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Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Chugoku - Kurashiki
Canal Area (Bikan Historical Quarter)	# 1   of 4 sights in Kurashiki

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Kurashiki was an important point along the distribution route of Japan's most important commodity, rice. Large quantities of rice from the surrounding area were brought into Kurashiki and intermediately stored there in storehouses before being shipped to Osaka and Edo. Because of the city's importance in the rice trade, Kurashiki was put under direct control of the shogunate, and the city was even named after its many storehouses (kura). Canals were built to allow boats and barges to navigate between the city's storehouses and the nearby port. A central section of the city's former canal system has been preserved in the Bikan Historical Quarter. The weeping willow trees that line the canal and the stone bridges that cross over the water make for a picturesque scene. Along the canal, there are many of the original storehouses that were so central to the city's identity. Recognizable by their white walls and black tiles, the former storehouses have been converted into cafes, boutiques, souvenir shops and a number of museums. Museums: Ohara Museum Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30) Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday), Dec 28 to Jan 1 Admission: 1000 yen (1300 yen with the Kojima Museum) English Information: Good (English audio guide available free of charge) The Ohara Museum is not a converted storehouse, but was built in 1930 specifically as the first museum of Western art in Japan. It houses an impressive collection of Western masterpieces by artists such as Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Klee, Pollock and Kandinsky. Museum of Folkcraft Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:15 from December to February), Admission ends 15 minutes before closing time Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday), Dec 29 to Jan 1 Admission: 700 yen English Information: Minimal When the Museum of Folkcraft was built in 1948, it was the second folkcraft museum in Japan and the first of Kurashiki's storehouses to be converted into a museum. Examples of everyday items from across Japan are displayed, including textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, etc. Toy Museum Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Closed: No closing days Admission: 400 yen English Information: Minimal The toy museum consists of a number of converted storehouse buildings. There are four main display rooms, which feature examples of old toys from all of Japan's 47 prefectures. One room is devoted to variations of the popular daruma doll. There are also shops and a cafe. Archaeological Museum Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from December to February) Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (except national holidays), December 29 to January 2 Admission: 400 yen English Information: None The Archaeological Museum was opened in 1950 in a converted storehouse, and explores the early history of Japan. There are about 700 examples of pottery and other artefacts from early Japanese civilization, mainly from the region around Kurashiki. Kake Museum Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30) Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday), New Year holidays and between exhibitions Admission: 300 yen English Information: None The Kake Museum was opened in 2002, and displays art preservation and restoration techniques. It was founded by the Kake and Takahashi Educational Institutions, and local universities are also involved with displays. Ratings:    best of Japan    outstanding

How to get there

The canal area is a 10-15 minute walk from Kurashiki Station's south exit. A main road, Motomachi-dori, leads south from the station to the canal area, but walking through the parallel shopping arcade is more enjoyable and almost as fast. Travelers, who would rather not walk from the station, can take a bus to the Ohara Bijutsukan bus stop (2 minutes, 160 yen), which is located just beside the Ohara Museum. How to get to and around Kurashiki

Travel Community

Popularity of Canal Area: Users who have been to Kurashiki: 203 Users who have been to Canal Area: 155 1st of 4 most visited sights in Kurashiki. 155th of 589 most visited sights nationwide. Have you been to Canal Area? No - I have not been there yetYes - no ratingYes - highly recommendedYes - recommendedYes - mildly interestingYes - nothing specialYes - not recommended Ratings for Canal Area: japan-guide.com Rating:   outstanding   User Rating (by 91 users): 84/100   recommended User Feedback We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

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English Links

Ohara Museum Official English website.

Japanese Links

Ohara Museum Official website. Toy Museum Official website. Kake Museum Official website. Archaeological Museum Official website.