Last week, my Chinese friends from Nagoya came to visit me, and asked if I could take them to Okayama’s famous tourist spot. After a moment of self-debate, I decided to take them to Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, where I have been wanting to go lately as well.

One of the charms of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is the historical townscape that has been reserved for centuries; you can still see resonating features of Edo, Meiji, and early Showa Period. It is no wonder that this area is often referred to as Japan’s “Small Kyoto.”

Since we went on a weekend when the weather was beautiful, there were many tourists. Once we got there, we strolled about, and soon came across Kurashiki River that flows through the Quarter. The river beautifully reflected the blue sky speckled with white clouds. When we saw the townscape and the white walls standing at either side of the river, it felt as if we time-traveled to the Edo Period. On the river we saw a boatman, wearing a happi-jacket and sedge-woven hat, gracefully gliding the water in his riverboat as he steered his way with a bamboo pole. I am sure you can enjoy an entirely different view of the town from the boat. Although we all wanted to get on the boat, our adventure was cut short due to my friends’ time restraints. But the next time I visit the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, I definitely would like to get on the boat.

To fellow Chinese people planning to visit Okayama; would anyone like to go with me?

Access:

15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
20 minutes by car from Kurashiki Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway or Hayashima Interchange on the Seto Chuo Expressway.

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