Bikan Historical Area is a designated preservation area where the townscape from the Edo period remains almost intact, continuing to charm visitors with its beauty.
Formally known as "Important Traditional Building Preservation District" (hereinafter referred to as "preservation district"), there are a total of 129 districts across the country where traditional townscapes thrive (as of September 2024).
Preservation districts are towns that reflect the lifestyles of the past, such as post towns, temple towns, port towns, and merchant towns found throughout Japan.
In Okayama Prefecture, not only is "Kurashiki City Kurashiki Riverbank" (Bikan Historical Area) designated, but also "Yakage Town Yakage-juku", "Takahashi City Fukiya", "Tsuyama City Joto", and "Tsuyama City Josi", making a total of 5 districts selected.
In 2025, the preservation district will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the system, and from August 7, 2024 (Wednesday) to January 25, 2026 (Sunday), the "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts" will be held.
We interviewed about the charm of Bikan Historical Area as a preservation district and how to enjoy the digital stamp rally.
Overview of the "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts"
Generally, a stamp rally involves carrying a card or booklet to collect stamps at various destinations.
The "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts" uses digital technology, specifically the GPS function of smartphones (hereinafter referred to as "smartphones"), to collect stamps.
When you open the site at preservation districts across the country, a stamp acquisition screen will appear, allowing you to tap and get the stamp. Registration is very simple, and it’s nice that there’s no worry about losing a stamp card.
By collecting 5 or more stamps, you can enter a lottery to win local specialties from preservation districts nationwide.
How to Participate in the Digital Stamp Rally
The participation method is as follows:
- Scan the participant QR code or register directly from "here"
- Tap the check button at the stamp rally points (127 preservation districts nationwide) (as of September 2024)
- Collect stamps to enter the lottery (Prize A: 10 stamps for entry: local specialties worth 5,000 yen from municipalities where preservation districts are located. Prize B: 5 stamps for entry: local specialties worth 3,000 yen)
You can apply as many times as you like during the period, but you cannot collect stamps for spots you have already obtained.
Bikan Historical Area as a Preservation District
When visiting Bikan Historical Area as a preservation district, does it change the way you view tourist spots? It may also serve as a reference when visiting other preservation districts.
We spoke with Tanaka Katsuichi from the Cultural Heritage Protection Division of the Kurashiki City Board of Education and Sakoda Keiichiro about the charm of preservation districts and how to enjoy the "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts."
What exactly is a "preservation district" (Important Traditional Building Preservation District)?
Tanaka
The Important Traditional Building Preservation District was established by the amendment of the "Cultural Property Protection Law" in 1975, as a system to protect and preserve townscapes and groups of buildings with historical value.
Before that, Japan was rapidly modernizing, and old buildings and townscapes were disappearing one after another.
As a result, a movement arose to preserve historical groups of buildings as entire towns, leading to the selection of specific areas as preservation districts.
Outside Okayama Prefecture, there are world heritage registered areas such as "Ogimachi, Shirakawa Village (Gifu Prefecture)" [Shirakago], "Omori Ginzan, Ota City (Shimane Prefecture)" [Iwami Ginzan], as well as "Kakunodate, Senboku City (Akita Prefecture)" and "Gion Shinbashi, Kyoto City (Kyoto Prefecture)" among others.
When was Bikan Historical Area designated as a "preservation district"?
Tanaka
The preservation of the townscape in Bikan Historical Area was initiated by the residents before the government, with Kurashiki City establishing the "Kurashiki Traditional Scenic Preservation Ordinance" in 1968 for the purpose of preserving the scenic area.
This effort later collaborated with the government due to the revision of the Cultural Property Protection Law, and it was designated as a preservation district in 1979.
Are "preservation districts" still increasing?
Tanaka
Yes, they are continuing to increase.
Currently, there are a total of 129 districts across 106 municipalities nationwide (as of September 2024), with 2 new districts added in 2024.
In 1979, 13 municipalities with preservation districts gathered to establish the National Council for the Preservation of Traditional Buildings (hereinafter referred to as "Preservation Council").
