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Kurashiki, located in southern Okayama Prefecture, has ancient
tradition and culture, as well as state of the art technology and sophisticated
facilities, making it a city where culture and industry intersect.
Kurashiki is
located west of Okayama Prefecture's southern plains. During the Edo Period some
350 years ago, the area along the Kurashiki-gawa River was under direct control
of the shogunate government and trade by boat helped the town to prosper.
The
beautiful streetscape 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 it is still protected as such today as the
"Bikan Chiku" historical area. The Ohara Museum of Art is also located here and,
with its worldwide famous collections including pieces by El Greco, Gauguin and
Monet, is the first museum of western art in Japan, attracting a constant stream
of visitors from both home and abroad.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.
Honmachi and Higashi-machi stretch just a short walk from the
Kurashiki-gawa River, and it is here where you can find attractive traditional
buildings full of local color. These buildings have been closely tied to the
local peoples' livelihood since long ago, and include old storehouses that have
been remodeled into cafes, inns and bars.
The Bikan Chiku area, which houses
the Ohara Museum of Art and beautiful, historical buildings, is growing as one
of the greatest tourist spots in the prefecture, a unique cultural city in
Japan.
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