- TOP
- Search Criteria
- Take a Stroll Through Nostalgic Beauty! Six Things You’ll Want to See in Kurashiki, Okayama
STORY
Take a Stroll Through Nostalgic Beauty! Six Things You’ll Want to See in Kurashiki, Okayama
- OKAYAMA
- SHOPPING
- SIGHTSEEING
- SPECIAL
- INSTAGRAMMABLE
- GOURMET
- SOUVENIRS
- TRADITIONAL_JAPAN
- MASKING_TAPE
- FRUITS
Sitting right next to Hiroshima, Okayama Prefecture is home to Japan’s famous folk tale "Momotaro". It’s also known as the Fruit Kingdom from all the delicious fruit that can be enjoyed here. Today we’ll be introducing you to Okayama's Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, with its old canal and traditional streets. Join us as we show you our favorite spots and help you get the most out of your visit!
Our first stop will be the very symbol of this area, the Kurashiki River. This is a very popular spot that appears in many movies and TV shows. You might have seen it in a guidebook or two. The willow trees lining the river along with the white-walled storehouses and traditional tiled roofs make a beautiful sight.
For a more leisurely way to take in the scenery, try the the Kurashiki River boat, a small boat that operates every 30 minutes. You can enjoy panoramic views unique to Kurashiki from a lower perspective.
One street away from the river you'll find Honmachi Street, lined with traditional townhouses ready to send you back in time. Get your camera ready as their elaborate and nostalgic designs make for a great picture spot. Many of the townhouses have been turned into stylish cafes and cute shops. We’ll go into detail about these later.
Be sure to pick up a map before you go. It really helps guide you from spot to spot. Find one at the temporary information center in the Kurashiki Monogatari-Kan at the entrance to the Historical Quarter area.
In the pond next to the museum is a water lily that comes from Monet’s home garden in France. From mid-May to mid-October you can enjoy the pink and yellow lilies, the very ones that inspired the great artist.
Address: 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
Closed on Monday (open if the Monday is a national or observed holiday. Always open from late July to August and in October), December 28 to 31
Entrance fee: 1,300 yen. University students 800 yen, elementary school and below 500 yen
Website: https://www.ohara.or.jp/en/
There is one other spot where you can see Monet’s water lilies in the Kurashiki area. You can find then in the courtyard of Kurashiki Ivy Square, a tourist facility complex that is famous for its walls of red bricks covered in ivy. This building is very popular on Instagram. In the summer the ivy is a deep green and the water lilies complete this lovely sight.
The specialty here is the Miyake Curry (900 yen). It is a curry made with seasonal vegetables served with soup and pickles. The fruity flavors are a perfect match with the brown rice. The portions are generous but you'll find yourself finishing it before you even realize it. If you are visiting on a weekday you can take advantage of the Miyake Curry Set (1,200 yen), that includes a drink and a small dessert.
Address: 3-11 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (varies depending on the season, see here for details)
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://www.miyakeshouten.com/access/index.html
Read on to find out why this area is famous for masking tape, denim and canvas!
The prices start from only 200 yen so finding affordable souvenirs is easy.
Address: 14-5 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://nyochiku.906.jp/index.shtml
Kurashiki makes about 70% of Japan’s canvas, making it the largest domestic producer. The canvas goods made here are known for their simple yet elegant designs. Here you’ll find Baistone, the storefront of a textile company that produces Kurashiki Canvas. They have a large selection of items from smaller pouches to backpacks and tote bags.
With so many items it’s hard to settle on just one. We finally chose this flat pouch pen case (1,620 yen). It’s just the right size and has a simple, attractive design with a label that says “Kurashiki” and “Canvas” in Japanese.
Address: 11-33 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed on New Year Holidays
Website (Japanese-only): https://store.kurashikihampu.co.jp
Kurashiki's Kojima area is the birthplace of jeans in Japan. Along Kurashiki Denim Street you can find all kinds of denim pants, accessories, and clothes along with a few more unusual items. It’s a denim lover’s paradise, but it doesn’t stop there.
On the street is a take out corner with a very interesting menu. The puzzling choices include "denim meat buns" and "denim hamburgers" but don't worry, the only denim thing in them is the color!