Kurashiki City is one of these 13 municipalities and has been involved from the early stages.
Within the Preservation Council, various information is shared among member municipalities to protect historical townscapes, including newly designated preservation districts.
Please tell us about the unique charm of Bikan Historical Area that other preservation districts do not have.
Sakoda
It might be the blend of Japanese and Western styles.
A blend of Japanese and Western styles?
Sakoda
Preservation districts can be broadly classified into the following categories:
- Post towns, settlements, port towns, merchant towns, and townscapes linked to industries
- Townscapes centered around shrines and temples
- Townscapes of tea houses
- Townscapes centered around samurai
Many preservation districts are centered around the so-called "Japanese" atmosphere, such as post towns and traditional settlements from the Edo period, or townscapes centered around shrines and temples.
Bikan Historical Area is classified as a "merchant town," where white-walled buildings from the Edo period coexist with various buildings from different eras.
For example, the Kurashiki Spinning Company (now KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD.) headquarters factory, remodeled in 1969, is known as "Kurashiki Ivy Square."
There are also Western-style buildings such as the "Former Chugoku Bank Kurashiki Branch Honmachi Sub-Branch", built in 1922, and the "Ohara Museum of Art", completed in 1930.
The willows lining the Kurashiki River harmonize naturally, creating a beautiful landscape. This scenery has a unique charm that cannot be seen elsewhere.
Now, please tell us how to enjoy the "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts."
Sakoda
Using the GPS function of your smartphone, you can obtain stamps from each preservation district. It’s not an app download type; you just register from the QR code on the official site, so anyone can participate for free.
Additionally, the stamp site screen includes maps of preservation districts and lists of areas, making it easy to find stamp acquisition points.
Collecting stamps also offers the great appeal of winning local specialties through a lottery.
Moreover, there is also an ongoing "Instagram #Preservation Photo Campaign" where you can participate by posting photos taken with your smartphone in preservation districts.
The campaign period is from August 31, 2024 (Saturday) to May 10, 2025 (Saturday), so I hope you can enjoy it alongside the Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts.
Please give a message to the readers.
Tanaka
Okayama Prefecture has 5 preservation districts, so you can collect stamps from all 5 within the prefecture and enter the lottery for local specialties.
I hope this opportunity allows those participating in stamp rallies across the country to explore the historical townscape of Bikan Historical Area, experience its wonderful scenery, and discover new charms such as food culture and lifestyle culture. I also hope that residents of Okayama Prefecture can rediscover the charm of Bikan Historical Area through the stamp rally.
Conclusion
Immediately after the interview, I visited Bikan Historical Area.
Although I should be familiar with the townscape, I felt a freshness in the buildings, roofs, windows, and the shops lined up, perhaps because my awareness had changed. It was a strange sensation, but the "Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts" hinted at a new journey beginning.
Since this is a good opportunity, I plan to visit the 5 "preservation districts" in Okayama Prefecture to obtain the right to enter the lottery for local specialties. My thoughts also extend to other preservation districts in nearby areas, such as "Tatsuno City Takarazuka (Hyogo Prefecture)" and "Fukuyama City Tomo-cho (Hiroshima Prefecture)."
I encourage you to participate and embark on a "journey to explore preservation districts" with your smartphone in hand.
- Kurashiki City Kurashiki Riverbank Traditional Building Preservation District
- Tsuyama City Joto Traditional Building Preservation District
- Tsuyama City Josi Traditional Building Preservation District
- Takahashi City Fukiya Traditional Building Preservation District
- Yakage Town Yakage-juku Town Traditional Building Preservation District
Data on the Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts
| Name | Digital Stamp Rally for Preservation Districts |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | August 7, 2024 - January 25, 2026 Instagram #Preservation Photo Campaign: August 31, 2024 - May 10, 2025 |
| Location | Important Traditional Building Preservation Districts (Preservation Districts) nationwide |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free |
| Website | National Council for the Preservation of Traditional Buildings |
