日本🇯🇵美観地区 まるで江戸時代にタイムスリップしたかのような美しい街並みに癒される旅

日本🇯🇵美観地区 まるで江戸時代にタイムスリップしたかのような美しい街並みに癒される旅

Today I’m in Okayama Prefecture. It’s a very retro toy store. I’ve gotten off track, but today I’m going to take a leisurely tour of the Bikan Historical Quarter in Okayama Prefecture, a place where you can enjoy a wonderful time in Japan . The Bikan Historical Quarter is a beautiful tourist spot lined with white-walled storehouses and townhouses from the Edo to Meiji periods, and willow trees lining the river. It’s a town where you can enjoy walking around and get a feel for Japanese culture and history. Recently, Kyoto and Nara have become very popular and are said to be quite crowded, but the Bikan Historical Quarter is still not well known among foreigners, so it’s a hidden gem where you can enjoy Japanese culture and scenery at a more leisurely pace than Kyoto. Information on how to access the Bikan Historical Quarter and the cost of admission is provided at the end of the video. It ‘s quite quiet in the morning, making for a very pleasant walk. I haven’t had breakfast yet, so I’ll start by looking for a stylish cafe. I found a stylish cafe right away. It was open, but for some reason I passed it up. I want to ask myself at the time, “Why? 😕” The chirping of the birds and the morning sun are really pleasant, and I enjoyed it in the morning. I highly recommend taking a walk early in the morning. Let the chirping of the birds soothe you. I’m hungry, so I want to find a cafe somehow, but it’s hard to find one. However, little by little, tourists start to appear. I can see a sign. Let’s get a little closer and take a look. From here, it seems to be a pedestrian-only road from 9am to 8pm. The road up to here was also part of the “Aesthetic Quarter”, but from here it is “Honmachi Street”, where you can see more famous buildings. If you turn right around here, you will see a famous view, but we ‘ll save the fun for later 😏 I’ve come to a beautiful intersection. The school bells are ringing at the same time. This is the most common sound for bells in Japan, but what do they sound like overseas? I wonder if this music is unique to Japan. There are also some buildings with a slightly Western feel to them. I feel like the combination of Japanese and Western styles adds to the beauty. Here is a good old Japanese mansion . Trees unique to Japan, such as the pine trees in the garden, create a uniquely Japanese atmosphere. In the scenic area, symbols such as fire extinguishers are also designed to look like trees so as not to spoil the appearance . Now, let’s move forward slowly. That colorful picture has been bothering me for a while now . Why did I just pass it up? 😔 Don’t worry, I’ll check it out. This magnificent building is the Kurashiki Community Center. This community center is still in use today and seems to be widely used for local events. And there are many familiar characters scattered throughout this picture. In the center is the Tower of the Sun. The Tower of the Sun is the symbol of the Expo ’70, held in Japan . It is located in Expo Commemoration Park (Suita City, Osaka Prefecture), so be sure to check it out! I found a vending machine. This vending machine is also brown so as not to spoil the scenery and blends in well with the wood grain behind it. The townscape is really beautiful, it looks like a set for a period drama. There are not many people, so you forget you are in a tourist spot and it feels like you have traveled back in time . I found a tea shop that looked like it would be delicious . I love tea, so I think I will buy some to take home as a souvenir. Just as I enter the store…! I’m so excited ☺️ I bought some roasted green tea as a souvenir. I prefer roasted green tea to green tea. Come to think of it, I forgot I was looking for a cafe 😅 Let’s walk around a little more . The sound of gravel and the chirping of the birds is a great combination. Is this what they call ASMR? I found a large house. It’s the Inoue Family Residence, a Japan Heritage Site. It’s the oldest building in the scenic area and was built over 300 years ago. By the way, Inoue is a surname, and there are apparently about 600,000 people named Inoue in Japan. Japan’s population is about 120 million, so by simple calculation, one in 200 people is named Inoue. I know two people named Inoue, so by simple calculation, doesn’t that mean I know 400 people? ※No, apparently the Inoue Family Residence was also used as a filming location for a famous Japanese horror movie. It’s also possible to enter . From here, I just kept searching for the cafe. I kept walking. I continued walking for about 45 minutes. I continued walking for about 45 minutes. The exterior is cute , but I was starving, so I went in right away. The interior had a very calming atmosphere, and the moment I entered, I felt soothed. ☺️ I later found out that Cafe Gewa is a very well-regarded cafe. They open from 8am, so if you’re visiting Kurashiki in the morning, why not stop by? The kitchen is right in front of you, so there’s an exciting atmosphere even before your order arrives. The background music is perfect for a morning cafe, and it instantly relieves your travel fatigue. The ceiling is high, and the interior is not oppressive, so it’s great. I was already satisfied even before the food arrived. 