Kurashiki, Okayama: The Venice of Japan | Hidden Canal Town Day Trip from Osaka & Kyoto
Welcome back to my Japan’s bestkept secrets series. The series where I take you beyond the usual and uncover hidden gems throughout Japan. Today we’re stepping into a place that feels like you’re stepping out of a time capsule. Kurashiki Biken Historical Quarter. You can reach this Edeto period village in just over an hour from a sucker. And if you have a JR pass or one of the regional passes like I did, then this day trip will be included. Overall, I saved myself hundreds of dollars with my regional JR pass. And I’ve included which one I bought and all the information on how to choose the best one below. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in a Saka, then check out this traditional Ryon right in the heart of the Doon Bori Canal area. And when I say right in the heart, it actually backs on and has views of the Doburi Canal. The rooms are traditional. They have tatami floors, beautiful views, and there is an on-site onen as well. What I love about this place is the Japanese hospitality and just the added extras that come with booking a smaller RON like this one. Straight out of the train station, there are a bunch of different brochures. And I just grabbed myself a walking map. I always find that there might be things that I don’t know about, but they sometimes that can be pretty good. So, I’ve got myself prepared. Next is a 900 m walk or a 15-minute walk through to Kurashaki. It’s really well signed. This is straight coming out from the train station which is here. It says 500 m. So it um it’s not a bad walk at all. It’s actually very easy. The walk is pretty much a straight line from the train station. And this is all an Edeto period authentic village. Looks like there’s a cat cafe. It’s not quite open yet because I’m here quite early, but there’s all sorts of samurai memorabilia here as well. And it’s just a really cute authentic old village. There’s a family of swans. They are so cute. And they’re literally just swimming through the canals here. Oh my goodness. This is just so adorable. So so pretty. These gardens are beautiful. The houses, the gardens. Wow. They have traditional Japanese boats that go through the canal areas. And I’m going now to look for where they go from. They start at 9:30 in half an hour. There’s actually quite a few people here already, so I’m quite surprised by that. I thought I would be one of the only ones here this early, but none of the shops have opened, so I might do a boat trip to start off. And then I might go get myself a coffee or a tea and go to one of these little cafes and go for a shop once everything opens. There’s every all the way along here there’s more as well. It’s actually a really big area. So far, it has well exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t expecting it to be this big or this beautiful. Looks like you can rent bikes. This is the back street and it’s still so beautiful. At 9:00 a.m. there was a big lineup for the boat sale. So, I don’t think I’ll be getting on the first boat. I’ll just play it by ear. I am not that bothered if I don’t get to do the boat ride. Uh, but it’s just beautiful being here. I might prefer to spend my time not in the queue. Even the Wson is cute. Have a look. How cute is that? So, I’ve just come up the stairs to a bit of a viewpoint. It’s called the Can Rui Temple. Let’s have a look. So, this is a beautiful park and temple. So beautiful. This is up the top. Overlooks the whole area. You can also get yourself a rick chore ride around the area. And here is one of the boats. I can come over. [Music] This is the birthplace of Japanese denim and there’s a special denim exhibition going on here. It’s actually got a denim runway and I believe it’s a shop as well. Summer denim collection. Let’s go for a look. Everything and anything you can think of in denim. Denim fans, denim ties, denim jeans, denim bags, rests. Went into the information center, which is where you book your boats and where there was a decent line at 9:30 lining up. And I know why people lined up. So, they’re sold out till after 12 if you’ve got more than one. There was one spot left on their 11:00 boat. But if you’re a couple or any more than a single person, you definitely want to jump in that line and book a ticket if you’re wanting to do the boat ride. So, boat ride was 700 yen and there’s six people per boat and it’s about a 20minute ride and $700 $7 a damn good. And there’s huge big koi fish. I don’t know if you can see that there, but throughout the entire canal there’s these huge big koi fish. And I also found out that the ritual rides were $4,000 for a single person or $5,000 for two people, which was a half an hour trip, which once again, $40 Australian just for myself, or $50 for 225 each. That’s pretty cheap for a half an hour tour and he takes you around the whole entire area. Um certainly an easy quick way to look. I just feel so bad cuz it’s such a hot day today as well. Like I I don’t know. I feel bad that they’d be riding and like towing me around. There is a nippy bakery and a Snoopy chocolate shop. Now, I’ve seen these near the Gibli village of Fukioa, and they are so cute. Let me take you and show you. I’m inside the Snoopy shop, the Snoopy Chocolate Shop, and they even have Snoopy denim in here. Very cute. Here’s [Music] a little look at the gift box of Snoopy chocolates. Adorable. And there is a store with just Studio Ghibli merchandise and toys and accessories and cuteness. Loads of things in here. Definitely don’t um underestimate the size of this place. I’ve just gotten to what I thought was the end. And it goes both ways in the opposite directions. Crazy. We’re now at the craft village. So, this is all locally made products through here. And there’s a few different stores, hats, clothes, fabrics, very beautiful. I am in what they call denim street. So denim was actually originated in here in Japan. So it has a very big place in this little town. And Denim Street is full of everything denim. All these denim stores selling everything denim you can possibly imagine. And something that I think is quite cute and quite unique is they also have a little shop up here that’s selling denim colored ice creams and buns and drinks, little slushy drinks. So it’s called the denim street takeout. You can get a denim soft serve or denim steamed bun. There is another denim street which you can catch a bus to and that is where they have the whole street is lined with pairs of denim jeans hanging from like um like fesoon lights but they’re all denim jeans and there is a little bamboo forest at the kibibi kilbi museum. How beautiful is this little spot? [Music] Look how gorgeous these pathways are in this garden. They’ve done a really beautiful job. Been so easy to get here from Aucka. This is absolutely a nobrainer and a must do activity. It has exceeded my expectations by far and honestly would give this place a 10 out of 10. I would skip Kyoto’s all their um old villages and Gon district and Gisha district. This is so good here. This is the local history museum. And now everything is open. What a cool spot. And that is the end of this video. Make sure you check for all the links and all the details of the JR passes below and check out the rest of my Japan and Southeast Asia content.
Discover Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter — often called the Venice of Japan. 🇯🇵✨ This hidden gem is full of willow-lined canals, Edo-period warehouses, and red-brick charm, making it one of the most beautiful off the beaten track day trips from Osaka or Kyoto.
In this vlog, I’ll take you on a walk through Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter canal town, and show you the best things to do, and explain why it’s one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Whether you’re into history, shopping, or just soaking up the atmosphere, Kurashiki deserves a spot on your Japan itinerary.
📌 MY LINKS
🔗 My Osaka Hotel: https://booking.stay22.com/thesavvytourist/_qyxrZTY2L
🔗 My Kyoto Hotel: https://booking.stay22.com/thesavvytourist/_qyxrZTY2L
🔗 Kyoto Itinerary: https://the-savvytourist.com/things-to-do-in-kyoto-itinerary/
🔗 Osaka Itinerary: https://the-savvytourist.com/osaka-itinerary/
🔗 Tokyo Itinerary: https://the-savvytourist.com/5-day-tokyo-itinerary-and-map/
🔗 JR Kansai Pass Info & Prices: https://shorturl.at/HDE7G
🤑DISCOUNT CODE KLOOK: https://www.klook.com/coupons/?code=TRAVELLIVNKLOOK
💰GET A WISE CARD FOR THE BEST EXCHANGE RATES: https://wise.prf.hn/click/camref:1100lLpJp
🚉 Getting to Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
🚄 From Osaka: Shinkansen to Okayama (45 mins), then JR Sanyo Line to Kurashiki (15 mins). The Bikan area is a 10-min walk from the station.
🚄 From Kyoto: Shinkansen to Okayama (1 hr 5 mins), then JR Sanyo Line to Kurashiki (15 mins).
🌸 Best Things to See & Do in Kurashiki
🛶Stroll the willow-lined Kurashiki Canal
🚤 Donkobune boat ride (700 yen)
🛺 Rickshaw ride (4,000 yen solo / 5,000 yen for two)
🏠 Step inside Edo-period homes for a glimpse of history
👖 Explore Denim Street, birthplace of Japanese denim
🏛 Visit the Ohara Museum of Art & its hidden bamboo grove
🏮 Discover Ivy Square and red-brick warehouses
🍵 Sample local snacks in the Kurashiki Shopping Streets
🛍 Shop at quirky stores like the Miffy shop, Snoopy Chocolate shop, and Ghibli goods
🎭 Browse the Toy Museum and folk craft shops
📸 Snap the mix of Japanese and Western architecture
🔗 My Japan Travel Links
🌏 Blog & Itineraries → https://the-savvytourist.com/japan/
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/travellivn/
🎥 Facebook Group and my Japan Map with over 300 pins → https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DJoDDt3Xz/
📌 Japan’s Kept Secrets Blog – https://the-savvytourist.com/off-the-beaten-path-japan/
1 Comment
I love the Japanese public transport… lol