic district. The train ride is 17 minutes long, and it takes about 15 minutes to walk from the station to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical District.
If you are wondering how to get to Okayama Station from places such as Hiroshima, Osaka, or Kyoto, then we recommend you take a look through our San'yo Shinkansen webpage. On it, you will find information explaining the different stops on the San'yo Shinkansen line, with Okayama Station being one of them, as well as fare and timetable details.
TOURS VISITING THE KURASHIKI BIKAN HISTORICAL QUARTER
For those who are interested in making a stop by Kurashiki but are not exactly confident in how to get there and would like to explore more areas in Okayama as well, we offer a 1-day tour which includes this historic townscape along with other top tourist destinations in the area. Not only will you be able to spend an afternoon enjoying the quaint landscape of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, you will also be visiting Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. Aside from being beautiful locations, these additional places will help you get a better understanding of Okayama Prefecture's history. Korakuen Garden is also regarded as one of Japan's top three gardens, so it is definitely a must-see for first-time visitors. Click on the "View Details" button below to learn more about this tour!
