[2025 Kurashiki Attraction] Travel Guide for Ōhara Museum of Art (Updated Apr)

The beauty of Kurashiki's streets is a given, but you should definitely take your time to explore the Ohara Museum of Art. In addition to world-famous paintings such as Monet's Water Lilies and El Greco's Annunciation, the paintings by Kojima Torajiro, influenced by impressionism, are a must-see. Enjoy the afterglow of your appreciation as you sit by the river in the evening glow of the setting sun. Address: 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture #Okayama #Art #Museum #Kurashiki

There is a very special place in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, located in Kurashiki City in the southern end. The white-walled streets along the Kurashiki River are called the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and are a well-known tourist attraction. Japan's first Western art museum, the Ohara Museum of Art, was also founded here. The building is in neoclassical style and houses a collection of Asian and contemporary art. It is worth mentioning that the area's industrial products are very developed, with an annual output of 4 trillion yen, making it a major industrial city in Japan. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Kuraku Station to reach the most popular check-in spot, Kuraku River. In the Edo period, it was a floating warehouse where supplies were transported by water. Now the old buildings have been preserved and it has become a wedding photo location for many couples. #Japanese Attractions #Water Village #Most Beautiful Scenery

#springwander The Ohara Museum of Art, located in a corner of the Kurashiki aesthetic district, has a collection of modern and contemporary art. Founded in 1930 by businessman Magosaburo Ohara, it was the first private art museum in Japan focussing on Western art. Many Western masterpieces are on display in the main building, including El Greco's "Notice of Birth", Claude Monet's "Water Lily", Renoir, and Gauguin. The collection has been expanded over the past 90 years, and now it has a collection of about 3,000 works of art, including Western contemporary art, Japanese modern and contemporary art, works by artists involved in the folk art movement, and antique art from East and West Asia and Egypt.

Flowing gracefully through the historic Bikan Quarter, Kurashiki River is the heart of one of Japan’s most beautifully preserved Edo-period towns. Once a bustling trade route for rice merchants, the river today offers visitors a glimpse into the past, with its scenic canals lined by white-walled storehouses (kura) and willow trees that sway gently in the breeze. Strolling along the riverbanks, you’ll encounter stone bridges arching over the calm waters, adding to the postcard-perfect charm of the area. For a truly immersive experience, take a ride on a traditional wooden boat, or wasen, where boatmen dressed in Edo-era attire guide you through the tranquil waters, sharing stories of Kurashiki’s rich history. The soft ripples and reflections of historic buildings in the water create a dreamlike atmosphere, making it a must-visit for history lovers and photographers alike. Beyond the river, the surrounding streets offer quaint cafés, artisan shops, and the renowned Ohara Museum of Art, Japan’s first museum dedicated to Western art. Whether you’re exploring at a leisurely pace or simply soaking in the atmosphere, Kurashiki River captures the essence of old Japan in a way few places can. #japantrip

📍Okayama Kurashiki! A historic and cultural city as famous as Nara and Kyoto!!!🏯 Japan's version of the Jiangnan water towns!!! Not many tourists, perfect for a leisurely stroll🚶‍♀️ Classic Japanese streets, 📷 great for photography (you can tell you're in Japan right away🤭 Boating, visiting exhibitions, buying souvenirs, drinking coffee, browsing through general stores, eating delicious food..... --- 📍Ohara Museum of Art. Admire masterpieces by Picasso, Monet, and others🎨 📍Kurashiki River Cruise. The willows and small bridges along the river are so relaxing🍃 📍Achi Shrine. Overlooking this little town~ 📍mt Tape Store. Cute decor🎐 a whole wall of tapes, great for gifts 📍Jizake Tote Mori. Specializes in local sake🥃 📍Hayashi Genjuro Shop. Established in 1765, selling various fabrics, stationery, etc. 📍EL CRECO Coffee Shop. A standalone coffee shop☕️ with green plants covering the building, very healing 📍Kojima. The birthplace of denim👖 Denim shops occupy a large area, and there are also small shops selling 🔑 keychains and such, super fun to explore~ 📍ALAPAAP. A century-old canvas bag shop, handmade, simple style and super durable 📍Washuzan Seto Bridge. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook 🌊 the inland islands + Seto Bridge🌉 📍Kurashiki Momoko. Eat the fruit parfait from this shop~ a specialty dessert🍑😋 📍Eat Kurashiki's specialty - blue denim jeans meat bun and blue ice cream🍦 📍Gold Award Croquette. 🏆 Gold award-winning croquette haha, the meat aroma is so enticing!! 📍Meidai Tonkatsu Kappa. This place is a popular pork cutlet shop🐷🥩 --- ✅Transportation 1⃣️After arriving by flight, buy a ticket directly to Kurashiki 2⃣️Take the JR from Osaka, 1.5h to reach Kurashiki

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter was originally a key port town during the Edo period, and to this day, it still retains a series of white-walled, earthen storehouses and residences, old warehouses, and merchant buildings from that era. It's like stepping back into the streets of the Edo period. Along the Kurashiki River, willow trees enhance the rich Japanese-style colors of the waterside landscape, creating an irreplaceable atmosphere unique to Kurashiki. With every step, there is a scene from the past, and the retro-flavored streets of Kurashiki are home to many century-old shops selling sake and traditional Japanese sweets. However, don't just skim the surface; a little exploration will reveal many warehouses and old shops that have been transformed into stylish cafes, dessert shops, and general stores. The area also hides museums that house precious cultural artifacts and artworks in its alleys, including the Ohara Museum of Art, established in 1930 to display valuable works by famous painters such as El Greco, the French Impressionists Gauguin, Monet, and others. There are cultural facilities such as a classical music box museum and the Torajiro Kojima Memorial Museum; or you can visit the Kurashiki Ivy Square to experience pottery, a former rice warehouse from the late Edo period in Japan that has been converted to display over 15,000 pieces of folk art including ceramics, glass, and lacquerware at the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, and the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, which collects Japanese Paleolithic, Jomon, Yayoi, and other era stone and bronze artifacts. Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (倉敷美観地区) Address: Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

When traveling to Kansai, if you are tired of the crowded Kyoto and Hanshin, in addition to exploring Wakayama in the south, taking a train to explore the western part of Kansai is also a good choice. Today I will share with you a 🇯🇵 niche attraction in western Kansai——Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 👉 Before I went there, I learned that Kurashiki Bikan is an ancient Japanese town with a history of nearly 400 years. I thought it was in the same style as Kyoto, but after I went there, I found that the two styles are completely different! 🤣 Kurashiki Meikan features a white-walled warehouse, tiled walls, and willow-lined streets. The whole area is full of old houses of modern big families that have become cultural heritage. The streets formed by these nearly 400-year-old traditional buildings and the retro and modern scenery along the Kurashiki River really fascinated me as a tourist🤩 📍Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 🚅JR Kurashiki Station 🏠It is recommended to stay in Okayama, the hotel is cost-effective, and there are many things to eat, drink and play. (From JR Okayama Station to JR Kurashiki Station, only 17 minutes) 🤟Kurashiki's specialties are denim and canvas products. The Kurashiki River is full of shops selling denim and canvas, and various cafes converted from old houses. It's not a problem to spend an afternoon strolling around. 🛶 Kurashiki River Cruise Ticket purchase location 📍Kurashikikan Tourist Information CenterKurashikikan Ticket price: Adult 500 Child 250 Opening hours: 9:30-17:00 🏛Ohara Museum of Art (established in 1930, it is Japan's earliest private art museum centered on Western art) Ticket price: 2000