Located almost in the center of the Bikan Historical Area, the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center is a Taisho-era building with a nostalgic blend of Japanese and Western styles.
Renovated in 2020, it is a facility with a tourist information center and a free rest area.
It provides tourist information and has coin lockers, restrooms, and a nursing room, making it a reliable ally when sightseeing.
And the view from the second floor has a charming atmosphere, making this a place worth stopping by even when you have no particular reason!
Here’s an introduction to the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center, which will make your visit to Kurashiki even more rewarding.
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in March 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center
The Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center is a two-story facility that combines a tourist information center and a free rest area.
Conveniently located for sightseeing in the Bikan Historical Area, it is a welcome and reliable resource for visitors.
Its beautiful retro architecture makes a strong impression. With its elegant blend of Japanese and Western styles and its sense of history, it is one of the Bikan Historical Area’s most iconic buildings.
It has also served as a filming location for the live-action film “Rurouni Kenshin” and the NHK morning drama series “Carnation.”
The Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center offers the following facilities and services:
- Tourist information center
- Rest area
- Coin lockers
- Vending machines
- Public restrooms
- Ticket sales for “Punting Boat Rides on Kurashiki River”
- Rest area
- Nursing room
- Diaper-changing table
It’s a place that takes care of all the little things you might need.
History of Kurashikikan
The Kurashikikan building was constructed more than 100 years ago.
Here’s a brief history.
| Year | Use | About the building |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Kurashiki Town (now Kurashiki City) Office | Completed |
| 1928 | Became the Kurashiki City Office when the city was established | |
| 1932–1971 | City office functions relocated Used as the Kurashiki City Agricultural Mutual Aid Association office and warehouse, among other purposes | |
| 1971 | Converted into a tourist information facility | Preservation repairs |
| 1985–1987 | Disassembly and repairs | |
| 2016 | Designated an Important Cultural Property by Kurashiki City | |
| 2017–2020 | Partial disassembly and repairs |
The partial disassembly and repairs carried out from 2017 to 2020 were extensive, removing all the walls and floors while leaving only the structural framework of the pillars.
With seismic reinforcement and barrier-free access, it was transformed into a spacious, comfortable information center.
The main renovations were as follows:
- Added an elevator wing (11-person capacity, wheelchair accessible)
- Multipurpose restroom (with a universal changing table and facilities for ostomates)
- Converted restrooms to Western-style toilets
- Turned the second floor into a rest area and hall
- Installed a nursing room, diaper-changing table, and sink
The article below provides more details about the renovation highlights and construction work.
Highlights of the renovated Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center
What I especially recommend is the second-floor rest area and the view from there!
The clean, welcoming rest area is spacious, and you’re welcome to eat and drink there.
There’s an elevator, so wheelchair and stroller users can feel at ease.
The tables and benches are made by TEORI, a company that makes bamboo furniture and household goods in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
Bamboo is also said to have excellent antibacterial, germicidal, and deodorizing properties.
The smooth, pleasant-to-the-touch benches and chairs are stylish yet warm and inviting.
TEORI products are also sold at the museum shop of MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
I was delighted to be able to use TEORI products, which are highly regarded around the world.
Even the poster stands and trash cans are made by TEORI.
Be sure to take a close look at the fine, beautiful grain of the laminated bamboo.
And the view from the windows is well worth seeing!
You can look down on the scenery along both sides of the Kurashiki River.
There are sometimes displays tied to local events.
On the day of my visit, sweet peas from Funao delighted visitors.
What makes the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center convenient
Here are some of the convenient features of the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
Get tourist information
Kurashiki has many tourist attractions, facilities, restaurants, and accommodations.
Various events are also held throughout the year.
The tourist information center is a great place to efficiently get information about them.
There are various brochures and maps, so be sure to visit at the start of your sightseeing.
You can also ask for advice at the counter.
Buy tickets for Punting Boat Rides on Kurashiki River
One of my favorite things to do while sightseeing in the Bikan Historical Area is Punting Boat Rides on Kurashiki River.
The view of the Bikan Historical Area from the boat is exceptional, making for an elegant and atmospheric experience.
Tickets are sold only on the day, with reservations required for each departure time.
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so I recommend visiting the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center early.
Buy them at the counter on the first floor.
Take a break
The rest area is a convenient place not only to rest your legs and take a breather, but also to enjoy takeout food and drinks.
It’s also nice that there are trash bins, so you don’t have to carry your rubbish around after eating.
We’ve reduced the number of tables and benches during the COVID-19 pandemic, but normally more people can take a break here.
There’s also a vending machine on the first floor.
Check out Kurashiki’s local specialties
On the first floor, you can see Kurashiki crafts and local products, including denim, Kurashiki Glass, Kurashiki handwoven dantsu rugs, tatami edging, and Kurashiki igusa rush grass.
The display cases are also made by TEORI. The exhibits apparently change depending on the season.
If anything catches your eye, ask at the counter where you can buy it.
Make use of facilities such as the restrooms and coin lockers
The restrooms have bidet seats with warm-water washing and heated seats.
The accessible restroom is equipped with a universal changing table and ostomy facilities, and can also be used by wheelchair users.
