Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

1.Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter ~A river that exists, though invisible — A walking tour of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter~ You will take a walking tour of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which is said to retain the appearance from 400 years ago. After a brief explanation of the history of the Ohara family and Kurashiki Spinning Works, we will show photos from that time, depicting the Kurashiki River, which once had a wider riverbed than it does now, and the large boats that used to sail through, which would be unimaginable today. By viewing a large map of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter from the early Meiji period, you can see the appearance of the Kurashiki River at that time and the locations that are now culverted.

Kurashiki

2. Sakazu Reservoir ~Using bicycles, follow the Kurashiki River and irrigation canals from the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, heading towards Sakazu, while unraveling its history and culture!~ At the Sakazu Reservoir, after a break at a nearby café, you will visit the Sakazuyaki Kamamoto, where potter Mr. Okamoto will explain the connection between Sakazu ware and the river. Afterwards, you will return along the same route and conclude the tour. After receiving an explanation at the bicycle pick-up location, you will cycle from the point along the Kurashiki River, where swans are located, pass through the culvert, and continue along the irrigation canals. Along the way as you follow the river, you can see remnants of what was once an entertainment district, cross over train tracks, and pass through areas where spinning mills once stood, now replaced by modern commercial complexes. This is a unique cycling tour through a historically rich town.