On April 6, 2019, we held the first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event.
Titled “Discover the charms of the Bikan Historical Area in spring!,” the event introduced recommended spring spots and gave participants the chance to enjoy spring in the Bikan Historical Area while exploring it together.
This article brings you an event report on the recommended spring spots introduced at the first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event, along with a roundup of reactions on social media.
The information presented is as of when this article was published in April 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event?
At Kurashiki Tocotoco networking events, participants look back at the spots featured on “Kurashiki Tocotoco” (“Kuratoco”) and explore together places that have not yet been fully covered by Kuratoco.
When participants discover a wonderful spot, they post about it on social media with the hashtag “#Kuratoco,” sharing the charms of the Bikan Historical Area. It is a participatory event where everyone works together to build Kuratoco.
Schedule and venue
| Time (approx.) | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2–3 p.m. | Introduction to spots previously featured on Kuratoco |
| 3–4 p.m. | Split into groups by area to look for shops and go on a photo walk |
| 4–5 p.m. | Groups present the wonderful spots they found |
The venue was the second floor of Kamoi Restaurant in the Bikan Historical Area.
This charming 150-year-old traditional house is right in front of Kurashiki River, the main street of the Bikan Historical Area, and has a wonderful atmosphere.
The first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event
There were 13 participants, and 19 people in total including the organizing team.
Participants came from a variety of fields, including writing, blogging, photography, and modeling.
Some people even came all the way from Aichi Prefecture because they were looking forward to the Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event.
The participants’ prefectures of residence were as follows:
| Prefecture | Number of people |
|---|---|
| Okayama Prefecture | 11 |
| Hiroshima Prefecture | 1 |
| Aichi Prefecture | 1 |
Recommended spring spots in Kurashiki
At the Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event, three Kuratoco writers first introduced recommended spring spots in the Bikan Historical Area and the current situation in Mabi.
Here is a brief introduction to what the Kuratoco writers presented that day.
For details about the recommended spots, please see their respective articles.
Spring highlights at Achi Shrine — Writer: Asano Yosuke
Kuratoco writer Asano Yosuke introduced Achi Shrine.
Every year during cherry blossom season, Achi Shrine holds the Kurashiki Cherry Blossom Festival.
In 2019, the festival ran through April 7, and on the day of the Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom at Achi Shrine and around the Bikan Historical Area.
The cherry blossoms at Achi Shrine are lovely, but the highlight is the wisteria tree called “Achi Wisteria” (Akebono wisteria).
Akebono wisteria is Japan’s oldest and largest wisteria, and this symbolic tree of Kurashiki is also the city flower of Kurashiki City.
Every year during the spring holiday period, it produces magnificent wisteria blossoms, and the Wisteria Festival is held.
However, unfortunately, the flowers cannot be viewed from 2018 through 2020 while the wisteria tree is being treated.
The Wisteria Festival will be held as usual, so if you enjoy festivals, be sure to go.
Achi Shrine has many other highlights, and it is the oldest building in the Bikan Historical Area and its surroundings.
We also heard interesting stories about its history, such as how it “enshrines the god of seafaring.” If you are interested, please read the article.
Ohara family model course — Writer: Yoshino Nako
Kuratoco writer Yoshino Nako introduced the Ohara family, focusing on Yurin-so Villa.
Yurin-so Villa is usually closed to visitors, but it opens to the public for about two weeks twice a year, in spring and autumn.
The spring 2019 opening period is Friday, April 26 to Monday, May 6 (national holiday).
It offers a sweeping view from above, right over the main street of the Bikan Historical Area, so she recommended, “You should definitely see the view from the second floor!”
The garden, said to have been designed by one of the finest gardeners of the Meiji and Taisho periods, is also worth seeing—not just the view from the second floor.
Visiting the Ohara family sites along with Yurin-so Villa can bring special benefits and help you enjoy the Ohara family’s history even more, so be sure to visit them together.
- “Ohara Museum of Art,” full of highlights and offering discounted admission with a Yurin-so Villa combination ticket
- “Shinkei-en Garden,” where you can enjoy a beautiful garden for free
- “Ohara House Katalyzer,” where you can learn about the Ohara family’s history and admire its beautiful building
The current situation in Mabi — Writer: Matsuko
Kuratoco writer Matsuko introduced the recent situation in Mabi.
We heard about the monthly candle event “Mabi Light of Hope for Recovery” and the current situation in Mabi from Matsuko, who lives there.
It was striking to hear that it will still take a long time for the town to become a safe place to live again, and that people should visit in person so that the disaster is not forgotten.
Kurashiki Tocotoco is also holding a “Mabi Photo Walk” on May 18, 2019, visiting attractive spots in Mabi, so that as many people as possible can visit Mabi.
It is an event for anyone who wants to learn about Mabi and share its charms, so please join us if you are interested.
Exploring the Bikan Historical Area in groups
After the Kuratoco writers’ presentations, participants split into groups, planned their own preferred routes, and explored the Bikan Historical Area.
To help more people learn about what makes Kurashiki special, they posted on social media using the hashtag “#Kuratoco.”
With models among the participants, they were able to take fun and appealing photos.
Group A strolled along Honmachi Street and bought Murasuzume from Kimoto Eido as souvenirs.
They went to try Ebisu Manju, a Kurashiki specialty sold in the shopping arcade.
These old-fashioned manju are simply irresistible.
It’s so popular that there are lines on Saturdays and Sundays.
Group B enjoyed the cherry blossoms at Kanryuji Temple and the scenery of the Bikan Historical Area.
After strolling along Hondori, they stopped at Cafe Gewa for coffee, served standing-room style.
Team C headed from Kinenbi Street to Kurashiki Ivy Square.
They enjoyed introducing one another to their favorite spots along Kinenbi Street.
Kurashiki Ivy Square was perfect for model photography, and it turned into something like a photo shoot (laughs).
From the Writer
The author often visits the Bikan Historical Area, but walking around in a group led to many new discoveries: people showed me spots I didn’t know about, and I found seasonal highlights.
We hope to continue holding Kurashiki Tocotoco networking events, exploring the charms of the Bikan Historical Area in every season.
We’re also truly grateful that more and more people are supporting Kurashiki Tocotoco.
Next, we will hold the “Mabi Photo Walk,” visiting recommended spots in Mabi.
Photographer Yano Takumi will join us to share photography tips and ways to share your work as we enjoy strolling around Mabi and posting about it.
We are also making preparations for aerial photography by drone pilot Tomiyasu Hiroki.
If you’d like to visit Mabi, enjoy photography, or share the charms of Mabi with us, please join us.
Articles by participants
- Discovering the charms of the Bikan Historical Area in spring: I joined a Kurashiki Tocotoco event | Shumikako
- Changing perspectives — I joined the Kuratoco Photo Walk! | n feel lab
- The Bikan Historical Area is fun no matter how many times you walk around! Report on the first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event | Traveling around the Land of Sunshine
- Let’s walk around the Bikan Historical Area in spring! Report on the first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event | Nako Lab
- 【#Kuratoco】Report on the first Kurashiki Tocotoco networking event—Discovering the charms of the Bikan Historical Area in spring! | Kurashiki Cluster
- Kurashiki Tocotoco spring networking event @ Bikan Historical Area | Kibi Navi
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