To all the students on school trips visiting Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area for the first time!
Do you think that even if you go sightseeing in Bikan Historical Area, there’s nothing for young people to enjoy?
That’s not true!
Bikan Historical Area is full of so many attractions that even young people like us can appreciate.
In this article, students from our local high school, Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School, introduce the highlights so you can make the most of your visit to Bikan Historical Area.
This article was contributed by students in the “Regional Economy Exploration” course of the research project at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School. The Haretoco General Incorporated Association editorial team revised and published it.
The information presented was current when the article was published in November 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Bikan Historical Area’s must-see spot: “Ohara Museum of Art”
A must-see spot in Bikan Historical Area is the Ohara Museum of Art.
Previously, you could visit on a whim and still get in, but as of November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors admitted is limited by time slot. This has made it difficult to take your time viewing the works during a school trip with a limited schedule.
However, the Ohara Museum of Art has plenty of highlights besides its artworks.
▼Here are four highlights:
- Red storehouse
- Water lilies
- Round window
- Imabashi Bridge
First, the first highlight.
Take a look at the lamp and round window at the front of the Ohara Museum of Art.
Photography is prohibited inside the Ohara Museum of Art.
We received permission to take the photo of the round window.
Next, the second highlight.
The water lilies, inspired by Monet’s “Water Lilies,” are said to “bloom in the morning and wilt at night.”
Take a look at the lake’s surface, which seems almost alive.
The third highlight: a red storehouse in a town of white walls!?
There is one red storehouse inside the Craft Museum, where works by Keisuke Serizawa are on display.
Normally, you can stroll around the grounds of the Ohara Museum of Art for free.
This means you can see the Craft Museum and water lilies without entering the museum, but admission is currently restricted, so only visitors admitted to the museum can see them.
The last spot we’ll introduce is the bridge in front of the Ohara Museum of Art.
It’s called Imabashi Bridge.
When you visit Bikan Historical Area on a school trip, it’s often used as a “meeting place,” so you may have stood there without giving it much thought—but take a good look.
In 1926, when the Crown Prince (later Emperor Showa) made an imperial visit, Ohara Magosaburo funded the replacement of the old wooden bridge with this magnificent one.
It was designed by the painter Kojima Torajiro.
The view of the Kurashiki River and boats traveling along the river from Imabashi Bridge is an enduring scene of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area.
There is a Museum Shop just before (to the north of) the Ohara Museum of Art, with all kinds of exciting items.
You can freely enter and leave the Museum Shop even if you can’t enter the Ohara Museum of Art.
You can find items here that aren’t available anywhere else.
| Address | 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-422-0005 |
| Website | Ohara Museum of Art |
Enjoying Masking Tape at “TANE”
TANE is a shop that stocks every variety of “mt” masking tape, a popular choice for souvenirs and gifts from Kurashiki.
A Mini Cooper inside the shop serves as a landmark.
Inspired by the owner’s desire to create something that feels distinctly Kurashiki, TANE was born when the owner renovated their home.
The “mt” masking tape sold here is a product that originated in Kurashiki.
TANE also develops its own original masking tape.
In fact, it is manufactured and sold by KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD., which is headquartered in Kurashiki.
The shop carries around 1,000 varieties. The most popular items are:
【Popular Items Ranking】
- Denim pattern (as of November 2020, Denim No. 3 was in production and scheduled for release in December)
- Shelf pattern
- Momotaro pattern
You can also decorate an mt storage box (mt box), designed specifically for mt tape.
You can take the storage box home as a souvenir, making this activity very popular with international tourists.
The experience is also a great way to try tapes you’ve been considering buying, or ones you were unsure about because they’re a little different from your usual taste.
We asked a staff member the following questions.
Q. How many people visit the shop each day?
In 2019, around 300–400 customers visited each day.
Q. Do you have any tips for decorating stylishly?
Choose colors and patterns that go together and create a unified look. I think it’s also cute to coordinate items from the same series, such as collaboration products.
Q. What do you do to make the shop displays appealing?
We focus on making the patterns easy to see. We put popular items and the products we want to sell in the most noticeable spots.
Q. What products do you recommend for students on school trips and high school students?
TANE’s original Bikan Historical Area tape.
Q. What challenges have you faced?
For the first three years or so, it was difficult to sell our products. But after being featured on a TV program hosted by Matsuko Deluxe, many people came to know about us, and our product range grew.
TANE has an exterior that fits right in with the Bikan Historical Area, and the staff were very kind.
