Private Tour
Kurashiki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kurashiki!
The main attraction in Kurashiki is its atmospheric Bikan quarter, an area of historic buildings along an old willow-edged canal, laneways lined with old wooden houses and shops, and perfectly preserved Edo period mills. Visiting Kurashiki Bikan is like takling a step back in time!
Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Kurashiki
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private Vehicle
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
What To Expect
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
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 (倉敷美観地区, Kurashiki Bikan Chiku). The weeping willow trees that line the canal and the stone bridges that cross over the water make for a picturesque scene.
Ohara Museum of Art
The Ohara Museum of Art (大原美術館, Ōhara Bijutsukan) was Japan's first museum of Western art. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal and a separate building located in Ivy Square. The Main Gallery building was constructed when the museum was founded, and features most of the museum's highlights. On display are masterpieces of Western art by Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Klee, Pollock and Kandinsky among others. The artists in the collection span a wide variety of periods and nationalities. 1300 yen (includes entrance to the Kojima Museum)
Options
Kurashiki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Pickup included
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Kurashiki walking tour
NinjaTwins2013,
Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed our walking tour of Kurashiki. Our guide was knowledgeable and showed us a lot of the local sights. I would definitely recommend him.
Knowledgeable and friendly tour guide
Carlee I,
Mar 20, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Sato-san was very knowledgeable with many great stories!! It was a great tour for having only a day to spend in kurashiki, we were able to go see the things that interested us the most with her help.
We highly recommend Sato!
Lauren H,
Mar 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00So great! I would highly recommend. We went places we didn’t even know where there and Sato kindly translated whatever we couldn’t understand. I so appreciated having her as a guide! Very knowledgeable and good company!
Great customized tour! Sato-san was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and eager to accommodate us. Highly recommend!
Dianne F,
Dec 7, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Even before our tour day, Sato-san began communicating with us to find out more about our interests to customize our half-day tour together. She then offered to meet us in our hotel lobby when we were uncertain of train usage to meet her in Kurashiki. She was knowledgeable and enthusiastic and brought maps with her to explain history, geography, and context. Although not initially interested in the Ohara Museum, we were glad she encouraged us to visit: it was a treasure trove of Western art and an amazing curated collection of art while also showing artist Kojima’s stylistic evolution. After our time together, she recommended we eat udon at Furuichi Bukkekan, a local noodle specialty. Delicious! We highly recommend Sato-san and would hire her again for any future trips in the area including Naoshima.
Thoughtful guide and lovely experience
arissarin,
Sep 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Yoshiko Sato-san is so thoughtful and kind! I shared with her our schedule arriving at Kurashiki and leaving Kurashiki and she helped me looking up the train and ferry schedule. She even went out of her way to pick us up at Okayama. My friend and I wanted to wear a yukata while we toured Kurashiki - Yoshiko-san was so nice to join us to pick out our yukata, gave us advice on what looked nice, and she waited for 2 hours for us while we got dressed. Kurashiki is a lovely place! We were very pleasantly surprised by the Ohara museum and the architecture. We liked how it wasn’t overly crowded. Yoshiko-san is very knowledgeable about the area and I learned a lot. Although it was a hot summer day, we really enjoyed the tour and having Yoshiko-san as our guide made it extra special :)
A half day to remember with incredibly prepared guide Koji Egi
166terrik,
Aug 20, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide Koji Egi made this a trip to remember. He patiently put beautiful sites and attractions in historical and cultural context - providing a very deep appreciation for the details and the important ideas- and he made our half day super fun despite the heat… keeping me laughing..
Kyoto tour with Shoji
A2862ZYannettem,
Jul 15, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommend a private half day tour with Shoji. He was very knowledgeable and our travel between each location was very time efficient. He selected some great locations and it was great learning about Kyoto’s history.
Great half day walking tour of Kyoto
AUSCross,
Jul 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great half day visit to Kyoto with Shuichi Manya as our local guide. He was very accommodating to the inclement weather and changed the tour.
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Operated by Japan Guide Agency