Last Updated on 2nd July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is one of those dreamy destinations that you see in the pages of a glossy magazine. A veritable example of historic Japan, here’s how to visit Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter, as well as what to know before you go.
Please note that Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is written as 倉敷美観地区 in Japanese.
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The Venice of Japan
Thanks to its meandering waterway, which snakes through the heart of the historical buildings which make up the district, Kurashiki is sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of Japan’.
There are even small boat rides which take visitors along the canal for a unique perspective of the traditional wooden houses of Kurashiki.
I would personally say that, like many of these ‘Venice of X’ type of places, there’s no real similarity between Kurashiki Bikan and Venice, only that they both have gondola rides, historic buildings, and a canal. With this being said, a visit to the district certainly makes for an enjoyable afternoon and so is worth visiting nonetheless!
The town was famed for its rice production during the Edo Period (1603 – 1687) and the former warehouses where the grain was once stored have since been transformed into cultural centres, including shops, eateries, and art galleries.
Cherry blossom season in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
If you visit Kurashiki Bikan Historical quarter during cherry blossom season (typically the last week of March and first couple of weeks of April), then one of the best things to do is to go on a boat ride along the canal, where you will quite literally sail through petals of cherry blossom.
There wasn’t a huge number of sakura trees in comparison with other parts of Japan that we visited, but it was pretty to see the blooming trees nonetheless.
Tourist information
While there is plenty of information readily online (and I would suggest checking out some of the eateries you want to frequent before visiting with the help of Google Maps), there is also a tourist information centre in the heart of town.
You can’t miss it because it’s actually housed within a 1917 built European style building which was originally constructed to serve as a government office but now functions as the Tourist Information Centre.
Wander inside during opening hours and you can expect to get quite a lot of informative leaflets about the district and its surroundings. This is also where you can buy tickets for the Kurashiki Bikan river boat tours. You’ll want to head here as soon as you arrive in the district to book your boat tour as they can sell out later in the day.
Things to do in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Stroll around
Truth be told, one of the greatest joys of a trip to Kurashiki Bikan is simply to stroll around and allow the town to reveal itself to you. Unlike pretty much everywhere else in Japan, you won’t see any cable lines in this district.
This allows for the unique opportunity to snap photos of the streets and traditional wooden houses without having to see any electrical wires hanging overhead. It also means that the quarter is popular for TV and film crews who want to shoot historical movies.
Take a gondola ride
Another way to get a feel for the district is to book one of the boat rides (you can buy tickets from the tourist office). Boat rides last for around 20 minutes and operate at 30 minute intervals. Please note that the maximum number of passengers is six and pets are not allowed aboard.
Ōhara Museum Of Art
Those who love museums and galleries won’t want to miss out on the Ōhara Museum Of Art, which is located steps away from the canal and is on the side of Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter which is closest to the train station.
It’s impossible to miss the Neo-classical façade of this imposing building thanks to its Corinthian columns and pantheon-style roof. The museum is actually Japan’s first privately owned Western Art Museum.
During WWII, the museum’s collections were considered to be of such cultural and historical importance that American fighter pilots were specifically instructed to avoid bombing the building. Visitors today can expect ton find works of art by Gauguin, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, among others.
Shinkei-En Garden
One of the more peaceful experiences to have in Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter is by heading into the Shinkei-En Garden. This cultural hub is close to the art museum and is free to visit.
Once inside the grounds, visitors will be able to see an 1893 built Japanese Villa that was constructed to celebrate the birthday of Kōshirō Ōhara, who was the first president of Kurabo Industries Ltd.
The Villa was eventually gifted to the town for all to enjoy the beautiful space. One of the main highlights of the site is the Great Hall – Keikendō, which is larger than 50 tatami mats.
Another area to enjoy is the traditional Japanese garden. Unfortunately, not all areas of Shinkei-En Garden are open on a daily basis, though there is a helpful noticeboard close to the entrance that tells you in English which areas of the complex are open on the day that you visit.
Kurashiki Archaeological Museum
Kurashiki Bikan Historical quarter is technically a part of the wider Okayama City. Those who wish to learn more about the history of the area would do well to head to the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, which has plenty of exhibitions detailing from the Paleolithic period up until the present day.
Japanese Folk Toy Museum
There are a surprising number of museums in such a small area and perhaps the most specialised one in Kurashiki is the Japanese Folk Toy Museum. This museum boasts around 30,000 folk toy collections from various areas and time periods of Japan. The museum itself is housed in a former rice warehouse.
Go shopping
From Kawaii character stores to local specialities, there’s no shortage of shopping opportunities in Kurashiki Bikan so be sure to have extra space in your suitcase if you plan on visiting!
One of the first things that struck us on a visit to the quarter were just how many denim stores there are in the area. This is no coincidence- the Kojima district is just 40 minutes way by train and is the origin of Japan’s denim industry.
Miffy Kitchen: If you are a fan of the character Miffy, then you’ll want to check out the Miffy Kitchen, where you can buy sweet treats (though I unfortunately found the cakes to be a little dry), as well as stationery and soft toys featuring the fun character.
Enjoy the local food scene
One of the biggest draws of a visit to Kurashiki Bikan is the sheer number of restaurants and cafés in the quarter, and the town has invested heavily in creating a great craft food and drinks scene.
In the district, you can find everything from speciality coffee shops to traditional Ramen restaurants, craft beer bars, artisanal cheese, and baked goods. Those who are looking for a good ramen experience should be sure to check out Ōnishi (please note that there are no vegetarian options, as far as I’m aware of).
How to visit Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
In order to get to Kurashiki Bikan, you’ll need to get a train to Okayama. There are direct trains between Shin-Osaka and Okayama if you happen to be planning a trip to Osaka. You may even be able to take a Hello Kitty Shinkansen between the two cities.
Osaka itself is a great place to base yourself during some of your stay in Japan thanks to its fantastic transport links and great restaurant scene- check our one day in Osaka itinerary here.
From Okayama train station, you’ll then want to take a regional train which takes about 15 minutes. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, then as long as you take JR services (and only take certain Shinkansen trains between Shin-Osaka and Okayama), then you’ll be able to use your JR pass. Check Japan Rail prices here.
From JR Kurashiki Station it’s then around a fifteen minute walk to reach the historical quarter. When you first leave the station, you’ll be surprised at how modern the area surrounding the station is, but don’t worry as you are actually in the right place!
The path between the station and the historical quarter is well sign-posted, and the most important signs are translated into English so there’s no worry about getting lost.
With this being said, I really recommend investing in an esim on an unlocked phone prior to travel as it really helped us get around during our entire Japan trip.
Thanks to its small size, you only need around half a day to enjoy the Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter, enjoy a meal in a restaurant/ have a coffee at one of the many cafés, and peruse the little stores. Finally, if it’s your first time in Japan, be sure to check out our top Japan travel tips.
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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.