On April 6, 2019, the first Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting was held.
![Discover the charm of the Bikan Historical Area in spring! The 1st 'Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting' will be held on April 6 at 'KAMOI' in the Bikan Historical Area [Ended]](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/23061315/cover-fBsoJ6kMtwbhf7dQa6C4uJxDmjJUnT7J.jpeg)
Titled "Discover the Charm of the Bikan Historical Area in Spring!", this event introduced recommended spots for spring and allowed participants to enjoy the spring atmosphere of the Bikan Historical Area while actually strolling around.
In this article, we will deliver an event report summarizing the recommended spring spots introduced at the 1st Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting and the reactions on social media.
What is the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting?
At the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting, we will reflect on the spots introduced in 'Kurashiki Tocotoco' so far and actually stroll with participants to explore spots that have not yet been introduced.
If you find a wonderful spot, please post it on social media with the hashtag "#Kuratoco" to share the charm of the Bikan Historical Area in a 'participatory event where we all create Kuratoco together'.
Schedule and Venue
| Time (Approx.) | Content |
|---|---|
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Introduction of spots previously introduced in Kuratoco |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Group activities by region, exploring shops and photo walks |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Group presentations of wonderful spots |
The venue was the second floor of KAMOI, located in the Bikan Historical Area.
It is a charming place with a 150-year-old traditional house, right in front of the main street of the Bikan Historical Area, the Kurashiki River.
Overview of the 1st Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting
This time, there were 13 participants, and with the organizing members, a total of 19 people attended.
Writers, bloggers, photographers, models... people from various genres participated.
Surprisingly, there were even participants who came from Aichi Prefecture just to enjoy the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting.
The breakdown of participants is as follows:
| Prefecture | Number of People |
|---|---|
| Okayama Prefecture | 11 |
| Hiroshima Prefecture | 1 |
| Aichi Prefecture | 1 |
Recommended Spring Spots in Kurashiki Tocotoco
At the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting, three Kuratoco writers first introduced recommended spring spots in the Bikan Historical Area and the current situation in Mabi Town.
Here is a brief introduction of the presentations by the Kuratoco writers on the day.
For details on the recommended spots, please refer to each article.
Highlights of Achi Shrine in Spring Writer: Asano Yosuke
Kuratoco writer Asano Yosuke introduced Achi Shrine.
Achi Shrine holds the "Kurashiki Cherry Blossom Festival" every year during the cherry blossom season.
In 2019, it was held until April 7, and on the day of the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting, the cherry blossoms around Achi Shrine and the Bikan Historical Area were in full bloom.
While the cherry blossoms at Achi Shrine are beautiful, the highlight is the "Achi Wisteria" (Akebono Wisteria) tree.
The Akebono Wisteria is the oldest and largest wisteria in Japan and is a symbolic tree of Kurashiki, which is also the city flower.
Every year, during the spring holiday season, magnificent wisteria flowers bloom, and a wisteria festival is held.
However, unfortunately, from 2018 to 2020, the wisteria tree will be treated, and flower viewing will not be possible.
The wisteria festival will be held as usual, so if you love festivals, please do visit.
Achi Shrine has many other attractions and is the oldest building among the structures in the Bikan Historical Area.
There are interesting stories about its historical background, such as "it enshrines the god of navigation," so if you're curious, please check out the article.
Ohara Family Model Course Writer: Yoshino Nako
Kuratoco writer Yoshino Nako introduced Yurin-so Villa, focusing on the Ohara family.
Yurin-so Villa is usually not open to the public, but it can be visited for about two weeks in spring and autumn each year.
The spring opening period in 2019 is from April 26 (Friday) to May 6 (Monday, holiday).
It is located close to the main street of the Bikan Historical Area and offers a wide view from above, so it was recommended to "definitely see the view from the second floor!"
Not only the view from the second floor but also the garden, said to be the best by the top gardeners of the Meiji and Taisho periods, is worth noting.
If you visit the Ohara family spots along with Yurin-so Villa, there are special benefits, and you can enjoy the Ohara family even more, so please consider visiting them together.
- Discounted entry with a set ticket for the "Ohara Museum of Art" full of highlights here
- Free access to the beautiful garden at Shinkei-en Garden
- Learn about the history of the Ohara family and admire the beautiful architecture at Ohara House Katalyzer
Current Situation in Mabi Town Writer: Matsuko
Kuratoco writer Matsuko introduced the recent situation in Mabi Town.
She shared information about the monthly candle event "Mabi Reconstruction Hope Lantern" and her perspective on the current situation in Mabi Town as a resident.
It will still take time to return to a town where people can live safely, and it was impressive to hear her say that she hopes people will actually visit so that the memory of the disaster does not fade.
To encourage more people to visit Mabi Town, we will hold a "Mabi Town Photo Walk" on May 18, 2019, to explore the attractive spots in Mabi Town.
This event is for those who want to know about Mabi Town and convey its charm, so please join us if you're interested.
![Promoting the charm of Mabi Town through photos! The Mabi Town Photo Walk will be held on May 18, 2019 (Saturday) at Makibi Park 'Takenoko Chaya' [Ended]](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/23060209/57313542_2634945063214684_791965267570720768_n.jpg)
Group Stroll in the Bikan Historical Area
After the presentations by the Kuratoco writers, we split into groups to think about our desired routes and explored the Bikan Historical Area.
To let more people know the charm of Kurashiki, we posted on social media with the hashtag "#Kuratoco".
With models present, we were able to take fun and attractive photos.
Group A strolled along Honmachi Street and purchased souvenirs from Kimoto Ebudo's murasuzume.
They went to eat the famous Kurashiki Ebisu Manju in the shopping district.
This traditional manju is simply irresistible.
On Saturdays and Sundays, it is so popular that there are lines.
Group B enjoyed the cherry blossoms at Kanryuji Temple and the views of the Bikan Historical Area.
After strolling along Hondori, we enjoyed coffee in a standing style at "Cafe Gewa".
Team C went from Anniversary Street to Kurashiki Ivy Square.
They introduced each other to recommended spots on Anniversary Street and had a great time.
Kurashiki Ivy Square was perfect for model shooting, and it turned into a photo session (laughs).
Conclusion
The author often visits the Bikan Historical Area, but walking with a group allowed me to learn about unknown spots, discover seasonal highlights, and make many new discoveries.
I would like to continue the Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting, which explores the charm of the Bikan Historical Area each season.
I am also truly grateful that more people are supporting Kurashiki Tocotoco.
Next time, we will hold a "Photo Walk in Mabi, visiting recommended spots in Mabi Town".
Photographer Takumi Yano will join us to share tips on photography and communication while we enjoy strolling through Mabi Town and sharing our experiences.
Additionally, we are preparing for aerial photography by drone pilot Hiroki Tomiyasu.
If you want to visit Mabi Town, love photography, or want to share the charm of Mabi Town together, please join us.
Participant Report Articles
- Participated in the Kurashiki Tocotoco Spring Bikan Historical Area Discovery Event | Shumikako
- Changing Perspectives - Participated in the Kuratoco Photo Walk! | n feel lab
- The Bikan Historical Area is fun no matter how many times you walk it! Report on the 1st Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting | From the Land of Sunshine
- Let's Walk in the Spring Bikan Historical Area! Report on the 1st Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting | Nako Lab
- [#Kuratoco] Report on the 1st Kurashiki Tocotoco Exchange Meeting - Discovering the Charm of the Spring Bikan Historical Area! | Kurashiki Cluster
- Kurashiki Tocotoco Spring Exchange Meeting @ Bikan Historical Area | Kibi Navi
