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Walking from Kurashiki Station through the central avenue for ten minutes, the scenery filled with modern buildings suddenly changes to a street with a classic taste. There are rows of storehouses surrounded by white walls along the Kurashiki-gawa River which reflects willow branches on the surface of the water. This is the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. In the Yedo period (1603 - 1867), the Quarter flourished as a shogunal demesne where the storehouses and merchants dealing with rice paid as land tax, lined up. It is not too much to say that the attraction of Kurashiki is clustered around the Bikan Historical Quarter. There are a variety of sightseeing spots including Ohara Museum of Art, Ivy Square, Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft, and Kurashiki Archaeological Museum. They are indications that this area was the center of cultural development throughout history. If you wish to take a thorough look at the Bikan Historical Quarter, it would take a good whole day. In order to also enjoy some back road strolls and art craft shopping, two days would be needed.
Courtesy: Okayama Prefecture Commerce, Industry, and Labor Div. Tourist Sec. & Kurashiki-shi PR Sec.(086-426-3061)
