Centred around a willow-lined canal, Kurashiki is a historic port city where the Takahashi River meets the Seto Inland Sea. It’s home to excellent museums and charismatic old storehouses, as well as Japan’s first gallery dedicated to Western art.

Things to do

Spend a day exploring the atmospheric Bikan Historical Quarter, which has an Edo-era canal built to allow boats and barges to move between the rice storehouses and nearby port. Weeping willow trees line the canal, together with original white-walled storehouses, many of which have been converted into cafes, boutiques and museums.

Visit the Museum of Folkcraft, where beautiful textiles, ceramics and lacquerware are displayed, as well as the Toy Museum where vintage toys from across Japan are exhibited. Of particular note is the Ohara Museum, which was established in 1930 as the first museum of Western art in Japan and has iconic works by Picasso, Kandinsky and El Greco.

Step inside a traditional merchant’s residence from the late-18th century at Ohashi House, where samurai architectural styles were used to reflect the family’s importance. Wander through its tatami-floored rooms that are separated by elegant sliding doors, then explore the traditional kitchen area.

At the site of Japan’s first modern cotton mill is Ivy Square, a complex of late-19th-century brick buildings that house museums. Learn about the history of the cotton mill at the Kurabo Museum and discover the legend of “Peach Boy” at the Momotaro Karakuri Museum. Afterwards, admire the works of renowned Japanese artist Kojima Torajiro at the Kojima Museum.

Getting around

Kurashiki is a 15-minute train ride from Okayama and around 4.5 hours from Haneda International Airport. Most of the city’s sights are centred around the historic canal district, which is around 10 minutes’ walk from Kurashiki Station.