The lights of Heartland Kurashiki brighten summer nights as the heat eases.
In 2023, the event expanded to an even larger area, and workshops are also being held.
We interviewed Yasuhara Noriko of the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, who is in charge of the event.
What led to the change in timing
It used to be held during the day over Golden Week. Why did it move to August evenings starting in 2022?
Yasuhara (surname only)
Last year (2022), during the COVID-19 pandemic, we shifted the event away from the crowded Golden Week period so that we could make it an event people could enjoy while avoiding crowds.
We extended the event period so visitors could come at different times, and scheduled it for the evening, when there are fewer tourists.
Following the positive response in 2022, we added even more days in 2023, and the event will be held over 17 days.
We moved the start date earlier to include the Obon holiday period, so tourists, people returning to their hometowns, and everyone else can enjoy it.
The daytime scenery is lovely too, so I hope people will enjoy both day and night.
New initiatives
Are there any new initiatives?
Yasuhara
Kurashiki SOLA has been added as a new area.
A giant Kiriko light sculpture is displayed in the courtyard, the venue is illuminated, and lights decorate the eaves.
The projection mapping is a video about five minutes long, and tells a story that takes you on a journey through Kurashiki's four seasons and the world of paintings.
We worked with the Ohara Museum of Art on its production.
Paintings from the museum's collection appear in the video.
The projection site has changed from the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center in 2022 to the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery (the former Honmachi Branch of the Chugoku Bank).
We also cut back the bush clover along the Kurashiki River before the event so the illumination would be easier to see.
Explore the Bikan Historical Area at night
How would you like people to enjoy Heartland Kurashiki?
Yasuhara
I hope people will explore the various light displays.
This time, fans designed by local kindergarten children are on display in the shopping arcade.
I hope people arriving by train will enjoy the displays as they make their way from the station to the Bikan Historical Area, and those arriving by car will take a little extra time to stroll through the shopping arcade and see them.
One of the co-hosted events is the “Tenryo Balloon Catfish” on display at the Kurashiki City Art Museum.
The catfish was scheduled to be exhibited at Tenjinyama Cultural Plaza in Okayama City in 2018, but it was submerged in the heavy rains of July 2018.
After being recreated, the catfish was exhibited in another special exhibition, and now it has come to Kurashiki.
It will be on display throughout the day during the event, but if you want to see the illuminated catfish, we recommend visiting at night.
There will be no projection mapping, but weekdays are less crowded, so they’re a good time to visit if you want to take photos or videos.
The event runs for quite a while, so we’d be happy if you came several times, on both weekdays and weekends.
From the Writer
Heartland Kurashiki brightens the Bikan Historical Area on summer nights.
When the writer visited on the first day of the event, the area was bustling with people.
People seemed to be enjoying themselves in their own ways, admiring the collaboration between the townscape and the lights, and taking photos and videos.
The lights are scattered across various spots, but you can make your way from one point to the next while enjoying the displays along the Kurashiki River.
The event runs through August 27, 2023.
Why not visit the Bikan Historical Area on a summer night when the heat has eased?
2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki details
| Name | 2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 11 (Fri., national holiday)–27 (Sun.), 2023 7:00–9:00 p.m. |
| Location | Bikan Historical Area |
| Website | 2023 Summer Heartland Kurashiki |
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