Japan, Okayama to Iwakuni Trip, August 2010 – Day 5 Part B: Kurashiki

Continuing on our path to get back to Osaka by nightfall and still see a few sights; Kurashiki was the next stop. Kurashiki is a quiet little city about an hour from Onomichi and within a few stations of Okayama. It is easily accessible from both of the aforementioned cities. We jumped on a train still using our Seishun 18 ticket’s and headed toward a Japanese city, arguably most famous for its canals and ivy square. Kurashiki is definitely worth visiting if you have a JR rail pass as it shows a slightly different kind of Japanese city that is significantly different from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo or Osaka. 

Upon arriving we walked on the main street for about 500 meters then had to turn left for the main sightseeing area. You’ll know you arrive as you’ll see long stretches of canals lined with trees on both sides. The canals are home to many turtles, swans, Koi and several other animals that make this small waterway their home. The canal is lined with local sweet and delicacies that make good presents to take back to someone at home. When your finished taking photos in the canal area there are two notable stops in this area: Ivy Square and the Trick Museum. 

Ivy Square is home to many buildings and I believe a hotel where all the walls are lined with ivy plants, for a more apt description you would best take a look at the photos in the slideshow. The area is quite nice and peaceful as you walk through admiring the ivy that has overrun all the walls. The final stop in Kurashiki was the Trick Museum. The trick museum is a small gag museum that has made its home here in Kurashiki. It is home to several trick art and illusions and a small haunted mansion. The museum also gives a bit of history of osme local folklore. 

If you are interested in architecture and museums there is more than enough to provide, the canal is lined with severla bridges and msueums are literally dotted accross the canals. Kurashiki makes for a decent side trip out of Okayama or just a stop of on your way to Hiroshima. Its definitely not a waste of time to visit here, but just don’t expect a bustling city with game centers on every corner. This ended our Okayama to Onomichi trip and we made our way back to our base at Amagasaki. Stay turned for more individual blogs from my August-September Adventures, plus my blog set from Okinawa will soon follow.

 

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