Kurashiki (倉敷) is located in Okayama Prefecture, not far from the prefectural capital of Okayama City. Kurashiki has a preserved canal area that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), when the city served as an important rice distribution center. In fact, the name “Kurashiki” can be roughly translated as “town of storehouses” in reference to the rice storehouses.
Many of Kurashiki’s former storehouses have been converted into museums, boutiques and cafes. The Ohara Museum is the most impressive of Kurashiki’s museums, exhibiting a large collection of works by famous Western artists. The canal area is a ten minute walk from Kurashiki Station.
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Shopping Arcade
Several blocks of open air covered walkway with all kinds of shops and restaurants
BETTER LIFE – a housewares shop where I bought an ogre towel
Chez Kobeya for katsu (they had lassi!)
Fun Gachapon (toy machine) shop – I bought three (none of them pictured)
Imagine if you will a shop in Japan dedicated to American kitsch. That shop is: Golden Nugget Buddies, named after the MacDonaldland characters
Strange purple yam ice cream to delight and offend the senses
Toy/Candy store run by a nice little old lady included tons of Ultraman figures I haven’t seen in the new stores – bought one! This place is called おくだ商店
Achi Jinja Shrine
It is located on the top of Mt. Tsurugata, a perfect viewing spot overlooking the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, and has a Noh stage and an ancient garden based on Horai philosophy within its grounds. The natural monument “Achi no Wisteria”, which is estimated to be 300 to 500 years old, is also worth seeing.
Unfortunately we didn’t explore this much, due to bad knees.
reverse angle courtesy Fred Bremmer
Saw koi and swans in the canal
OHOARA MUSEUM OF ART
Where you can find Rodin, Picasso, Gaugin, Monet, Signac, Lutrec, cezanne, Klee, Kandinksy, Pollock. No photos allowed inside unfortunately.
DENIM STREET
Where you can find blue cream soda flavor soft serve and blue bao.
LIVING MOMOKA peach croquette and Ghibli merch
Miffy Bakery
Momotarō (桃太郎, Japanese pronunciation: [mo.moꜜ.ta.ɾoː],[1][2] lit. ’Peach Boy’) is a popular hero of Japanese folklore. His name is often translated as Peach Boy, but is directly translated as Peach + Tarō, a common Japanese given name. Momotarō is also the title of various books, films and other works that portray the tale of this hero.
There is a popular notion that Momotarō is a local hero of Okayama Prefecture, but this claim was invented in the modern era. This notion is not accepted as consensus in scholarly circles.
Kurashiki Ivy Square
Formerly a spinning factory, now a hotel (with another koi pond)
ASOBOUYA Variety Store – lots of kaiju toys, M.U.S.C.L.E. men (Kinnikuman), Owner smelled of cigarettes. Cluttered and awesome.
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