Kurashiki

Kurashiki has perhaps the best preserved old town district to be found anywhere in Japan. Weeping willows line the picture-perfect canals with the old 'kura' warehouses on either side now housing art museums and charming coffee shops.

“The atmosphere of this small town casts you back into the Edo period as you stroll along the canal, lined with willow trees and the traditional storehouses that makes this area famous.”

James Mundy, PR Manager

Due to its strategic position, surrounded by thousands of fertile rice fields, Kurashiki was used for rice storage during the Edo period. By barge from Shikoku and Kyushu and overland from western Honshu, tons of rice moved through Kurashiki every year.

The city's name reflects its heritage - "Kura" means storehouses and "Shiki" is from the verb meaning to "spread out". Hundreds of kura were built for the rice, and today many of them still remain in pristine condition.

Many of these distinctive black-tiled warehouse buildings have been converted into museums, galleries, boutiques and cafes.

Along the canals that carried all that rice through this picturesque town, one can now find galleries such as the Ohara Art Museum, Japan's first Western Art museum containing masterpieces by Monet, Matisse and Renoir, as well as Asian and contemporary art.

Recommended Accommodation in Kurashiki

The following are our favourites from among the western-style hotels and Japanese-style inns of Kurashiki.

Kurashiki

Court Hotel

Moderate
Kurashiki

Ryokan Kurashiki

Deluxe

Experiences in Kurashiki

Kurashiki offers a wealth of exciting experiences that will help you get beneath the surface of Japan's fascinating culture. See below for a few of our favourites

Kibi Plains cycling

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Weather in Kurashiki

The Climate Guide for Kurashiki, Japan is perfect for planning your holiday. Monthly weather averages give the best indication of what the weather is usually like for every month of the year including figures for temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Max Daytime Temperature (°C)	7	8	11	18	22	26	30	31	26	21	15	10
Min Night-time Temperature (°C)	-1	-1	1	7	12	17	21	22	18	11	6	1
Hours of Sunshine (Daily)	4	5	5	6	7	5	6	7	5	5	5	4
Hours of Daylight (Daily)	10	11	12	13	14	14	14	13	12	11	10	10
Heat and Humidity Discomfort	None	None	None	None	None	Low	High	High	Low	None	None	None
Days with some Rainfall	20	19	19	15	15	17	18	14	17	14	14	17
Monthly Rainfall (mm)	36	55	92	109	138	216	199	107	194	87	51	24
UV Index (Maximum)	3	4	6	8	9	10	11	10	8	6	3	2

Featured trips including Kurashiki

Small Group Tour

Japan Unmasked (IJT Essential)
- Tokyo
- Nagano
- Matsumoto
- Takayama
- Kanazawa
- Hiroshima
- Kurashiki
- Kyoto
- Tokyo
A fast-paced tour packing in a great variety of destinations, with minimum inclusions allowing for maximum flexibility.

13 nights: US$4303 Read more >

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