You could feel the owner’s and staff’s passion and love for masking tape.
Customers of all ages, from older people to children, were happily choosing masking tape. It’s a shop loved by people of all ages and genders.
If you visit Kurashiki, be sure to stop by.
| Address | 5-12 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-486-3618 |
| Website | -TANE- Masking Tape “mt” Specialty Shop, Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area |
“Candle Fairy,” where you can handcraft your very own candle
For people who enjoy crafts and want to make things, we recommend “Candle Fairy,” where you can make candles by hand.
There are four handmade candle courses, A through D. Course D (¥2,000, tax included) lets you create a completely original design.
We made candles in the “D course.”
The wax softens with body heat, so it is easy to reshape.
If you already have a design in mind, we recommend the free-form D course; if not, try one of courses A through C.
Of course, you can take home the candles you make.
You can also buy aromatherapy candles and candle holders, in addition to handmade candles.
The owner, Ms. Inoue, told us that she started “Candle Fairy” because she wanted to give back to society and encourage many people, especially children who are socially withdrawn.
She hopes to eventually entrust the shop to someone who was once socially withdrawn.
“Candle Fairy” is a little way from the center of the Bikan Historical Area, but it is the only place where you can try making candles by hand.
Making candles together in a friendly atmosphere will, I think, create memories that last a lifetime.
| Address | 3-18-6 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-454-4505 |
| Website | Candle Fairy |
Fluffy Taiyaki Made by a Former Baker: “Taiyaki Honpo”
Diagonally across from Candle Fairy is “Taiyaki Honpo.”
The manager of Taiyaki Honpo is Michiyuki Ono.
After reaching retirement age and leaving his job, he started a taiyaki shop to stay active.
There are four main varieties of taiyaki:
- Mochi-filled taiyaki
- Custard cream taiyaki
- Apple-apple taiyaki
- Seasonal taiyaki
The “mochi-filled taiyaki” is the signature item and the most popular.
He says he started making taiyaki packed with chunky red bean paste and filled with mochi because he had never found one like it, even after visiting taiyaki shops in various regions.
You can enjoy mochi and chunky red bean paste together.
The “custard cream taiyaki” has a fluffy batter generously filled with rich custard cream right to the tip of the tail.
The custard cream taiyaki is recommended for those who don't like red bean paste.
“Apple-apple taiyaki” is an unusual variety of taiyaki.
After hearing that “many young people like apple pie,” he came up with the idea of combining taiyaki and apples, made it, and it has been a regular menu item ever since.
This apple-pie-like taiyaki is delightful with the aroma of cinnamon and the crisp texture of the apple.
“Chestnut paste taiyaki” was a seasonal item available at the time of our interview in October 2020.
Its appeal lies in the hearty chestnut paste, generously packed with chestnuts.
The chestnut paste is made by mashing sweet roasted chestnuts and Tianjin roasted chestnuts.
The seasonal taiyaki varieties change depending on the time of year, as follows:
| Season (month) | Product name |
|---|---|
| March–April | Sakura paste (with cherry leaves) |
| May–June | Green tea paste (sencha) |
| July–August | Amanatsu citrus paste |
| September–November | Chestnut paste (with Tianjin roasted chestnuts) |
| December–February | Sweet potato paste |
Manager Ono says he works every day to prevent his physical strength from declining and makes a point of staying healthy.
He says he chose to open a taiyaki shop because “I used to work as a baker, so I also have experience making Western-style sweets. I thought I could put that experience to use and try making taiyaki.”
Be sure to try the “fluffy taiyaki” made by a former baker.
| Address | 3-22-25 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-422-1721 |
| Website | None |
When You’re Hungry, Try “Teuchi Udon Onishi”
Walking around town is sure to work up an appetite.
If you’re looking for a hearty meal rather than a light bite at a cafe, how about udon?
Teuchi Udon Onishi is a long-established udon restaurant founded in 1973.
It was originally a car dealership, but switched to serving udon as the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen line to Okayama brought an increase in tourists.
The restaurant has been in business since before the Bikan Historical Area became a popular tourist destination, so it is popular not only with tourists but also with many local regulars.
Incidentally, the name “Teuchi Udon Onishi” comes from the Onishi family name. They chose it because “hiragana feels more approachable.”
When we entered the restaurant, its signboard beckoning cat greeted us.
The interior is centered around wood, and works by various other well-known artists are also on display.
You can enjoy the surroundings while waiting for your udon order, too.
A recommended menu item for school trip students is the “Setouchi Grated Lemon Udon (¥850 including tax).”
