The sweltering heat continues in August in Kurashiki.
It's easy to feel reluctant to go out, but staying at home would be a waste.
In the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki, a night event is being held for a limited time.
It is called "Heartland Kurashiki" and starts at dusk when the daytime heat eases.
This year (2023), it has been enhanced compared to last year.
I immediately visited the site on the first day.
About Heartland Kurashiki
This year (2023) marks the 41st Heartland Kurashiki.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.
In the years before the cancellations, it was held during the daytime of Golden Week in the Bikan Historical Area.
The theme was the "Wisteria," which is the city flower of Kurashiki, featuring the Kurashiki Wisteria Maiden and the Seto Bride's punting boat rides as highlights.
The event, which was held for the first time in three years in 2022, saw a complete change in timing, hours, and concept.
It was moved to August during the tourist season and became an event to enjoy lights at night.
The summer of 2023 will also continue to be held at night in August.
In response to the classification of COVID-19 as a Category 5 infectious disease, various events and areas have increased, including workshops.
Now, let me introduce some parts of the event.
2023 Event Overview
Heartland Kurashiki has undergone significant changes in its program since 2022.
The content of the 2023 event can be divided into three main categories.
- Akari (projection mapping and light-up)
- Heartland Kurashiki Sponsored Events
- Heartland Kurashiki Co-sponsored Events
There are even more detailed events set up, so let me briefly introduce them.
Akari Event
The main Akari event is as follows.
| Name | Location | Lighting Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projection Mapping | Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery (former Chugoku Bank Honmachi Branch) | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Projection mapping will be held only on August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 15 (Tuesday), 19 (Saturday), 20 (Sunday), 26 (Saturday), and 27 (Sunday) |
| Andon Lanterns and Willow Light-Up | Kurashiki River | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Japanese Lanterns and Kiriko Gentle Japanese Lights | Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Last admission at 8:45 PM |
| Light-Up of Large Trees (Metasequoia) and Stone Pavement | Kurashiki Ivy Square | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Giant Kiriko and Venue Light-Up | Kurashiki SOLA | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
There are lights at five locations within the Bikan Historical Area.
You can enjoy completely different types of light-ups.
Projection Mapping
One of the highlights of Heartland Kurashiki is the projection mapping.
A 5-minute video will be projected onto the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery (former Chugoku Bank Honmachi Branch).
When viewing, please do so from the area marked off with cones at the side of the road.
The video is created to match the exterior of the building, making it feel very real.
The kingfisher, the city bird of Kurashiki, and the wisteria, the city flower of Kurashiki, among other things related to Kurashiki, appear.
If you look closely, you will also see familiar paintings... these are works held by the Ohara Museum of Art.
In the seasonal imagery, you can see vines wrapping around buildings, morning glories blooming vigorously, and rain falling on a pond of water lilies.
All of these are also related to the Ohara Museum of Art and the Bikan Historical Area.
The essence of Kurashiki was packed into a 5-minute video.
Gentle Japanese Light of Lanterns and Kiriko
Wrapped in a fantastical light, the Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan.
The number of Japanese lanterns has increased to 460 since last year.
The area was filled with people enjoying taking photos against the backdrop of neatly lined Japanese lanterns, reaching up to the height of the sky.
Opposite the lanterns looking up at the sky, the Kiriko lights placed on the ground create a fantastical world.
Each Kiriko light has a different design.
Scenes from Kurashiki, such as the round windows of the Ohara Museum of Art and the gate of Kurashiki Ivy Square, are depicted.
Even the shadows projected on the ground are calculated, so take your time to appreciate them.
Illumination of Large Trees and Cobblestones
There are also performances that illuminate the scenery of the Bikan Historical Area.
At Kurashiki Ivy Square, the cobblestones are illuminated.
In 2022, it was all blue, but in 2023, the colors change over time, creating a more fantastical atmosphere.
The giant tree, Metasequoia, located next to the Ivy Learning Center is also illuminated.
Since it is located a bit further back, it may go unnoticed, but it was illuminated in vibrant colors, making it one of the highlights.
