[Held April 25–26] 44th Heartland Kurashiki Spring ~ A Riverboat Ride for an Extraordinary Experience

The Bikan Historical Area is home to buildings dating back to the Edo period.
One of Okayama Prefecture’s leading tourist destinations, it is bustling with visitors every day. The sight of white-walled buildings lining the main street along the Kurashiki River feels as if you have stepped back in time. Simply walking along the street lets you fully enjoy an extraordinary experience.

On Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 2026, the annual event “44th Heartland Kurashiki Spring,” fitting for this extraordinary setting, will be held. During the spring event, boat rides along the river are scheduled.

What Is Heartland Kurashiki?

Heartland Kurashiki began in 1981 and has remained a beloved event for many people, set in the Bikan Historical Area. Until 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held during the day over Golden Week.

The event was canceled for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic, but resumed in 2022. With its return, the event was moved to evenings in August.

Moving from daytime to nighttime brought a dramatic change in the program. It became an event where visitors could enjoy illuminations.

Then, in 2025, Heartland Kurashiki changed once again.
In response to requests to bring back the traditional spring event, it began being held twice a year, in spring and autumn. The spring event also saw the return of the boat procession, once a signature feature of Heartland Kurashiki.

Highlights of the 2026 Spring Event

As last year, this year (2026) will feature boat processions with Kurashiki Komachi performers as Fujimusume and Seto no Hanayome. Fujimusume, dressed in wisteria—the flower of Kurashiki City—and Seto no Hanayome, dressed in a white wedding kimono, will glide along the Kurashiki River in boats.

The boat procession schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, April 25 / Fujimusume
  1:30 p.m.
  2:30 p.m.
  3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26 / Seto no Hanayome
  1:30 p.m.
  2:30 p.m.
  3:30 p.m.

When asked about the highlights, Suwaki Tatsuya of the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, who is in charge of Heartland Kurashiki, said, “The Bikan Historical Area is a wonderful place even just to walk around. Heartland Kurashiki is an event where you can enjoy an extraordinary experience while taking in the atmosphere of this beautiful town.”

Last year (2025), Fujimusume and Seto no Hanayome appeared alternately on the same day, but this year they will appear on separate days. Fujimusume will board on the first day, and Seto no Hanayome on the second, so visitors can enjoy a different experience depending on the day.

Speaking about the return of the spring event, he smiled and said, “We held it last spring as well, and heard from people who remembered the event from years ago that it brought back fond memories. We’re glad they enjoyed it.”

From the Writer

Since 2025, Heartland Kurashiki has been held in spring and autumn. In spring, the boat procession featuring Fujimusume and Seto no Hanayome, once a seasonal tradition in Kurashiki, takes place. The main autumn event is held on a larger scale, so that is also worth looking forward to.

There are three boat trips a day, each lasting about 20 minutes.
You can see the boats from anywhere along the Kurashiki River, but if you want to take photos or videos, it may be best to secure a spot in advance. Alternatively, you could visit a riverside shop and watch from above.

There is something truly charming about Fujimusume and Seto no Hanayome slowly making their way along the river in boats. Why not attend this event and enjoy an extraordinary experience with your own eyes?

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