The broth, made with kelp from Hokkaido and bonito flakes from Kagoshima, pairs deliciously with the tartness of the lemon.
You can choose it hot or cold, but the hot version is recommended because it brings out the flavor of the broth.
The restaurant recommends its “Bokkee, Umee—Plum Series,” which was just launched in August 2020.
They especially recommend the refreshing Plum and Grated Daikon Udon.
Since it’s an udon restaurant, students should feel comfortable dropping in.
Be sure to stop by when you’re hungry.
| Address | 5-29 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-422-8134 |
| Website | Official Instagram |
Explore the town with takeout from “YAMAU coffee stand”
If you’re exploring the streets of the Bikan Historical Area with a drink in hand, how about stopping by “YAMAU coffee stand (Yamau Coffee Stand)”?
Located in the heart of the Bikan Historical Area, it is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., so it will almost certainly be open during the hours when students visit on school trips.
With its stylish Japanese-style exterior, it’s an easy place for anyone to drop in.
There aren’t many chairs inside, and takeout is the main focus. Owner Okamoto told us, “Yamau Coffee Stand’s concept is to have people explore the Bikan Historical Area with a cup in hand.”
As the shop’s name suggests, coffee is the main item on the menu.
For students and women who don’t like coffee, there are also matcha lattes and melon cream soda.
When we visited to report on the shop, they also had lemon squash.
One of the recommended items at “YAMAU coffee stand” is latte art.
It’s not available with some menu items, such as matcha lattes, but it can be made with lattes and espresso drinks.
Iced drinks are served in plastic cups and hot drinks in paper cups, and many people apparently post photos of their cups on Instagram.
It’s an easy place to stop for a short break, so it’s also recommended for students on school trips.
| Address | 5-4 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | None |
| Website | YAMAU coffee stand Official Instagram |
A specialty shop even for people who don’t like coffee: “kobacoffee”
If you’d like to enjoy coffee at a leisurely pace rather than getting it to go, how about “kobacoffee”?
“kobacoffee” is a specialty shop for house-roasted coffee.
There’s a wide selection of coffee drinks, and you can choose not only the type of beans but also the brewing method.
The item we recommend for high school students is cream soda. There are eight varieties:
- Grape
- Lemon
- Strawberry
- Sky blue
- Peach
- Orange
- Melon
- Coffee
The bottom of the glass was filled with colorful jelly, with soda above it and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
The interior has a relaxing atmosphere.
You can also use the terrace seating in the courtyard, so why not enjoy coffee or dessert while feeling the refreshing breeze?
We spoke with the owner, Kobayashi.
Q. What inspired you to start the business?
I’d wanted to run a coffee shop ever since I was in my third year of high school.
At first, I got a job in the service industry and worked at a cafe, but I had a strong desire to be independent and eventually wanted to have my own shop, so I started this business.
Q. What are the challenges and rewards of your work?
It’s challenging to have to make decisions and take responsibility myself, and to ensure that my employees are satisfied.
However, one advantage is that I can decide everything myself, including the menu.
I’d be happy if people came to appreciate how good coffee can taste.
Q. What do you like about the Bikan Historical Area?
I’d say it’s the rows of old buildings and the sense of peace they bring.
Q. What special touches have you added to the interior?
The dishes and cups we use in the shop are made for us by artists.
I get scraps of denim for the coasters and make them myself.
Q. Which age group makes up most of your customers?
Mostly women in their 30s and 40s who love coffee.
The ratio of local customers to tourists is about 6:4.
I suppose there are many regulars at the counter.
Q. What’s your signature item?
Everything.
Even if you don’t like coffee, there are plenty of other items on the menu, so you’ll be fine—and you might find that you enjoy the coffee here.
We can also make a custom blend just for you, so please feel free to ask.
At “kobacoffee,” roasted beans are brewed using a variety of equipment.
Enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee amid the evocative atmosphere of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area.
| Address | 5-27 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-425-0050 |
| Website | kobacoffee (Koba Coffee) |
Take a Break at the Traditional House Cafe “Yume Kukan Hashimaya”
If you’re getting a little tired from walking around town, why not take a break at a traditional house cafe?
“Yume Kukan Hashimaya” is a cafe space created by renovating a rice storehouse, following the registration of Kusudo House as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1996.
A grand piano is permanently installed in the cafe space, where events such as mini-concerts and live performances are also held.
The adjoining room is a gallery, where visitors can casually enjoy the works on display during exhibitions.
