Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter was originally a key port town during the Edo period, and to this day, it still retains a series of white-walled, earthen storehouses and residences, old warehouses, and merchant buildings from that era. It's like stepping back into the streets of the Edo period. Along the Kurashiki River, willow trees enhance the rich Japanese-style colors of the waterside landscape, creating an irreplaceable atmosphere unique to Kurashiki. With every step, there is a scene from the past, and the retro-flavored streets of Kurashiki are home to many century-old shops selling sake and traditional Japanese sweets. However, don't just skim the surface; a little exploration will reveal many warehouses and old shops that have been transformed into stylish cafes, dessert shops, and general stores. The area also hides museums that house precious cultural artifacts and artworks in its alleys, including the Ohara Museum of Art, established in 1930 to display valuable works by famous painters such as El Greco, the French Impressionists Gauguin, Monet, and others. There are cultural facilities such as a classical music box museum and the Torajiro Kojima Memorial Museum; or you can visit the Kurashiki Ivy Square to experience pottery, a former rice warehouse from the late Edo period in Japan that has been converted to display over 15,000 pieces of folk art including ceramics, glass, and lacquerware at the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, and the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, which collects Japanese Paleolithic, Jomon, Yayoi, and other era stone and bronze artifacts. Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (倉敷美観地区) Address: Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture