Kurashiki Canal Area was an important part of
distributing rice in large quantities and is also known as
the Bikan Historical Quarter. Along the canal you can see
large storehouses that have been converted into various
facilities, but still maintain the Edo feel.
Kurashiki Canal Area is located in Okayama
Prefecture
and was once an important distribution center for
large
quantities of rice during the Edo Period (1603-1868).
From Kurashiki large amounts of rice were distributed
to
the surrounding areas. It is one of the reasons you
will
see many warehouses along the canal. Although
today
they are no longer used as storage, but have been
converted into restaurants, shops, and museums.
The
canal area is also known as Kurashiki Bikan
Historical
Quarter and is one of the most picturesque old
merchant quarters in Japan.
Kurashiki was placed under the direct control of the
Tokugawa Shogunate because of its value as a trade
center for rice. It stored rice that would later be
transferred to Osaka and Edo (present day Tokyo).
The
canals were built as a way to allow boats and barges
to
move easily to the different storehouses. Great efforts
were made to maintain the look and atmosphere of
the
Edo merchant days. Even though not all of the
Kurashiki
Canal Area was preserved, the ones located in the
center provide a good idea on how the system used
to
be. The white walls and black tiles are indicators on
which buildings were once storehouses.
Please see below for tours that include
Kurashiki Canal Area:
