With December already halfway over, Christmas songs are playing all around town, and wreaths are beginning to appear in shop windows here and there.
I was walking around the Bikan Historical Area, thinking, “I’d like to get into the Christmas spirit too,” when I spotted a flyer for Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023. I invited a friend and went to check it out.
The information shown was current when this article was published in December 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Christmas Market 2023?
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 was held over two days, December 15 and 16, 2023, at the Courtyard Plaza and Ivy Gakkan at Kurashiki Ivy Square. On the day, a total of 35 shops selling food and drink, flowers, sundries, and more from Kurashiki and Okayama lined the venue.
The vendors were as follows.
The weather forecast had been calling for rain for several days. I was worried about the weather, since the Courtyard Plaza at Kurashiki Ivy Square has no roof.
However, the weather was kind to us, and the Christmas market got underway against the soft colors of the sky at dusk. I arrived at the Courtyard Plaza about 10 minutes before the opening on the first day, but there were already many customers waiting to enter.
Courtyard Plaza
The Courtyard Plaza was lined with food and drink vendors. Delicious aromas wafted from every shop, making it hard to decide what to try.
First, I tried a doughnut from belk bakes, which had such a long line that traffic cones were brought out soon after the event began. It was lightly sweet, fluffy, and delicately flavored—well worth the wait.
There were also baked goods from Curry and Coffee Shop 774 (Nanashi) in the Bikan Historical Area.
Hot wine specially made by GRAPE SHIP, a winery in Funao.
Currywurst, said to be a popular item at Christmas markets in Germany, its home country (from FLAGO, a cafe on Shirakabe-dori).
I was captivated by the many foods unique to Christmas markets.
Since I was with a friend this time, we visited several shops and shared our purchases like hors d’oeuvres. My friend and I are both indecisive, so when we couldn’t choose, we bought both options and got to enjoy the flavors of various shops. It was a great opportunity.
Ivy Gakkan
You can bring the food and drinks you buy into Ivy Gakkan. There are tables and chairs here, so you can sit down and enjoy your food at your leisure.
After eating, we looked around the flower shop and general goods shop that had set up inside Ivy Gakkan.
At “Tsuchi to Kaze no Shokubutsuen”, which decorated the Christmas tree on the main stage, adorable mini Christmas trees were on sale.
We also spotted colorful block pouches at “Kurashiki Hanpu”, which has been making canvas fabric in Kurashiki for more than 130 years. The lines inside the pouches were so cute that we asked a shop staff member how they were made.
The accent-like line inside this block pouch is called the “selvedge.” It is often finished so that it is woven in and cannot be seen. At Kurashiki Hanpu, however, they deliberately leave this “selvedge” visible, allowing them to make full use of the fabric from edge to edge.
This pouch is filled not only with great design, but also with love for the fabric. We heard that they have a shop in the Bikan Historical Area. After hearing about it, we wanted to go and see their other products, too.
The Ivy Gakkan venue was a space where makers and visitors could meet face-to-face and interact, and it was filled with a very warm atmosphere.
Kurashiki at night has a magical atmosphere
One of the attractions of this Christmas market was that it was held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., during the evening and nighttime.
Many shops in the Bikan Historical Area close around 5 p.m., and the town is beautiful in the still quiet of night. However, there had been few opportunities to stroll through the Bikan Historical Area at night.
My friend, who has lived in Kurashiki for a long time, seemed to discover a new side of the city, saying, “Kurashiki Ivy Square lit up is such a refreshing sight!”
The candlelight looked beautiful against the red brick of Kurashiki Ivy Square, and we were able to enjoy an exotic atmosphere reminiscent of a Christmas market in Germany.
From the Writer
The event’s organizer, Namiko Ichikawa, who is seconded from All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. to the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau, looked around the venue with relief and said, “I was surprised that so many people came. What left an impression on me was that everyone was smiling. It made me happy to think that they had enjoyed themselves.”
Blessed with good weather, Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 was a great success. I hope it will continue to be an event that brings life to Kurashiki in winter in the years to come.
Articles about the Kurashiki Christmas Market
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 Information
| Name | Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | December 15 and 16, 2023, 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. |
| Location | Kurashiki Ivy Square |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau |
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