Kurashiki Byobu Festival (held on October 19 and 20, 2019) - An event where you can freely enjoy walking around the Bikan Historical Area and its surroundings in one day.

The liveliness of festivals is wonderful, isn't it?
Even as adults, it still excites us.

In the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki, various festivals are held throughout the year.
Among them, the Kurashiki Byobu Matsuri is recommended for those who are not very familiar with the Bikan Historical Area!

This is because you can enjoy the Byobu Matsuri while walking around the town and enter shops that are usually hard to access.

While finding colorful byobu (folding screens) and those that seem to have historical significance, it can also be a trigger to think, "I want to come back" if you like the shops and facilities.

Here, I will introduce the state of the Byobu Matsuri held in 2019.

What is the Kurashiki Byobu Matsuri?

The Kurashiki Byobu Matsuri is an event held in conjunction with the autumn festival of Achi Shrine.

In the past, during the autumn festival, each household in the town would remove the doors facing the street and decorate them with byobu, welcoming people with flowers.

The custom once ceased during the Meiji period, but it was revived in 2002 (Heisei 14) by the efforts of volunteers, leading to the current Byobu Matsuri.

In April 2017 (Heisei 29), it was recognized as one of the cultural properties of the "Japan Heritage" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Not only byobu but also family heirlooms are displayed, and byobu are also sponsored and exhibited in facilities around the Bikan Historical Area.

Achi Shrine - The guardian deity watching over Kurashiki from the mountain. The 'Achi Wisteria' is also a highlight.

As you walk along the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Area, you can see a small hill to the northeast. That mountain is called Tsurugatayama, and the shrine visible on top of the mountain is Achi Shrine...

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About 2 hours are needed to see the main and sponsored exhibitions

The Kurashiki Byobu Matsuri consists of two main exhibitions.

• Byobu exhibition in the townhouses from Honmachi to Higashimachi (main exhibition)
• Sponsored exhibitions around the Bikan Historical Area

To see each of them thoroughly, it is better to allocate about 2 hours.

The reason I think so is that during the 2018 Byobu Matsuri, I spent about an hour each on the "Byobu exhibition in the townhouses from Honmachi to Higashimachi" and the "Sponsored exhibitions around the Bikan Historical Area" in 2019.

If you just take a quick glance, it will be shorter, and if you want to look more thoroughly, it will take longer.

The state of the sponsored exhibitions

During the 2019 Byobu Matsuri, I focused on the sponsored exhibitions first, leaving the main exhibition for later.
Let me introduce some of the impressions I had from the sponsored exhibitions.

Features of the sponsored exhibitions around the Bikan Historical Area

The sponsored exhibitions are characterized by the ability to walk around the Bikan Historical Area and its surroundings.

Also, if you think, "Last time I could only see the main exhibition, so this time I want to focus on the sponsored exhibitions," it is the perfect course.

I saw both the main and sponsored exhibitions, but if I had to choose, I would say the "main exhibition" is better.

However, both are worth seeing.

Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan

Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan features the first byobu you see when coming from the station towards the Bikan Historical Area.

Perhaps because of that, or because it is a "byobu replicated with high-precision digital technology," there are many visitors!

There are truly a lot of people compared to any other byobu on display.

▼ There was also a byobu in the multipurpose hall.

Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan - A popular exchange space at the entrance of the Bikan Historical Area, also available for rent.

Located at the entrance of the Bikan Historical Area, do you know the beautiful Nagaya-mon that has been passed down since the Edo period? Events such as "Shunshou Akari" held every year and "Heartland Kurashiki"...

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Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft

Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft displayed its byobu on the left side of the reception.
It is allowed to take photos as long as you do not use flash.

When you visit, please ask before taking photos.

Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft - Durable and beautiful folk crafts from around the world used in daily life.

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Kurashiki Archaeological Museum

Kurashiki Archaeological Museum displayed its byobu immediately to the right after entering the entrance.

The pamphlet for the Byobu Matsuri indicated "paid," but I was able to view it without any particular mention.
Also, photography is allowed for the byobu.

However, be sure to say something before taking photos.

Kurashiki Archaeological Museum - Exhibiting numerous materials from the Edo period rice storehouse to the Paleolithic and ancient Kibikoku.

In 2019, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group in Osaka Prefecture was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, leading to increased attention on burial mounds. Speaking of burial mounds...

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Ryokan Kurashiki

At Ryokan Kurashiki, there was a rare byobu made of flowers.

You proceed to the room on the right from the entrance, but it was a bit hard to find...
When I got lost and wandered around, I was looked at suspiciously.

In such cases, if you ask, "Where is the byobu?" they will guide you.

The place where the byobu was displayed was a smoking area of the ryokan, so the smell of tobacco was overwhelming.
If you dislike tobacco, you wouldn't want to stay long.

I thought, "What a waste for such a beautiful byobu..."

The state of the byobu exhibition in the townhouses from Honmachi to Higashimachi

The byobu exhibition in the townhouses from Honmachi to Higashimachi is the main exhibition of the Byobu Matsuri.

The byobu displayed do not change every year.
Sometimes the same ones are exhibited, and sometimes you can see new byobu.

For those participating for the second time or more, the changes are one of the pleasures.

Features of the byobu exhibition in the townhouses from Honmachi to Higashimachi

If you are seeing byobu for the first time at the Byobu Matsuri, this is recommended.

The features include seeing more than 20 different types of byobu.
Also, you can easily enter shops and ryokan that are usually hard to access.

There are also many people passing by, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of a "festival!"

Ohara House Katalyzer

Ohara House Katalyzer displayed a work titled "School of Carp" by Munakata Shiko.
The carp are not depicted realistically, but rather in a cute, somewhat deformed style.

▼ There was another folding screen as well.
This one is also by Munakata Shiko, titled "Ongunri (School of Carp)".

Ohara House Katalyzer (Former Ohara Family Residence) - A residence filled with the beauty of Kurashiki

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Achi Shrine

In the precincts of Achi Shrine, folding screens created by students from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts are on display.
In 2018, there were also folding screens created by students!

▼ Additionally, displays can be found not only at Achi Shrine but also at other locations.
This one is at "Gallery Hashimaya".

▼ The background of why students created folding screens as part of their coursework was introduced at the 2018 Byobu Festival.

Kurashiki Byobu Festival - An old yet new festival that allows you to feel the townscape and atmosphere of the Bikan Historical Area (2018)

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Hashimaya Kimono Store

At Hashimaya Kimono Store, a folding screen by Tomoki Moriyama, a Japanese painter and professor at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, was displayed in 2019.

This is one of my favorite works, continuing from 2018.

Enjoying More Than Just Folding Screens

The Byobu Festival is an event where you can enjoy various activities.

▼ You can see the procession of "Kurashiki Chitose-raku".

▼ "Suinkyo" is also wandering around, so if you encounter one, have them tap your head with a fan.
It is said to bring "good fortune".

▼ Please enjoy the ikebana (flower arrangement) as well.

▼ The lovely "Kurashiki Komachi" was near the Byobu Festival headquarters!

Conclusion

The Byobu Festival offers various ways to enjoy it.

You can enthusiastically walk around the Bikan Historical Area saying, "I will see all the folding screens!"
Or, it's perfectly fine to just look at the ones that catch your interest.

You can also set aside the folding screens and enjoy the Achi Shrine's autumn festival or indulge in gourmet food.

There are no rules, so it's great to find your own way to enjoy it.

Articles About the Kurashiki Byobu Festival

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