Surrounded by the warmth of wood, the cafe operates as “a place where people can share enjoyable moments over tea.”
There are two recommended menu items.
◆Frozen Maruto Smoothie (800 yen)
This Japanese-style matcha smoothie is made with the sweet bean paste from Kurashiki’s long-established Fujito Manju.
This takeout item was created for high school students and school trip groups.
The slightly bitter Kyoto matcha pairs well with the sweet Fujito Manju bean paste, making this a treat that adults can enjoy too.
◆Special Handmade Hamburger Steak Curry (1,500 yen)
This special curry is topped with a juicy hamburger steak.
What do you think the “red thing that looks like a spice” on top of the rice is?
The answer is “tomato skin.”
Rather than waste the skins, they dry them and sprinkle them over the curry.
The owner, Mr. Kusudo, says, “I want to build connections with customers over tea, at a relaxed pace.”
He took over Yume Kukan Hashimaya four years ago, in 2016, as part of a generational transition.
He says the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 made things difficult due to the decline in tourists, but hearing “thank you” from customers brings him joy.
It was also striking to hear him speak of his sense of responsibility to “pass it on to the next generation.”
Yume Kukan Hashimaya is located in an area called “Higashimachi,” a little way from the center of the Bikan Historical Area.
Why not visit this slightly more grown-up space where you can enjoy “art and music × cafe”?
| Address | 1-20 Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 086-451-1040 |
| Website | Yume Kukan Hashimaya |
Enjoy Okayama, the Kingdom of Fruit, at “Parlor Kudamono Komachi”
When you think of Okayama, you think of fruit.
Okayama Prefecture, where grapes, peaches, and other fruits are widely grown, is also known as the “Kingdom of Fruit.”
“Parlor Kudamono Komachi” is a “fruit parlor and cafe” where you can enjoy fruit grown in Okayama, the Kingdom of Fruit.
First, we’d like to introduce the “Original Soft-Serve Ice Cream (no flavorings or additives).”
This soft-serve ice cream was developed so that Okayama white peaches can be enjoyed year-round. It is made by squeezing the juice from Shimizu White Peach, known as the “Queen of White Peaches,” and blending it into the ice cream.
Other menu items include the following.
| Name | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Seasonal Premium Parfait | ¥1,500 and up |
| Pancakes with Seasonal Fruit | ¥1,000 |
| Today’s Fruit Parfait *A parfait made with original soft-serve ice cream and at least seven kinds of fruit, mainly from Okayama Prefecture | ¥1,000 and up |
The staff uniforms are also striking.
The uniforms are designed in a “Taisho Romantic style,” featuring ruffled aprons and kimono-inspired designs with a modern twist.
Behind the shop is also a bamboo garden for strolling, created to give visitors a sense of “relaxation.”
Called “Kurashiki Yoimachi GARDEN,” it was created by restoring a naturally grown bamboo grove and turning it into a strolling garden, a precious green space in the Bikan Historical Area.
The bamboo swaying beneath the blue sky during the day is incredibly soothing.
The garden is illuminated from sunset until 10:30 p.m., and visitors are free to stroll around while it is open (free of charge).
We asked a staff member some questions.
Q. Why did you choose these uniforms?
We designed the uniforms with a Taisho Romantic style in mind, so visitors can experience Kurashiki’s rich history and culture.
Q. Where do you source your fruit?
We are committed to using locally grown produce, and sometimes buy directly from farmers.
Q. What challenges do you face in running the shop?
There is no single right answer.
Every customer has different tastes, so to satisfy everyone, I try to think for myself and do what I believe is right.
At “Parlor Kudamono Komachi,” you can enjoy exceptional fruit that you can’t taste anywhere else.
It’s a must-visit for fruit lovers, so be sure to stop by.
| Address | 1st Floor, East Building, Kurashiki Yoimachi GARDEN, 1-4-22 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Phone | 086-425-7733 |
| Website | Parlor Kudamono Komachi |
From the Writer
Did you enjoy the Bikan Historical Area?
The Bikan Historical Area has plenty of souvenirs and food that you can only buy here.
Whether you’re a tourist or a local, you’re sure to find somewhere you’d like to visit.
Finally, we’d like to introduce our “favorite spot.”
It’s the Bikan Historical Area at night.
There are many tourists, and it has a different atmosphere from the noisy daytime. However, school trips rarely include a visit to the Bikan Historical Area at night.
Students on school trips, please come back and enjoy a leisurely visit someday.
Come visit the Bikan Historical Area again!
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