Kurashiki

Kurashiki City

Kurashiki City belongs to Okayama Prefecture in Japan and is situated at the junction of the Takahashi River and the Seto Inland Sea. Established in 1928, it ranks as the second-largest industrial city in western Japan after Osaka. The city boasts successful industrial development across various sectors, from agriculture and fishing rooted in rich natural resources, a textile industry that still maintains a solid position as a base for jeans and uniforms production, to heavy industries represented by the Mizushima Industrial Zone.

Known nationwide as a tourist city, Kurashiki is especially famous for its scenic Kurashiki Bikan Area in front of Kurashiki Station, which draws crowds of visitors year-round. The white-walled streets along the Kurashiki River within the “Kurashiki Bikan Area” are a renowned sightseeing spot, where warehouses and residences of wealthy merchants from the past are preserved, echoing the prosperity and culture of modern merchants. In addition, the area is home to cultural facilities such as the Ohara Museum of Art and numerous museums, giving the entire district a unique and charming character. Furthermore, the Seto Ohashi Bridge, which connects Honshu and Shikoku, is the world’s longest combined road and rail bridge and is a spectacular sight.

Japan’s first Western art museum—the Ohara Museum of Art—was founded here by Magosaburo Ohara and opened in 1930. The building features a neoclassical style and houses works by masters such as Géricault, Matisse, Gauguin, and Renoir, alongside fine pieces of Asian and contemporary art.

Kurashiki

Must-visit reason: The second-largest city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Okayama Prefecture [Okayama Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Kurashiki City [Kurashiki]