There is a word, "archi-tourism," born from architecture (buildings) and tourism (sightseeing).
It is a term coined to encourage people to enjoy sightseeing by paying attention not only to the function of buildings but also to the appeal of the buildings themselves, which create the charm and atmosphere of a townscape.
Just as visitors enjoy the local specialties of a tourist destination, Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022, where you can savor the characteristics and beauty of form of buildings and the thoughts of their architects, is being held in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki.
The content described here is information as of the time the article was published in November 2022. It may differ from current information, so please be aware of this.
What Is Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022?
The Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki is a leading tourist destination in Okayama Prefecture.
Its townscape is characterized by traditional wooden buildings dating from the Edo period, which blend beautifully with Western and modern architecture.
Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 introduces, from among the many buildings, five buildings designed by Urabe Shizutaro, an architect from Kurashiki City.
No knowledge of architecture is needed.
It has been designed so that any visitor can enjoy it.
The first feature is the building cards placed at each site.
At the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, the Ohara Museum of Art Annex, the Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel, the Kurashiki Community Center and Kurashiki Ivy Square, two kinds of cards are prepared for each, describing the origins and features of the facility.
The second feature is the memory file.
In addition to holding the building cards you collect at each site, it contains information not found on the cards and details of Urabe Shizutaro's commitments.
Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 is scheduled to be held from October 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023.
The memory file costs 500 yen (tax included) per copy, and only 300 copies are on sale.
Urabe Shizutaro and Ohara Soichiro's Town Planning
Urabe Shizutaro, the focus of Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022, returned to his hometown of Kurashiki and found work after graduating from university.
There he met Ohara Soichiro, who was the president of the company that employed him.
What Urabe and Ohara Sought in Buildings
Urabe had long sought to realize architecture as a form of town planning, while Ohara envisioned making Kurashiki like the old cities of Europe, which cherish and nurture their land and history.
Their meeting led to the advancement of town planning in Kurashiki.
Emphasis was placed on designing and constructing buildings not as mere containers, but as structures that could also embody Kurashiki's culture, climate and community.
At the same time, by inheriting history and harmonizing with it, a townscape that is both new and old, typical of Kurashiki, has been created.
The writer used to feel that architecture was a high hurdle.
Perhaps it was because the word "building" brought to mind inorganic materials and large heavy machinery, which felt far removed from my own life.
After adopting the perspective of archi-tourism, that is, sightseeing through buildings, my impression changed completely.
One reason is that I came to recognize buildings as part of town planning.
The other reason is that, learning of the existence of the architect, I realized that Kurashiki's townscape as we see it today is not something to be taken for granted.
If Urabe Shizutaro had not become an architect, or had not met Ohara Soichiro, Kurashiki's townscape might have been completely different from what it is now.
Enjoy the Buildings and the Townscape Together
We spoke about this new style of sightseeing through buildings with Nakagawa Nahoko of Urabe Sekkei, who is in charge of Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022.
Could you tell us how Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 came to be held?
Nakagawa (honorifics omitted)
It began when someone from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division said they wanted to hold an archi-tourism event focusing on Kurashiki's buildings.
To draw attention to the buildings, we decided not to hold it in a single place like a gallery, but to have people walk around town and see the real thing.
Rather than making it a simple stamp rally where people just go around, out of a desire to put more emphasis on sightseeing and make it more memorable, we made it a sightseeing event with deliberately paper-based extras: building cards and a memory file.
Could you tell us about the building cards and the memory file?
Nakagawa
These days, I think many people take photos with smartphones and store them digitally, but we thought it would be nice to have something you can hold and look at as a memento of your trip, and that is how the building cards came about.
The building cards carry a photo and description of each of the five buildings.
We prepared two kinds for each building.
On the reverse side of the cards is a bird's-eye view illustration by Okamoto Naoki, a bird's-eye view artist, and when you place the two cards side by side, you can see the townscape around the building.
The memory file came from the idea of providing a file in which to store the collected building cards.
We thought that if you could also put in flyers you picked up along the way and ticket stubs from museums, the memories of your trip would come back even more vividly, so we gave it more pockets than there are building cards.
We wanted it to be something you can slip onto a bookshelf at the end of your trip and take out to bring the memories back, and something you can look at together when telling someone about your trip. We put many thoughts into making it.
I can really feel the dedication. I heard the memory file is handmade.
Nakagawa
Yes, it is.
We wanted to make the file itself appealing, in its size in the hand, its look and its feel.
We couldn't find a vendor who would accommodate our wish for this paper quality and this cord, so we ended up making it ourselves.
From cutting the corners of the files to adjusting many other small details, everything was done by hand, and in the end even the printing on the files was done by hand.
We rented a space, used equipment, and printed 300 copies.
Thanks to that, the Kurashiki City Tourism Division was pleased, but if we are able to do it again next time, I think we would make it a little simpler (laughs).
I had never looked at buildings from the perspective of the architect's thoughts, but just changing my viewpoint made them more appealing. If someone becomes interested in a building and wants to know more, is there anything you would recommend?
Nakagawa
I would like people to use the website Kurashiki Machiaruki Map introduced in the memory file.
This event features five buildings, but on the map you can see architectural information for 54 locations around the Bikan Historical Area.
The map of the Kurashiki Machiaruki Map is a bird's-eye view illustration drawn by Okamoto Naoki. By using location information, you can enjoy it while checking your current position within the illustration.
Finally, could you tell us the key points of archi-tourism?
Nakagawa
You can enjoy the building cards on their own, and if you collect the memory file, you can see architectural information that is not on the cards.
For example, there are parts that express the philosophy Urabe cherished for each building through keywords.
I think you will enjoy it even more if you pay attention to the keywords and look at the buildings again.
Once you have savored the buildings, we hope you will also enjoy the townscape you pass through while going around the five buildings, and Kurashiki's beautiful scenery.
From the Writer
I remember thinking, when I first visited the Bikan Historical Area, what an atmospheric townscape it was.
However, I never thought of digging any deeper than that.
I don't think I felt any sense of incongruity at the mixture of old Japanese wooden architecture and Western architecture.
Conversely, that shows how harmonious the landscape of the Bikan Historical Area is.
Through Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022, I learned that this harmony did not come about by chance.
I feel I was brought back to the obvious perspective that buildings are made by people.
I have come to keenly feel how many thoughts and how much time went into creating the scenery before my eyes.
At the same time, I am surprised that simply knowing what to look for makes sightseeing through buildings so interesting.
I hope not only visitors but also people who live nearby will savor the appeal of buildings they are rarely conscious of in daily life.
Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 Information
| Name | Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Period held: October 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023 ■Memory file sales locations (500 yen (tax included) per copy, limited to 300 copies) ●Kurashikikan Tourist Information Office ●Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan ●Kurashiki Ivy Square ●Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel ●Ohara Museum of Art Museum Shop (from October 15) ■Building card distribution locations (free) ●Kurashiki Archaeological Museum ●Ohara Museum of Art Annex ●Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel ●Kurashiki Community Center ●Kurashiki Ivy Square |
| Location | Bikan Historical Area |
| Participation fee (tax included) | ・Memory file: 500 yen (tax included) per copy, limited to 300 copies ・Building cards are free |
| Website | Kurashiki Kanko WEB: Kurashiki Archi-Tourism 2022 |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
