“Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” is a free event held around the Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki.
It was held daily from February 9, 2019 (Saturday) to March 17, 2019 (Sunday).
In Kurashiki City, there are many cultural properties registered as A Kurashiki story beginning with a single cotton flower ～ A town of textiles woven from Japanese and Western styles, which is registered as Japan Heritage.
There are also many registered cultural properties around the Bikan Historical Area.
The “Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” involves solving riddles while visiting the cultural properties registered as Japan Heritage in the Bikan Historical Area.
Upon completion, participants receive a masking tape from KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD. as a prize.
Additionally, there were also lottery prizes for a denim pen case, a tatami edge small storage box, and a canvas book cover.
At Kurashiki Tocotoco, we took on the challenge of the “Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt.”
We will report on how it went.
The event ended on March 18, 2019 (Heisei 31).
For the answers to the treasure hunt, please see the “Answer Section” page.
Overview of the Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt
Event Period and Participation Method
The “Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” was held daily from February 9, 2019 (Saturday) to March 17, 2019 (Sunday).
Participation was free.
However, each person could only participate once.
The event hours were from 9 AM to 6 PM.
The starting point was the temporary tourist information center located next to the entrance of the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan, which is situated on the west side of the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Area.
| Event Period | February 9, 2019 (Saturday) to March 17, 2019 (Sunday) |
|---|---|
| Event Days | Daily |
| Event Hours | 9 AM to 6 PM |
| Participation Fee | Free (one participation per person) |
| Participation Method | Receive the riddle-solving sheet at the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center |
| Contact | Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center (086-422-0542) |
Flow of the Riddle Solving
The Kurashiki Treasure Hunt proceeds as follows:
- Receive the riddle-solving sheet at the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center
- Solve Riddle 1 and head to the location that is the answer
- Discover the clue letter at the answer location
- Write the clue letter on the sheet
- Solve Riddles 2 and 3 in the same manner
- Arrange the three clue letters to deduce the final destination
- Head to the final destination and search for the treasure chest
- Check the treasure discovery keyword inside the treasure chest and write it down on the sheet
- Tell the staff at the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center the treasure discovery keyword
- Receive the completion prize
The riddle-solving sheet received at the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center contains a total of three riddles.
Let’s solve them in order starting from the first riddle.
The riddles presented are all related to the cultural properties registered as “A Kurashiki story beginning with a single cotton flower ～ A town of textiles woven from Japanese and Western styles” as Japan Heritage.
The answers to the three riddles are each locations around the Bikan Historical Area.
When you go to the answer locations, you will find clue letters.
Arranging the clue letters from the three locations will lead to a hint for the final destination.
At the final destination, a small treasure chest is set up, so let’s search for the treasure chest.
When you find the treasure chest, it will contain the treasure discovery keyword.
Head back to the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center and tell the staff the treasure discovery keyword.
If the keyword is correct, you will have completed the treasure hunt.
The Kurashiki Treasure Hunt visits various locations around the Bikan Historical Area
First, head to the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center
▼ The starting point for the “Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” is the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan, so let’s head there first.
▼ After passing through the entrance gate, the temporary tourist information center is on the right side.
▼ There is a pamphlet stand inside the information center, so take one riddle-solving sheet.
There is always staff in the information center, so if you have questions or need help, feel free to ask them.
Start Solving the Riddles!
First, read the story related to the riddle written on the sheet.
Here in Kurashiki City, the area used to be a sea.
Until 400 years ago, it was called the Kibi Anami, a sea dotted with large and small bodies of water, and gradually land expanded through reclamation.
However, the reclaimed land had high salinity and was not suitable for rice cultivation.
Therefore, cotton and rushes, which are salt-resistant, were cultivated, leading to the start of the textile industry and the development of Kurashiki.Solve the riddles, trace the story of Kurashiki beginning with a single cotton flower, and find the hidden treasures!
Once you finish reading the story, it’s time to start solving the riddles.
▼ There are a total of three riddles.
Let’s solve them in order starting from the first riddle.
From my actual experience, I found the riddles to be quite challenging.
If you get stuck, the following three stores are hint providers, so feel free to ask them for help.
- Japanese Folk Toy Museum
- JAPAN BLUE JEANS Kurashiki Store
- Byston Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store
This time, I also received help from staff at various facilities while taking on the challenge.
▼ While solving the riddles, I wandered around the Bikan Historical Area.
▼ I also asked for hints from the rickshaw puller Suguru Sasaki.
▼ Finally, I solved the first riddle! I’m heading to the place I think is the answer.
▼ I found the clue letter! Riddle 1 was correct.
▼ I quickly write down the clue letter on the riddle-solving sheet so I don’t forget it.
▼Next, onto Clue 2.
We will stroll around the Bikan Historical Area while solving the clues again.
▼While walking around the area near the Ohara Museum of Art, I encountered Deputy Director Fujitani from the Ohara House Katalyzer.
He helped me with solving the clues.
▼Having solved Clue 2, we head towards the place that seems to be the answer.
▼There was a clue's text! Clue 2 is also correct.
▼Now, let's challenge the final third clue. Clue 3 was the biggest challenge.
▼Along the way, I took a break at the Yamau Coffee Stand and solved clues together with Manager Okamoto.
▼Since I came to the Bikan Historical Area, I bought some souvenirs while solving clues.
These are products from the long-established Tora Soy Sauce.
▼Once again, I search for the answer while strolling through the town.
▼I finally solved the difficult Clue 3! Now, I head towards what seems to be the answer.
▼I successfully discovered the clue's text.
▼Now I have all the clue's texts.
Finally, I think about where the final destination will be.
▼The final destination has been revealed! Let's head out to find the treasure chest.
▼Treasure chest discovered!
The treasure chest is small and has a modest color, so the trick is to look around carefully.
▼I opened the treasure chest. Inside, there was a treasure discovery keyword.
Don't forget to write the treasure discovery keyword from inside the treasure chest on the paper.
Report your treasure discovery at the Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Tourist Information Center
Once you find the treasure discovery keyword at the final destination, return to the temporary tourist information center at the Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan.
▼Let's have the staff at the information center confirm the treasure discovery keyword.
It was indeed correct, so I got a clear prize masking tape!
▼You can choose your favorite from several types of masking tape.
Additionally, the three items: denim pen case, tatami edge small storage box, and canvas book cover will be drawn from among those who cleared the challenge.
Furthermore, as a clear commemorative item, there is a treasure available only online, the "Golden Cotton Flower."
Details about the Golden Cotton Flower will be provided by the staff once you clear the challenge.
The next page is the Answer Edition of the Kurashiki Treasure Hunt.
- Model: Aisuno Mi (Instagram)
Data for the Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt
| Name | Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | February 9, 2019 (Saturday) to March 17, 2019 (Sunday) |
| Location | 2-23-19 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Temporary Tourist Information Center |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free |
| Website | Mystery-solving event "Kurashiki Treasure Hunt" - Japan Heritage - | Kurashiki Tourism WEB |
