Japan Heritage: Kurashiki Treasure Hunt—Answers
Answer to Puzzle 1
▼The answer to Puzzle 1 was “Ohashi House.”
From the mid-Edo period onward, reclaimed land spread around what is now central Kurashiki, and cotton and rush cultivation flourished.
As a result, central Kurashiki prospered through the trade and transport of cotton and rush products. Wealthy merchants emerged, and large residences were built.
Puzzle 1 was based on this history. By deciphering the letters arranged in the table using the clues, you can find the four characters “Ohashi.”
The Ohashi family were wealthy merchants who developed new rice fields during the Edo period and became major landowners.
▼At Ohashi House, six characters serving as a clue were located at the upper right of the entrance.
▼The clue read “the first name.”
Answer to Puzzle 2
▼The answer to Puzzle 2 is “Shinkei-en Garden.”
The Ohara family amassed great wealth as merchants and landowners from the late Edo period onward.
From the Meiji through the Showa period, the Ohara family gave back to the town by investing its wealth in cultural projects, including the Ohara Museum of Art, as well as social enterprises such as banks, contributing to Kurashiki's development.
Puzzle 2 was based on this historical background.
The map-like illustration contains drawings that serve as clues.
An × mark indicated the location of the answer.
There was also an instruction: “At the place marked ×, look near the entrance teapot.”
Solving Puzzle 2 reveals that the answer is Shinkei-en Garden.
To the right of the entrance to a building in Shinkei-en Garden, there is a teapot-shaped planter.
▼A clue was located at the bottom right of the information board to the left of the teapot-shaped planter.
▼The clue read “in the garden, the name.”
Shinkei-en Garden was built in 1893 as a villa by Ohara Koshiro, the first president of Kurabo Industries.
It was later donated to Kurashiki City and is now open to visitors free of charge.
Answer to Puzzle 3
▼The answer to Puzzle 3 is “Kusudo House.”
In the Meiji period, Kurashiki prospered through cotton cultivation and the processing of cotton products. Traditional industries combined with the latest technology of the time, and the textile industry flourished.
The area prospered through the manufacture of tabi socks, canvas, school uniforms, work clothes, and jeans, which took root as local industries.
Furthermore, Kurabo Industries was established by the Ohara family on the site of the Kurashiki Magistrate's Office from the Edo period.
Puzzle 3 concerned the history described above.
Illustrations of five types of textile products were shown, with letters arranged beneath them.
A clue also said that the answer could be found by rearranging them in the order “ni-sa-yo-go-ro” and reading them backward.
Solving the puzzle gives “the alley entrance to Kusudo House,” or “the alley entrance to Kusudo House.”
Kusudo House is the shop and residence of “Hashimaya Kimono Shop” in Higashimachi.
▼To the right of Hashimaya Kimono Shop, a clue was located beneath the sign at the alley entrance.
▼The clue read “look under the door.”
Hashimaya Kimono Shop was founded in 1869 by Kusudo Tokukichi.
In 1996, the building was designated a nationally registered cultural property.
The Kusudo family's storehouse has also been transformed into a cafe called “Yume Kukan Hashimaya.”
Final Destination and Treasure Discovery Keyword
Arranged in order, the clues found at the answer locations for Puzzles 1–3 read “the first name / in the garden, the name / look under the door.”
In other words: “In the first puzzle, read below the thread radical.”
Puzzle 1 had many letters arranged in a table.
Arranging the characters beneath the kanji with the thread radical gives “aibisukuea.”
▼This refers to “Kurashiki Ivy Square.”
The puzzle also said that the treasure was beside the largest tree near the west entrance of the place indicated by the clues.
▼There is a large tree just west of the Ivy Square buildings, south of the building housing Public Bar Renga.
The treasure chest was at the foot of this tree.
▼Opening the box reveals the treasure discovery keyword.
The treasure discovery keyword was “Japan's No. 1 textile town.”
From the Writer
The puzzles in the “Japan Heritage: Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” event were quite difficult.
But as we pondered the clues, we were able to explore the Bikan Historical Area on foot.
Another benefit of taking part in the “Japan Heritage: Kurashiki Treasure Hunt” is that when you get stuck, asking people at shops and facilities can teach you all kinds of things about Kurashiki beyond the puzzles.
Of course, solving the puzzles also taught us about Kurashiki's history of prosperity through cotton and the textile industry.
The event is popular not only with tourists but also with local residents, and some participants are curious children.
It also involves plenty of walking, making it good for your health, so many older people reportedly take part as well.
If an event like this is held, why not give it a try as a way to learn about Kurashiki or explore the city?
Articles about Kurashiki City's Japan Heritage
Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt Information
| Name | Japan Heritage Kurashiki Treasure Hunt |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 9, 2019 (Saturday)–March 17, 2019 (Sunday) |
| Location | Temporary Tourist Information Center, Kurashiki Monogatari-kan, 2-23-19 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free |
| Website | “Kurashiki Treasure Hunt,” a puzzle-solving event in the Bikan Historical Area — Japan Heritage | Kurashiki Tourism WEB |
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