The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, located in Kurashiki City of Okayama Prefecture, is a historical district that preserves the ambiance of the Edo period. Its retro-modern landscape, lined with white-walled storehouses and black tiles, exudes a sense of tranquility and beauty as if time has stopped, captivating people from all over the world. This district once thrived as a shipping area for rice and cotton along the Kurashiki River, and its legacy is still strongly felt.

The district is home to stylish shops that deal with “Kurashiki Canvas” and “Kurashiki Denim” and cafes, which are set in renovated stone-paved, storehouses, and townhouses. The area, where history can be felt amidst its stylishness, attracts many tourists throughout the year.
Moreover, the Ohara Museum of Art is located within the district, where you can appreciate world-famous artworks by artists such as Cezanne, Chagall, and Gauguin. The Ohara Museum of Art is Japan’s first private museum, housing many national treasures and important cultural properties. The building itself has been designated as an important cultural property, allowing you to enjoy not only the artworks but also the beauty of the architecture.

In the “Kurashiki River Boat Ride”, you can tour the white-walled townscape of the Bikan district from the Kurashiki River. The boatman, dressed in a happi coat and wearing a sedge hat, will introduce you to the tourist attractions and the story of the white walls. Please enjoy a relaxed time while viewing the townscape from the water.

Cafes and restaurants renovated from storehouses and townhouses built from the Edo period to the Taisho period are also popular. Each store values the beauty rooted in Kurashiki, preserves old buildings well, puts effort into the interior design, embodies a comfortable way of living, and provides a place of relaxation for many visitors.
Among the eateries, shops that offer sweets such as parfaits, cakes, and gelato using plenty of local fruits are particularly popular. Okayama is well known as a fruit-producing region, often referred to as the “Fruit Kingdom Okayama”, famous for grapes and peaches. In particular, 　peaches and muscats are of high quality, so please try their delicate and elegant taste.

After sunset, the entire Bikan district is illuminated by a fantastical light, reflecting the white-walled buildings on the river surface. You can enjoy a different, fantastical view from the daytime.

Why not visit the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, where history and art are integrated into the scenic townscape lined with willow trees, and take a journey across time?

Access
〒710-0046 Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki City, Chuo 1-4-8
About 15 minutes on foot from JR Kurashiki Station.