Kurashiki: Denim ice cream and peaceful boat rides await.
Kurashiki is a small city located in Okayama prefecture. If you find yourself travelling to the Kansai area, you may want to stop on your way to Kobe, Hiroshima or Osaka. It’s very close to the main Okayama station so you can easily hop on the Sanyo JR Line and be there in fifteen minutes. Bikan Historical Centre is a preserved area dating back to the Edo period and it’s the main draw of people travelling to Kurashiki. If you take stroll down towards to the main river then you will see a number of unique stores, ranging from a Christmas themed store to a denim themed store (which Okayama prefecture is famous for).
Kurashiki gets its name from the old rice storehouses that were housed within the city during the Edo period. Many of these old storehouses have been converted to small stores, cafes and museums. One of the museums is the Ohara museum which is the oldest collection of Western art in Japan. This is a must visit for any fan of art, especially Western art. If art isn’t your thing there are many more museums to choose from; The Museum of Folkcraft, The Toy Museum and The Archaeological Museum. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about a new aspect of Japanese culture or just to stroll around the peaceful corridors.
Bikan Historical Centre is home to a beautiful river which flows peacefully through the town. Willow trees live on the riverbank and ancient stone bridges cross the river. These bridges make for ideal photo opportunities and they are the only areas that get even remotely busy in an otherwise quiet town. The canals were built to allow boats to pass through to nearby ports, and you can still take a ride on these boats. For just 500 yen for adults or 250 yen for children you can be punted along the river by locals dressed in traditional clothing, on sunny days there isn’t a better place to relax. As you float along the river you can inspect the wildlife. The river houses a lot of koi (Japanese carp) begging for food from people walking along the riverbank. You can also find snow-white swans floating on top of the water.
If you need to take a break you can easily duck into a number of picturesque cafés. They will be run by local Japanese staff and will serve the local food. The atmosphere inside the cafés will reflect the rest of Kurashiki. Relaxed, charming and steeped with history. If it’s a hot day you can sample an ice-cream with a twist. Okayama is famous for denim, so Kurashiki has taken this one step further by selling denim flavor ice-cream. The authenticity of the flavour is questionable (not many people have sampled the flavor of real denim) but if ice-cream isn’t to your palate you can try denim flavored steamed buns and even hamburgers. For people that aren’t interested in eating denim there are many different types of local Japanese cuisine like curry-rice or fresh sushi which can be found. These restaurants are all independently owned and many of them are family-owned business’ going back generations.
Denim Street itself is another draw to bring visitors to Kurashiki. The renowned brands of Momotaro and Eternal have their roots in Kurashiki and their stores sit among the ice-cream stands and burger joints. If you have some extra cash and want to impress your Japanese friends, splashing out on some nice jeans would be a nice idea. If you’re budget is tight you can still consider any of the denim themed souvenirs such as denim wallets, pins and just about anything you can imagine, both big and small (including a denim gorilla). Be careful not to drip your denim ice-cream on your nice new jeans though.
If you can get the chance, visiting Kurashiki during Sakura season would be the most ideal time. Like all of Japan beautiful pink cherry blossoms bloom and then are blown into the air, leaving you feeling like you’ve stepped into the middle of a painting. The beauty of the river is amplified by the pink cherry blossoms, which reflect in the river creating a picturesque scene.
Another time to visit would be the third week of October for the Achi-Jinja Aki Matsuri (Autumn Festival), the normally tranquil area transforms into a sprawling, packed festival. This festival is led by a priestess on horseback and is followed by a procession holding three Goddess’. Like all Japanese festivals there is music and dancing for everyone to see, but unlike most Japanese festivals which take place on cordoned off streets the audience is right in the middle of the procession. No words can put into justice how unique an experience this festival is, even for local Japanese people, this festival stands out. It’s a great way to experience Japanese culture and not one that many travelers will have been part of.
If you find yourself in Okayama, a trip to Kurashiki is an absolute no-brainer. If you’ve planned a trip to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe or any other of the major cities in the Kansai area you may want to consider the short trip to Kurashiki. It’s an incredibly beautiful area that has remained hidden from most tourists. If you find yourself tired of fighting the crowds in Japan, Kurashiki will not be a place that you regret going to.