The restroom is designed to be accessible from both indoors and outdoors, but at the time of our visit, it could only be accessed from indoors.
There are 16 small coin lockers (300 yen) and 4 large ones (500 yen).
They can only be used on the day. Please retrieve your belongings by 5 p.m.
The nursing room has a sink, changing table, sofa, and table.
The nursing area is simply screened off with a partition and has only a sofa and table, so you may want to bring a nursing cover.
Men may also enter, but please let the information center staff know when you do.
There is also a diaper changing table outside the nursing room.
The Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center helps make sightseeing more enjoyable.
We spoke with Miharu Takahashi of the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau about the renovation completed in 2020 and how the building is used.
What’s your personal favorite thing about the center?
Takahashi
I’d say the view from the second floor.
We can offer a view you can’t see when walking along the street.
The view from the punting boat is also completely different from what you see from the ground, and I hope people will enjoy the scenery of the Bikan Historical Area from various places.
I think it’s nice to be able to see the rows of buildings.
There aren’t any tall buildings in the direction of Kurashiki Ivy Square.
Personally, I like watching the tourists walking around.
It makes me feel, “Thank you for coming.”
There are surprisingly few places where you can see the scenery along the Kurashiki River from above.
Takahashi
That’s right.
There are a few places you can go into, such as restaurants.
The Kurashikikan is free to use, so you can get takeout and enjoy it while taking in the view.
I hope it will be used not only by tourists but also by local residents.
I’d like people to drop by, take a break, and spend some time relaxing.
What kind of work was carried out during the renovation from 2017 to 2020?
Takahashi
The main purposes of the renovation were to make the building barrier-free and extend its lifespan through measures such as seismic reinforcement.
The building had deteriorated more than we expected, so the work took about six months longer than planned.
How has the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center changed?
Takahashi
For visitors, the biggest change is that they can now go up to the second floor.
As it is a designated cultural property, we have basically preserved the original features.
Are there any other things that have been preserved from the past besides the floors and walls?
Takahashi
The rippled windowpanes are old glass that has been used here for a long time.
We also kept the ceiling timbers that were still usable.
The paint was redone.
However, I’ve heard that they avoided using newly developed paints as much as possible and used the same kind of paint as before the renovation.
The information counter is also original, though we don’t know exactly when it was installed; it was here before the building became a tourist information center.
It’s also reassuring to know that if you need to use the restroom or take a break, you can “just come here.”
Takahashi
Exactly.
Your feet get tired when you walk around, don’t they?
There aren’t lots of benches outside, and it’s hard to take a break unless you go into a shop somewhere and have a coffee.
But the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center is free to enter, so I hope people will use it as a place to think, “Where should I go next?”
Is there anything you pay particular attention to so visitors can enjoy using the center?
Takahashi
Keeping it clean.
It’s an old building, so if it isn’t kept clean, it can look very run-down.
We sweep and wipe things down while keeping an eye on how visitors are doing.
If we find any hazards caused by deterioration, we address them immediately and manage and maintain the building so that people can use it safely and with peace of mind.
What measures are you taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Takahashi
We have hand sanitizer at the entrance, partitions in the rest area, fewer tables and chairs, and open the windows for ventilation.
We also disinfect the tables and other surfaces frequently with alcohol between assisting visitors.
Visitors taking the punting boat must have their temperature checked.
How do you envision the building being used in the future?
Takahashi
I’d like it to be a place that brings joy to lots of people.
Once the pandemic is over, I’d like to hold events on the second floor.
We used to hold something called the “Kurashikikan Concert,” and it was well received.
Live music just seems to go so well with Kurashikikan.
I feel we need to come up with all kinds of events and work hard to make it a facility that people love even more.
Have there been any reactions from Kurashiki residents?
Takahashi
I think tourist information centers inevitably end up being facilities geared toward visitors from outside the area.
But local residents said things like, “So now we can go up to the second floor,” and “I wanted to come see what it looked like after the renovation.”
It made me realize that people had been looking forward to it.
I was happy to hear comments like these from local residents.
Wheelchairs and strollers are available to borrow, and there are coin lockers and a nursing room.
I hope local residents, in particular, will come for a stroll in the Bikan Historical Area.
And I’d be delighted if you used the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
There are lots of great shops, too, and the area is becoming more and more convenient to visit.
Make the most of the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center
Standing out almost at the center of the streetscape in the Bikan Historical Area is the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
As well as providing information about sightseeing and events, it’s a comfortable place to take a break.
Even in small, thoughtful details—such as using Kurashiki’s specialty masking tape to put up posters—I could feel their love for Kurashiki.
Be sure to take in the streetscape from inside this cultural property and make good use of the facilities.
Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center Information
| Name | Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-8 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-422-0542 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening hours | 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | None Hours may change during the year-end and New Year holidays |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Smoking | No smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, accessible toilets, public restrooms |
| Childcare | Nursing room, diaper-changing table, stroller rental Sink available in the nursing room |
| Accessibility | Accessible toilets, elevator, wheelchair rental |
| Website | Kurashikikan (Tourist Information Center) | Kurashiki Tourism WEB |
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