Heartland Kurashiki Hosted Events
New experiential events have appeared.
They are perfect for creating memories.
| Name | Location | Period | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Kirie Lantern" Workshop | Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Multipurpose Hall | August 12 (Saturday) - 15 (Tuesday), 19 (Saturday), 20 (Sunday), 26 (Saturday), 27 (Sunday) | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | 500 yen per person | Limited to the first 30 people each day, for elementary school students and younger only |
| Welcome with fans designed by local kindergarten children near the Heartland Kurashiki venue | Saien Shopping District, Center Street Shopping District, Tsurugata Building Shopping District, Kurashiki Department Store, Ebisu Street Shopping District | August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 27 (Sunday) | All-day display | Free | Cooperation: Mikuni Kindergarten, Showa Nursery, Takenaka Kindergarten, Wakadake no Sono |
| Decorative Wisteria for Tourist Punting Boats | Kurashiki River | August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 27 (Sunday) | Departures at 9:30 AM - Last boat at 5:00 PM | 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for children, free for under 5 years old | Operated every 30 minutes, tickets sold on the day at Kurashikikan Tourist Information Office |
"Kirie Lantern" Workshop
This is a workshop to create the kirie lantern that inspired the Akari of Kiriko.
You can complete it by cutting and pasting your favorite patterns.
It seems nice to stroll through the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki with a kirie lantern in hand at night.
Decorative Wisteria for Tourist Punting Boats
The tourist punting boats, popular in Kurashiki, will be specially decorated with wisteria flowers during this period for the Punting Boat Rides on Kurashiki River.
Not only can you enjoy a refined experience, but you can also view the townscape from a different perspective than walking.
You will leisurely glide along the water while listening to the boatman's trivia.
On the opening day of Heartland Kurashiki, which I visited for coverage, Kurashiki Komachi appeared on the punting boat.
The wisteria flowers matched perfectly with the yukata, creating a sense of Kurashiki.
Heartland Kurashiki Co-hosted Events
The co-hosted events at Heartland Kurashiki are also full of charm.
| Name | Location | Period | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Lights in the Bamboo Grove | Kurashiki Yoimachi GARDEN "Bamboo Grove Walking Garden" | August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 13 (Sunday), 19 (Saturday), 20 (Sunday) | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Free |
| Kibibi Night Museum | Kibibi Museum | August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 13 (Sunday), 19 (Saturday), 20 (Sunday) | Extended opening until 8:00 PM (last admission at 7:30 PM) | 700 yen for adults, 500 yen for middle and high school students, 300 yen for elementary school students |
| Tenryo Balloon Catfish | Kurashiki City Art Museum Entrance Hall | August 11 (Friday, public holiday) - 27 (Sunday) ※Closed on Mondays | 9:00 AM - 5:15 PM (Open until 9:00 PM on weekends) | Free |
Tenryo Balloon Catfish
Kurashiki City Art Museum.
If you want to enjoy the illumination more, it is recommended to visit at night, although it is only on weekends.
The colors change rapidly, turning into a vivid green or a rainbow gradient.
It seems that you can not only look at it but also move the giant Tenryo Balloon Catfish.
It is designed to respond to human movement through the "kaname stone" placed underneath it.
Try clapping your hands or moving towards the kaname stone.
The fins will flap and the eyes will move in response to human movement.
Additionally, workshops will be held.
The workshops have ended.
| Name | Date | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Making "Akari Uo" | August 19 (Saturday) | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 300 yen |
| Experience Making "Candle Namazu" | August 20 (Sunday) | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 1,000 yen |
The following are points to note.
- No registration required; first 150 people each day
- Duration is approximately 40 minutes
- Reception closes 30 minutes before the end time
Since 2022, Heartland Kurashiki has been held in the summer nights with changed dates and times.
We spoke with Noriko Yasuhara from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division.
2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki Data
| Name | 2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | August 11, 2023 (Friday, public holiday) - August 27, 2023 (Sunday) 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Location | Bikan Historical Area |
| Website | 2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki |
