THE VENICE OF JAPAN | Exploring Kurashiki's Historical Town

There are not many tourists who know about the historical town of Kurashiki on the outskirts of Okayama. I was very fortunate to find out about this area when I was passing through and I would highly recommend you visit here if you enjoy the more traditional side of Japanese culture. It is very easy to get to if you are already staying in Okayama or there is also the option of staying right in Kurashiki with many beautiful ryokans. Hope you find the video helpful for planning your trip! xx
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Alina

[@mahikonshimpu2902]

I had been to that place, Kurashiki, 10 years ago. Thanks for showing

[@dominikmauer1853]

Hi. Very nice town. Thanks for that. Another godd alternatives for Kyoto are Kanazawa and Akita. If you want to avoid the crowds of Takayama, you should try Komatsu. In Fukui and Ishikawa are very pleasant places in general. Matsumoto and the surroundings, such as Kiso valley or Kurobe Gorge, are nice as well. If you like hiking, the Yamabushi mountain training is a good choice. Greetings, Dominik.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Great suggestions, thank you!

[@NhickVhurn-w3f]

Thanks for this. I’ll be in the Kansai area this fall.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Hope you have a great trip!

[@keangwooichoo6138]

It is great japan preserved so many old houses and temples.

[@michaelkahn]

Your pronunciation of "Kurashiki " is way off! You mentioned the museums there and wonder if you missed the Ohara Museum with its amazing collection French Impressionist painting. The main reason I went there is that museum!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yes I mentioned the museums but you can’t film in them.

[@hed2410]

Perhaps you could enlighten us as to how it's pronounced?

[@Tachi-te210]

『人(他人)の行く、裏に道あり、花の山』 古人も貴女が考え方が正しいと言っています。😄

[@jimtakahashi4638]

Good thinking and good move, Alina. There are quite a few towns in many parts of JPN which are fondly called “Little Kyoto”, where, with far less tourism and commercialism, you can taste and enjoy the serene and quaint atmosphere of “old” JPN better than Kyoto. Kurashiki is definitely 1 of those hidden gems, and if you go further down south, before Hiroshima, there’s a little town called Onomichi. Oh, and at those less known places, there are more chances to get befriended with the locals, and if you’re lucky, they might volunteer to be a guide for you.

[@jimross7648]

I had never heard of Kurashiki but I have the feeling I seen it depicted in some wood block prints. I found from your video, that it was like a combination between a postal town on the old edo period trail system, the canal area is a wholly different vibe from anywhere I've been in Japan. From what you showed this would be an interesting place to explore. Obviously can be done in a day trip, but might be worth an overnight stay to do an in depth wander. Japan has so many unique locals that you rarely hear about in main tourist info. Alina finds the non touristy sites that tourists should really visit. Another place added to the list in Japan. The list keeps getting longer, Japan has so many hidden gems and Alina unveils new ones to me.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much!

[@maxplanck9055]

I liked this town, quiet with historic buildings,not full of tourists, everything you need, accessible by train,seemed a nice parochial town, typical Japan? A joy to see and interesting, thanks Alina ✌️♥️🇬🇧

[@トラ虎-q8r]

If possible, after Kurashiki, please go to Shikoku across the sea instead of Hiroshima. More than Hiroshima, Shikoku has a lot more to see, eat, and go. Absolutely recommended.

[@gabriellagirardi4741]

Wow! What a nice little town. It is so beautuful and with its canals is really worth a visit. The little Venice of Japan, a fairytale. Thank you Alina for showing us the beauty of this land.

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure!

[@gediminasmurauskas7817]

Hi Alina! Kurashiki is indeed a hidden gem! There is much to explore and learn about here. I very much enjoy your historical and cultural geography explorations.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yes, absolutely. Thank you :)

[@darellnewsome4459]

Wow Alina this town is awesome. So far it's my favorite of all of the places that you have shown us so far in Japan. I love older historical areas a lot. Thanks for sharing and as always stay safe out there

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

Another stunning video, so beautifully done. A wonderful musical score that lifts this video to another level. Harriet and I have never been to Kurashiki. It's bucket list for us. You have showed us many sides of Japan. All good. That's what makes it a special place to visit. Love you Dearly, Alina❤❤❤ Harriet, Jim and Yuki. Richmond, Va.

[@kenm.3761]

Another terrific video on a town not usually or ever featured - a beautiful city.

[@Keith_Aerotrunk]

Wow, this video is a hidden gem! Kurashiki looks like an amazing destination, full of history and culture. Your video really captures the essence of the town and your passion for it is contagious. I'm definitely adding Kurashiki to my travel bucket list and I appreciate all of the helpful tips and information you provided. Thank you for sharing Alina!

[@maureenalder8905]

Your love of this country comes through in your video's your absolutely glowing and I can understand why..it's a special place..definitely on my bucket list..thanks Alina ❤

[@AlinaMcleod]

Aw thank you very much, Maureen!

[@DavidL23.]

Hello Alina! 😁🙏👋🌟 I hope your having a super wonderful day! This is really a marvelous excellent video! 😄👍❤️👏📹🇯🇵🥇💯💫✨🌟 The town of Kurashiki looks so absolutely amazing! Also Former Ohara’s residence is really magnificent! I would definitely like to visit the town of Kurashiki one day. It is a marvelous place! Thank you so much Alina to share with us this fantastic video. You are the best and greatest world traveler adventurer! 🙂👍👏✈️🌎📹🥇💯🏆💫🌟 I wish you Alina a wonderful excellent amazing blessed day. Have a magnificent time in Japan! 😊🙏❤️👋🇯🇵👍✨🌟

[@由美子浅葉]

食べ物😂😊😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😊😂😊😂😂😂😂😂😊😂😂

[@shaunpierce4174]

9:11 didn't you just walk right past a coffee shop? 🤣 When I arrive in Japan in a couple of weeks I am thinking of jumping on a local train and getting off at random stations to explore the 'real' local Japan, I don't speak any Japanese at all but I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem, there must be hidden gems abound in Japan.

[@huapiavesyviajes]

what a lovely little town! Very quiet and picturesque. sometimes you just need to be in a lesser known area to get a feel for everyday life in a destination thanks for sharing

[@ingridnh1]

What a lovely little town! Very quiet and picturesque. Sometimes you just need to be in a lesser known area to get a taste of the everyday life of a destination! Thanks!❤

[@トラ虎-q8r]

Thank you, I'm glad that you really took my advice. Kurashiki is wonderful. Foreign tourists go to Hiroshima after Kyoto and Osaka, so few people visit Kurashiki or Okayama. Kurashiki reproduces the traditional Japanese townscape. It's a true representation of Japan. Thank you very match. .

[@寿司ボンバー]

映画のセットのような街並みでいい所ですね😮すごく心が落ち着きそう😊

[@rahadisri5478]

It is approaching golden week (29 Apr to 5 May) in Japan. Almost everyone in Japan will be on vacation mode. Nice!

[@vinodpund1574]

Beautiful city ❤ great informative video

[@f1r3Ed1tsss]

This gives me demon Slayer swordsmen arc vibes.

[@hermit19781974]

春のしまなみ海道は、日本の中の天国です。

[@user-binten]

The focus of Kurashiki is the fusion of history and culture, the extraordinary and the ordinary that has been turned into a tourist attraction. There is a small hill and a traditional shrine (Achi Shrine). 400 years ago, the bottom of the sea was shallow as far as the eye could see, except for the hill where Achi Shrine is located. The Bikan Historical Quarter is lined with high-class Japanese restaurants, Japanese soba noodles, and sweets shops. On the other hand, if you walk from Kurashiki Station toward the Bikan Historical Quarter, you will find shops selling common Japanese foods, such as 40 yen croquettes and steamed buns, and 1,200 yen yakiniku set meals during weekday lunchtimes from 11:00 to 14:00. A shop, a kushikatsu restaurant, the first branch of a famous udon restaurant, and a ramen shop. In front of the station there is a traditional Kurashiki ramen shop that is open only at night. Kurashiki has a lot of clean and reasonably priced hotels, and everything but anime, games, and castles.

[@無双山ぽん吉]

日本には外国の人に知られていない、大小、たくさんの美しい、古風な、温泉街があります❤地元の居酒屋、神社、寺、いいですねえ。 知多半島、渥美半島には古い日本酒の製造販売所が８カ所あります。 日本酒の瓶は銘柄のステッカーが貼られていなく、新聞紙で包まれます。この日本酒は芳香が甘く、味はフルーティーです。おいしい😋

[@oldandbankrupt]

With the bicycles and canals I would say it's more like the Amsterdam of Japan. You should collaborate once in a while with other YooToobers. It would increase your popularity and subscribers. Have fun in Japan! 🤗

[@socrateos]

Kurashiki and the areas near by are also famous for Japanese high quality jeans, "the mecca of Japanese Denim."

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yes, that is true, lots of great denim shops in Okayama!

[@NormanF62]

Kurashiki is such a cute city and its obvious why its the Venice of Japan. It offers something different in the spring from the ski resort places like Nagano and Sapporo on Hokkaido where Winter Olympic Games were held in Japan. Tourists can’t see everything in a short period of time and on a limited budget but Kurashiki is a place that should be checked out. Thanks for the video!

[@ahmedeliyas-y1g]

Japan so beautiful ❤

[@Indygt3]

nice video! Kururishiki is also known as the home of Japanese denim.

[@jerryaschenbrenner712]

It’s always a pleasure to follow your travels Alina. Spring is slowly arriving in Calgary!

[@DebyHariyanto-de3eq]

AMAZING BEAUTIFUL❤ JAPAN❤ FROM JAKARTA CITY" PIK2 SEDAYU CITY JAKARTA" KEPULAUAN SERIBU ISLAND JAKARTA" INDONESIA..❤💖💕👍👍👍

[@johnsjourneys]

Thanks for the card hope you are enjoying japan like i did in 1992

[@AlinaMcleod]

Oh wow, you got it already? Fantastic!

[@akaiseigo]

Notorious on time. More like very disciplined and they publicly apologised/informed to the commuters if they had a minute delay unlike some train stations in every other countries.

[@mahikonshimpu2902]

Japanese train are always on time

[@akas224]

beautiful video.❤why don't you use suika card so that you don't need to pay each time and can be used for anywhere's shopping.

[@Tommy-4649]

私の住む都市を紹介ありがとうございます。 美観地区と言う昔の建物が残る観光地です。 日本では小京都と呼ばれています。 このビデオを見て倉敷市に観光に来てくださいね

[@Its_just_me_again]

great vid - really well edited. thx for posting :) fyi kurashiki is and has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region for a long time :) and the reliable and punctual japan rail system is famous not notorious. p.s great camera work - thx for listing ur gear

[@daniellopez-nj1bf]

Hola alina McLeod nice tour in kirakishi nice gente, negocios, restaurante, ciudad, dia soleado , bonita panoramica de la ciudad y te miras bonita! con tu bebida

[@mahikonshimpu2902]

I miss those train in the inaka - countryside

[@voyagestours]

Excellent video 👍 I subscríbe😊

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much!

[@fumin8]

Hello Alina! Kurashiki is nice selection indeed. Didn't you enter Ohara Museum of Art? It's very famous and nice museum. Well, Yanagawa in Fukuoka prefecture is very famous canal city. There are 470 km of wide canals. Next time please.

[@Marek_Cali]

i am going to Japan in couple of months. Japan is beautiful

[@brandoncoyle7110]

We just went 2 days ago. LOVED it. The boat rides sell out pretty early (you book right across the river from the actual boat google location). So far this is our favorite location of our month long Japan trip. The temple right right next to Kurashiki is also very nice and has an amazing old cemetery right behind it.

[@alexykong9378]

Laid back similar to some places, definitely a must to see.

[@shiningstar6659]

Hello beautiful, what scenery. I am glad you're having a good time in Japan. And thanks for your gorgeous smile. ❤😘

[@wolfie_2056]

岡山に住んでいるけど、ここは良いところがたくさんある隠れた名所だと思うよ。ぜひ来てみてね。

[@shakpro4296]

🇬🇧❤

[@AgeCobra]

Thanks Alina have a good week until your next upload .smile.

[@AgeCobra]

I don't have a cell phone and not on Telegram as a result .

[@informationcollectionpost3257]

Nope, going to continue being my own kind of handsome. The town seems more to my liking than other Japanese cities. Have gotten some interest in Japanese wood working and their techniques and really enjoy watching one Japanese wood worker who never speaks in his videos and goes by the Japanese alphabet. ( boy now that tells you absolutely nothing) Of course, he has a You Tube channel.

[@isurukottahachchi6156]

Hey Alina! I love your videos and please visit Sri Lanka too.

[@alexykong9378]

Even the tatami is exquisitely clean!#

[@frankswarbrick7562]

Looks like a great place. Sorry you missed the boat ride! Glad the crowds didn't follow you all the way.

[@jawanshinglai8724]

Very nice and tiny old town of Japan nice vlogs

[@bernabecaneta6154]

❤️❤️❤️🙏 good evning maam

[@Kojak-dv4fy]

Hi, thanks for all the videos. Brilliant. Best wishes.

[@theoadelaidabondocabe7261]

Alina,Thanks you so much for this new remarkable video today’s from Japan in April of 2023.I wish you always the BEST in peace in Japan 2023❤❤❤

[@koikoijapan6285]

Welcome to Okayama

[@DebyHariyanto-de3eq]

I LOVE❤ JAPAN❤❤ FROM JAKARTA CITY" BEKASI CITY" DEPOK CITY" TANGERANG CITY" BOGOR CITY" BANDUNG CITY" INDONESIA..❤❤💖💕👍👍👍

[@icevoss9917]

Super cute...I would visit

[@MITOGURO]

「倉敷デニム」は、ハイブランドのジーンズの生地で有名です。 この映像の歴史保存地区から少し離れますが、 「水辺のカフェ　三宅商店　酒津」と その近くの「旧原田邸」は 倉敷を代表する日本式のカフェとしてお勧めします。

[@ometofu]

Damn. Japan got many of these treasured quiet towns! Love u for showing us! Well done!

[@sjwgwdwgpjyx]

I am super happy to watch this video because it is my hometown😊 Thank you for introducing and choosing Kurashiki, Okayama. Your other video is also so interesting. It reminds me of the days in Canada.

[@shuhuikline2303]

Castle?

[@pakinpakinn8819]

สวยงามและมีเอกลักษณ์❤

[@raghavendra4633]

This is such a beautiful place in Japan. Thanks from India for showing wonderful locations in Japan. In Udaipur city in Rajasthan state of India is also called VENICE OF EAST

[@shiva.chennai]

Awesome. I enjoyed your video. There is no crowd in our metro like in Okayama. Moreover, it is $1 wherever you go. Our people think that even that one dollar is expensive. On an ordinary train, it costs 15 cents to go everywhere.

[@BeniSedano]

So beautiful

[@77AlexS]

Thanks so much for visiting our prefecture! I've been in Okayama for about 6 years now and I always love visiting Kurashiki. The train line going out to Kurashiki is always crowded...my husband and I always say how we wish they added more trains to that line to just ease the crowds. T_T Also, I feel like someone could spend a couple days in Kurashiki and have so much fun discovering all of the small shops and cafes. They also have a really nicely done art museum featuring wood block prints! It's right at the base of the stairs leading up to the shrine. And if people are fans of Japanese washi tape, the company MT, originated in Kurashiki. So, you can visit washi tape shops there and spend all your money, haha. Again, thanks for checking out this little hidden gem ;)

[@AlinaMcleod]

Great suggestions, thank you so much!

[@niaredgirl]

I am planning to visit Kurashiki on my up coming trip (I am a big stationery fan :) please could you tell me the name of the museum you mentioned above? I would love to visit and when I looked on google maps many art museums came up, thank you :)

[@77AlexS]

@@niaredgirl hello! Yes, here’s the name of the woodblock museum: UKIYO-E KURASHIKI／国芳館 🤗🤗 I hope you enjoy your time in Kurashiki ⭐️

[@niaredgirl]

@@77AlexS Thank you so much! I have added it to my list and really looking forward to exploring Kurashiki, it looks so so beautiful :) if you have any other museum or stationery recommendations I will gladly take note! Many thanks again :)

[@tpham4607]

It's beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[@にゅーてぃみー]

うわ　倉敷にも来ていたのか。撮影禁止で大原美術館や歌川国芳の浮世絵とか知られなくてよかった。むしろそれがメインなので。備前焼とかも知られなくてラッキーです。京都か広島へどうぞ。岡山と倉敷は穴場ではないですよ。あぶないあぶない。かわいそうなのでチャンネル登録したけどね。

[@ひさかずうの]

日本はいろんな災害のリスクがあります そんな日本の中で一番災害のリスクが低く安全だと言われているのが岡山ですよ 岡山市は住む街です、、倉敷は観光地です あと瀬戸大橋の景観はオススメしますよ❗

[@HawaiiJapan808]

I went to another place they call the “Venice of Japan” it was. Called Yanagawa. I’ll have to go ck this one out too. Thx for idea.

[@chalermchaiwattanawongpitu7196]

I luv it's peacefulness n nice Jap houses..

[@nipponhinomoto8550]

素晴らしい動画です。日本人の私も感動して見ています。 今後のご活躍を期待しています。

[@AlinaMcleod]

Arigato gozaimas!

[@Chrisfeb68]

I live in the Midwest of United States and I've watched videos on Japan for the last five years and I just can't say enough about Japan and the Japanese people. Americans could learn a lot from Japan.

[@dauny08]

I'm a Japanese who saw the video. A lot of the comments say that Kurashiki is a small town, but is Kurashiki, with a population of 500,000, a small town by international standards?

[@Tv-po5uh]

I'm doing well❤❤

[@andykeast8920]

Went there yesterday whilst staying in Okayama. Really quaint little place.

[@onelightindark2]

God loves you and sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die as payment for our sin on cross. God Jesus Christ became man, crucified, died, buried, is risen, will return to judge all. all have sinned by breaking God's law, deserve death and eternal torment in lake of fire. God did all to save us from sin and hell. what must we do to be saved from sin and hell? repent, believe, obey God Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour to be saved. this is truth and gospel. antichrist denies this.

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Pretty place, but is it mostly a tourist area? I think of Hoi An in Vietnam - 90% foreign shoppers and no real native lifestyle. How is Kurashiki in this regard?

[@EVL-xj5vc]

Is it easy to get to Kurashiki from Hiroshima? I’m using Hiroshima as a base to make day trips and I wonder if I should change base to get to Kurashiki…

[@mf-ch7qg]

倉敷で、暮らして見たいな。

[@nadasou]

Some 700 km from Tokyo, things are less convenient, plus local people there is a bit xenophobic...😢

[@randolphpinkle4482]

Now, I haven't been to Kurashiki in a long time, but I thought it was a gaudy tourist trap with really expensive cafes.

[@芋瀬童子]

京都大原での gardening で有名な　ベニシア・スタンレー・スミスさんが『日本で生きて行こう』と決心なさった町が倉敷だったと聞きました。

[@bettyboop3726]

Non non. Plus jolie que Kyoto non! C’est mignon mais c’est très touristique. C’est très petit aussi. N’y allez que si vous connaissez déjà très bien le Japon. C’est en allant de Osaka à Hiroshima. (1h de Osaka).

[@genchan1224able]

岡山や倉敷は意外に穴場かもしれないなあ✨

[@stevenzhang8615]

Totally agree that it is better than Kyoto. Kurashiki was my childhood sanctuary.

[@megaroeny]

Why are so many people wearing masks outside? Is jt still like that?

[@youroll2008]

倉敷が素晴らしいですよ～～＾＾　日本の中でも、観光地として最高の地域の一つです。

[@muradmuradtajudin588]

2 years i m stay in Bitchu Takahashi and every week go to Kurashiki city,Okayama..

[@TUUKUU]

As　kurashiki museum exists the painting of the Spanish great famous artist El Greco, please visit in here

[@Verklompen]

Did you say, "look like locals"?! Wow. Maybe never do that.

[@carlkramer7784]

Hello Ali a. Love all your posts. Very informative as always. Well done you. Always waiting for the next one lol x

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much!

[@岸本裕子-g3t]

倉敷駅には特急電車も止まります! 混雑しないで早く移動できます。新幹線は全部、岡山駅に停車します。特急券は必要ですが。