The denim meat bun (350 yen) is colored using gardenia flowers. The blue color might not be the most inviting, but just wait until you get to the juicy Kurobuta pork filling. We paired it with a denim tapioca drink (Calpis and herb tea, 450 yen), a new item released in April 2019. They also have ice cream and refreshing fruit drinks, perfect for a little snack break.
Address: 1-10-11 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (varies depending on the season)
Open every day
Normally, white peaches are strictly a summer fruit, but here they are on the menu year-round. Try a Momoko parfait (972 yen) and enjoy a generous portion of delicious white peaches no matter the season. The beautiful presentation also stimulates the appetite.
Address: 1-1-4 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (LO. 5:30 p.m.)
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://kurashikimomoko.jp/shop/
Another must-try item is the peach juice (600 yen) served at Cafe Yuurin-an. The thick juice is sweet and delicious but it is also served in a unique peach-shaped glass. The glasses are hand-made one by one by an Okayama glass artist. They have a smooth texture that enhances the taste of the juice.
A cup of shiawase purin (happiness pudding, 350 yen) compliments the juice nicely. It has a moderate sweetness and has been growing in popularity so much that it’s become a Kurashiki specialty. It's also widely talked about on the social media as it is said that something happy will happen to you two weeks after you eat it!
Address: 2-15 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 11:00 a.m. until sold out (LO. 5:00 p.m.)
Irregular holidays
Website: https://yuurin-an.jp/cafe
The beautiful scenery, the gourmet sweets, the old fashioned townhouses, there are so many attractive sights to see in Kurashiki and in Okayama Prefecture. If you're planning to visit Hiroshima or Kansai, consider extending your trip to Okayama Prefecture as well.
* The above article is based on information from April 2019.
* All prices are tax-inclusive.
Take the Best Pictures of Your Trip in Kurashiki
It’s easy to get to Kurashiki from Tokyo. By plane, you can fly in to the Okayama Momotaro Airport from Haneda. If you want to ride the rails, grab a Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Okayama Station then hop on a JR local train to Kurashiki Station. Once in Kurashiki you only have a short 10-minute walk to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Just follow the main street in front of the station and you won't get lost!Our first stop will be the very symbol of this area, the Kurashiki River. This is a very popular spot that appears in many movies and TV shows. You might have seen it in a guidebook or two. The willow trees lining the river along with the white-walled storehouses and traditional tiled roofs make a beautiful sight.
For a more leisurely way to take in the scenery, try the the Kurashiki River boat, a small boat that operates every 30 minutes. You can enjoy panoramic views unique to Kurashiki from a lower perspective.
See Monet's Water Lily
Our next stop is the Ohara Museum of Art. Sitting along the Kurashiki River, the Ohara Museum of Art is the first Japanese private art museum to display Western art. Some of the works by great artists such as Picasso and Monet are on display here.In the pond next to the museum is a water lily that comes from Monet’s home garden in France. From mid-May to mid-October you can enjoy the pink and yellow lilies, the very ones that inspired the great artist.
Information
Ohara Museum of Art | 大原美術館Address: 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
Closed on Monday (open if the Monday is a national or observed holiday. Always open from late July to August and in October), December 28 to 31
Entrance fee: 1,300 yen. University students 800 yen, elementary school and below 500 yen
Website: https://www.ohara.or.jp/en/
There is one other spot where you can see Monet’s water lilies in the Kurashiki area. You can find then in the courtyard of Kurashiki Ivy Square, a tourist facility complex that is famous for its walls of red bricks covered in ivy. This building is very popular on Instagram. In the summer the ivy is a deep green and the water lilies complete this lovely sight.
Dine with Style in an Old Townhouse
You won’t think twice before wandering inside this quaint cafe. Set inside a renovated townhouse that was built in the late Edo Period (1603 - 1868), Miyake Shoten is frozen in time with its old-fashioned floor plan and atmosphere.The specialty here is the Miyake Curry (900 yen). It is a curry made with seasonal vegetables served with soup and pickles. The fruity flavors are a perfect match with the brown rice. The portions are generous but you'll find yourself finishing it before you even realize it. If you are visiting on a weekday you can take advantage of the Miyake Curry Set (1,200 yen), that includes a drink and a small dessert.
Information
Townhouse Cafe Miyake Shoten | 町家喫茶 三宅商店Address: 3-11 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (varies depending on the season, see here for details)
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://www.miyakeshouten.com/access/index.html
Grab a Kurashiki-Made Souvenir
Many of the old townhouses and warehouses have been converted into stores with a retro feel. Here you can find some of the goods that Okayama is famous for, and they might not be what you expect.Read on to find out why this area is famous for masking tape, denim and canvas!
■Okayama, the Birthplace of Masking Tape
That’s right! Decorative masking tape, the colorful stationery tool that is so popular nowadays originated in Okayama Prefecture. There are many masking tape stores scattered around Kurashiki. Among them we recommend visiting Nyochikudo. From the popular mt brand to limited edition designs featuring the townhouses of Kurashiki, they stock more than 800 types of masking tape. That's enough to make any masking tape enthusiast happy.The prices start from only 200 yen so finding affordable souvenirs is easy.
Information
Nyochikudo | 如竹堂Address: 14-5 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://nyochiku.906.jp/index.shtml
■Browse Through Kurashiki's High Quality Canvas Items
Kurashiki makes about 70% of Japan’s canvas, making it the largest domestic producer. The canvas goods made here are known for their simple yet elegant designs. Here you’ll find Baistone, the storefront of a textile company that produces Kurashiki Canvas. They have a large selection of items from smaller pouches to backpacks and tote bags. With so many items it’s hard to settle on just one. We finally chose this flat pouch pen case (1,620 yen). It’s just the right size and has a simple, attractive design with a label that says “Kurashiki” and “Canvas” in Japanese.
Information
Baistone Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter store |バイストン倉敷美観地区店Address: 11-33 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed on New Year Holidays
Website (Japanese-only): https://store.kurashikihampu.co.jp
■Denim You Wear and Eat?!
Kurashiki's Kojima area is the birthplace of jeans in Japan. Along Kurashiki Denim Street you can find all kinds of denim pants, accessories, and clothes along with a few more unusual items. It’s a denim lover’s paradise, but it doesn’t stop there.On the street is a take out corner with a very interesting menu. The puzzling choices include "denim meat buns" and "denim hamburgers" but don't worry, the only denim thing in them is the color!
Information
Kurashiki Denim Street | 倉敷デニムストリートAddress: 1-10-11 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (varies depending on the season)
Open every day
Enjoy Sweets with Plenty of Fruit
If you come all the way to Okayama you have to see why it is famously known as the Fruit Kingdom, especially for peaches. The most popular sweet offered here is a parfait made by Kurashiki Momoko, a cafe directly managed by a fruit store. They have three branches in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. We recommend the Kurashiki Central Store.Normally, white peaches are strictly a summer fruit, but here they are on the menu year-round. Try a Momoko parfait (972 yen) and enjoy a generous portion of delicious white peaches no matter the season. The beautiful presentation also stimulates the appetite.
Information
Kurashiki Momoko Central Store | くらしき桃子 中央店Address: 1-1-4 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (LO. 5:30 p.m.)
Open every day
Website (Japanese-only): http://kurashikimomoko.jp/shop/
Another must-try item is the peach juice (600 yen) served at Cafe Yuurin-an. The thick juice is sweet and delicious but it is also served in a unique peach-shaped glass. The glasses are hand-made one by one by an Okayama glass artist. They have a smooth texture that enhances the taste of the juice.
Information
Cafe Yuurin-an | カフェ有鄰庵Address: 2-15 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Hours: 11:00 a.m. until sold out (LO. 5:00 p.m.)
Irregular holidays
Website: https://yuurin-an.jp/cafe
Stay for the Night View!
Most visitors are only here during the day, but stick around after the sun goes down. Each night the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter area lights up taking a look that mixes retro and modern.The beautiful scenery, the gourmet sweets, the old fashioned townhouses, there are so many attractive sights to see in Kurashiki and in Okayama Prefecture. If you're planning to visit Hiroshima or Kansai, consider extending your trip to Okayama Prefecture as well.
* The above article is based on information from April 2019.
* All prices are tax-inclusive.
Liked this story? Like DiGJAPAN!
on Facebook for daily updates!
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 07 22,2019 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
NEW COMMENT | 0 COMMENTS
Open a DiGJAPAN!
account to comment.
Open a DiGJAPAN! Account