Okayama Korakuen Garden & Kurashiki Historic Quarter ( inc. Ohara Museum of Art)

Okayama prefecture is known as the land of fair weather ‘hare no kuni’, due to its moderate temperature and low rainfall.

The main attractions of Okayama-prefecture are the cities of Okayama and Kurashiki.

First, we’ll visit Korakuen Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan.

The garden was designed in the ‘Kaiyu’ ( scenic promenade ) style, in which circulating walking paths are provided for enjoying views of the garden.

So you’ll find a new view at every turn of the path which connects the vast lawns, ponds, hills, and streams.

The garden is also enjoyable in every season, and cherry blossom in spring and the colored leaves in autumn are especially famous, attracting many tourists.

When you get tired, why don’t you have a bowl of green tea and try the local dessert, ‘kibi-dango’, a soft, sweet rice cake at a rest house.

Then we’ll move to Kurashiki city. It takes only 20minutes to Kurashiki station by train.

You can reach the Bikan Historical Quarter in about seven minutes on foot from the station.

Between JR Kurashiki station and the old Bikan area, you walk through the typical urban Japanese scenery, which will make you wonder whether you are in the right town. But once you turn into the canal area everything changes. You’ll see a number of picturesque buildings such as old black-tiled houses around a stretch of moat. Bridges arch over, willows drip into water, and swans swim in the canal. The entire atmosphere is quite delightful.

Also a variety of gift shops and restaurants will make you feel that the town is definitely your favorite.

Kurashiki Ivy Square, the multi-purpose public space, was formerly a cotton mill. The picturesque ivy-covered red brick buildings house a hotel, restaurants,

gift shops and a cotton mill museum.

This museum was opened by Ohara Keisaburo in 1920’s, the owner of the Kurabo Textile Company.

The museum is surely Kurashiki’s premier museums and houses the predominantly European art collection of the owner.

“Annunciation” of El Greco is one of the most popular works of the museum.

The museum’s neoclassical façade is Kurashiki’s best-known landmark.

: Rickshaw riding

There is a Rickshaw service at the Bikan area. You can enjoy nice views of Historical Quarter on the Rickshaw.

Price :

*1 block tour (1200m, 12minutes) 3000 JPY/ 1 passenger

*2 block tour (2200m, 22minutes) 5000 JPY/ 1 passenger

*30 minutes tour 7000 JPY/ 1 passenger