Experience a riverboat ride in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter! From purchasing tickets to riding and stopping by for gourmet food
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A report on the Kurashiki River Boat Tour! We also introduce recommended gourmet spots in the area to stop by while waiting for your boat ride or after.
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Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
The Kurashiki River runs through the main street of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. I experienced the "Kurashiki River Boat Floating," a boat ride down the river. When you change your perspective, the familiar scenery looks different, and you can once again appreciate the beauty of the white-walled town with swaying willow trees. In the Edo period, the Kurashiki River was a major artery of water transport, with boats carrying cargo from all over the country passing by. Riding the boat with a hat on, I felt like I had traveled back in time, feeling the history of that time.
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Table of Contents
- What is the "Kurashiki River Boat Festival"?
- Tickets can be purchased at the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
- Meet at the boarding point 5 minutes before
- Enjoy Kurashiki sightseeing from the water
- The boarding time is about 15 minutes!
- Drop-in gourmet ① Kurashiki Soup Soudon An Furuichi
- Drop-in gourmet spot No.2 Kotori Furatto
What is the "Kurashiki River Boat Festival"?
Tourist river boats operate on the Kurashiki River, which flows through the center of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. You can enjoy the view of Kurashiki's townscape, which still retains traces of the Edo period, from the water as the boat moves along at a leisurely pace.
On Saturdays from September to October, the " Nighttime Kurashiki River Boat Floating " is also held.
Tickets can be purchased at the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
To ride a riverboat in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, first buy a ticket at the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center along the Kurashiki River. If you take your time, tickets will sell out, so we recommend making a reservation for the boat ride when you arrive at Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and then enjoying sightseeing. Tickets are only sold on the day, so during the tourist season, customers line up before the sales start, and it was so popular that people made reservations in the morning and boarded at 3 p.m.
Meet at the boarding point 5 minutes before
We were told to gather 5 minutes before, so we went to the riverboat boarding point on the opposite side of the river from the "Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center" where we had bought our tickets early. The red Japanese umbrellas were a landmark and we could easily find it.
Farewell to the previous group
We lined up a little early, so we were able to see the group ahead of us board and depart.
After checking your ticket, you can put on your hat.
Before boarding, our tickets were checked and we put on hats. It was a very hot day, but the hats let in a breeze and were surprisingly comfortable. I thought they were a sunshade filled with the wisdom of our ancestors.
Enjoy Kurashiki sightseeing from the water
This time I was able to ride at the front. The boatman was at the back rowing the riverboat with a bamboo pole. We slowly headed south, first toward the Seto Inland Sea(downstream). If we continued south, we would reach the Seto Inland Sea in about 15 kilometers. As we went along, the boatman gave us explanations, so we could enjoy sightseeing.
Cormorant
A cormorant suddenly popped its head out of the river right next to the boat. I was surprised. It was very used to people and swam parallel to the riverboat without any sign of fear, popping its head out and catching fish. I was surprised to be able to see a cormorant so close to the water surface at eye level. It had a cute face.
Go under Nakabashi Bridge
We passed under Nakabashi Bridge in front of the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center, a popular photo spot. It was a rare experience, as we don't often have the chance to see under a bridge. On the underside of the bridge, the name of the person who built it is engraved. As it is an important cultural property, it cannot be painted, so it is difficult to see unless you look closely.
Kurashiki lattice and 400-year-old black pine
As the riverboat heads west, you'll see a Kurashiki lattice building to the right of the boat. The lattices on the wooden windows are visible from the inside but not from the outside, and are a common sight in the Kurashiki Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. There's also a 400-year-old black pine tree, which is said to be the oldest in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter .
Yurinso
Yurinso was built by Ohara Magosaburo, known as the founder of the Ohara Museum of Art , a symbol of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter , out of concern for his sickly wife. After it became the property of the Ohara Museum of Art, it has served as a guest house and welcomed many distinguished guests, including Emperor Showa. The building is characterised by its distinctive green roof tiles, which were specially ordered from a roofer in Sakai, Senshu.
Return to the homecoming at "Imabashi"
We turned back at Imabashi Bridge in front of the Ohara Museum of Art . Taking photos of this view from the top of Imabashi Bridge is a standard tourist activity in Kurashiki, but the view from the river was refreshingly different from usual. Even the scenery reflected on the water's surface was picturesque.
Oyama Hinomaru Securities
On the right you can see Oyama Hinomaru Securities. This is a long-established securities company that is famous for the stock price trends that are handwritten every day on a board in front of the entrance.
The boarding time is about 15 minutes!
We passed under Nakabashi Bridge once more and returned to the boarding point. The boat ride was about 15 minutes long, and even on a hot day, it was comfortable thanks to the umbrella and because we were close to the water. This was my first time riding the Kurashiki River Boat, but I highly recommend it!
[Kurashiki River Boat Ride]
Address: 1-4-8 Chuo, Kurashiki City City, Okayama Prefecture ( Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center)
TEL: 086-422-0542
Operating hours: First departure 9:30 - last departure 17:00
* Departs every 30 minutes
*Break time is from 12:00 to 13:00
*Heatstroke alerts are issued in the afternoon.
Suspended days: March to December / 2nd Monday (excluding public holidays) January to February / Weekdays *Only operates on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Year-end and New Year's holiday rates: 700 yen for adults, 350 yen for children (ages 5 to elementary school age), free for children under 5 *Only available on the day (no reservations)
Drop-in gourmet ① Kurashiki Soup Soudon An Furuichi
For lunch, we went to "Kurashiki Soup Udon An Furuichi", which opened in November 2023. It is located next to the Kurashiki Municipal Parking Lot. This is an exquisite soup udon that has evolved from the taste of Kurashiki Soup Udon Furuichi in front of JR Kurashiki Station, and can be enjoyed in Bizen Pottery ware with carefully selected quality and taste!
Shrimp tempura assortment with soup udon
The recommended menu item is the "Shrimp Tempura Assortment Soup Udon (1,690 yen)." The noodles are chewier than usual, and the reason for this is that they are boiled all at once in a large pressure cooker. You can choose between hot and cold soup, but since it was a hot day, I went for the cold soup. The dishes were made by Isezaki Shu, a Bizen Pottery ware Living National Treasure, and the atmosphere and taste seem to be upgraded when the dishes are Bizen Pottery. The tempura is freshly fried and crispy, and can be served with three types of salt: rock salt, matcha salt, and tempura sauce. It also came with shiratama zenzai for dessert, which filled me up!
They also have many inbound customers, and the Wagyu beef shabu-shabu udon menu is apparently popular.
There is also a tablet menu available, which is multilingual, so foreign visitors tourists can feel at ease.
A wide variety of souvenir items available
The shop also has a wide selection of souvenirs including the soup udon we had in the store, which can also be purchased from the official website. They are popular souvenirs unique to Kurashiki.
[Kurashiki Soup Udon An Furuichi]
Address: 2-1-16 Chuo , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 086-435-3900
Business hours: 11:00-19:00
Closed: None
Parking: None
Kurashiki Soup Udon An Furuichi | Official website
Drop-in gourmet spot No.2 Kotori Furatto
Kotori Furatto opened in June 2023 on a back street just east of Ebisu Shopping Street, which connects to Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Taiwanese cafe menus and Japanese dumpling menus stop passersby in their tracks. It combines Showa nostalgia with Taiwanese retro, and is reasonably priced. There is also a tatami room on the second floor, which is equipped with a black telephone and a retro electric fan, making it popular for its nostalgia and coziness.
Charcoal grilled dumplings set
The delicious smell of dango was coming from the air, so I ordered the "Charcoal Grilled Dango Little Set (600 yen)". There are two dangos, and you can choose your flavor: walnut miso, mitarashi, kinako, or red bean paste. In winter, you can eat them while they are grilled on the tabletop hearth. It comes with candied sweet potato, ice cream, and tea, making it a popular menu item with women. The dango was slightly sweet, had just the right amount of chewiness, and was delicious.
Taiwanese shaved ice mango flavor
The ceiling was lit with Taiwanese lanterns, and the atmosphere was like being at a local food stall. It was a hot day, so I also had mango shaved ice (850 yen). You can add condensed milk to taste. It was delicious with the natural sweetness of the mango. And best of all, it was reasonably priced. A great place to take a break while exploring the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter!
[Kotori Flat]
Address: 2-16-27 Achi , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Business hours: 11:00-18:00
Closed: Tuesdays (and other irregular holidays)
Parking: None
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
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