😊 I thoroughly cleaned my hands with a towel that expands when wet with water. The water was actually lukewarm water! The soup that came with the bite-sized set was perfect for a slightly chilled body ! It smelled so good! ☺️ This is sweet potato 🍠 soup. It’s topped with butter, and the fragrant aroma stimulated my appetite. Let’s get started ! It’s so delicious!!! The sweetness of the sweet potato, the saltiness of the butter, and the creaminess of the milk are a perfect match. It was so much to my liking that I drank it all in a flash . And then the cafe latte was ready . It was like a work of art, and I felt it would be a shame to drink it. Let’s mercilessly slash our hearts. The moment when the cream and coffee mix is ​​also beautiful. Now, let’s have the cafe latte . The alternating bitterness and sweetness are the best. Finally, the main menu , honey toast, has arrived . 🐝 This color, this shine, there’s no way it won’t be delicious. It’s drizzled with plenty of honey, and it soaks into the bread. It seems to go well with the bitter cafe latte . Time to try it!! The bread is crispy and fluffy, and the honey offal is soft and creamy – absolutely delicious 😋 It was worth the hard walk that morning. If I could eat this set every morning, I would have no regrets in life. I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere of the restaurant and the taste of the food were both great, it was a great experience. I spent quite a long time at the cafe, so it feels like the whole scenic area is starting to get a little more lively. I head out from the back alley of the cafe to a different street. The autumn leaves were so beautiful I couldn’t help but take a photo. I came out onto a main street. I head out from the back alley of the cafe to a different street. Shops are starting to open, and it’s starting to get lively! I’d like to take a quick look at the shop in front of me. Kurashiki is famous for denim, so there are many denim products for sale. There were many interesting products. It’s a denim tote bag, probably with a pet’s portrait printed on it. Try looking for a tote bag that resembles your beloved pet. Next, I visited the “Kibi Dango” shop. Kibidango is a Japanese sweet famous for its connection to the Japanese folktale “Momotaro.” It’s said that when Momotaro set out to defeat the ogre, he gave “kibi dango” to the dog, monkey, and pheasant. It’s said that the original form of kibi dango was “kibi no dango,” a preserved food made in the Okayama domain during the Edo period. There’s a cute illustration of Momotaro . There are also cute Momotaro goods here. What a round face! 🤣 The most popular item was the original kibi dango. The gold and silver medals were the original kibi dango , and the only bronze medal was the white peach kibi dango . Outside, I saw a cute duck. I later found out that the two swans were a couple , and the slightly darker duck was their child. It was heartwarming to see the three of them getting along so well together. ☺️ I hope they continue to live happily ever after. I emerged onto the main street of the scenic area. It ‘s November now, so the trees are starting to change color. It’s so beautiful. And here is the Kurashiki River, which flows through the center of the main street. Even as a Japanese person, I’m moved by the scenery and thought, “This is so Japanese!” It felt like I’d traveled back in time. On the Kurashiki River, you can take a boat ride called the Kurashiki River Boat Nagashi. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the scenic area from a special seat. I also took a ride afterwards, and it was an amazing experience! The boarding scene was also filmed, so please enjoy it without changing the channel. 😉 Just take a look at this charming space! Is it really 2025 now…? Personally, this moment is the best movie of my trip to Kurashiki. Saying that I can forget about the hustle and bustle of the city and my daily work brings back a lot of memories, so let’s look at this scenery a little longer and try to forget about all the bad things again . Is this beautiful tree swaying in the wind a willow? If anyone knows anything about plants, please let me know. 🙏 The scenery is so beautiful, I can’t leave this place. 😅 I ‘m starting to want to get on the riverboat, so I’ll go buy a ticket. I came to buy a riverboat ticket. The price is 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for children. The ticket office is located inside the Japan Heritage site, “Kurashikikan.” I was able to purchase my ticket without any problems! However, this riverboat is extremely popular, so the next available boat is two hours away! I decided to take a leisurely stroll until the boat ride. Since I had time, I headed to Kurashiki Denim Street. Actually, Kurashiki is famous for its denim fabric. Oh, did I mention that earlier? 😅 Apparently, they stock a wide variety of denim products, from men’s and women’s items to miscellaneous goods . As I entered Denim Street, I came across a stall. It’s food dyed the color of denim. Apparently, blue suppresses appetite, so it’s effective for people on a diet. There were so many denim products, it was almost overwhelming. Since I still had time, I decided to take a short break at Tully’s. After researching, I found out that Tully’s only has stores in Japan and Korea. Tully’s originated in the US and apparently had stores there as well, but it seems they’ve since closed down. In Japan, it’s a famous cafe with as many branches as Starbucks. I had a latte exclusive to the Bikan District, which has “Bikan District” written in Japanese. 🤭 Sorry to keep you waiting, we can finally ride the riverboat! After waiting for two hours, my expectations were rising. Here we go! There’s a boatman on the boat who will explain the history of the Kurashiki River. The boatman’s gentle, easy-to-listen-to voice perfectly matched the peaceful atmosphere of Kurashiki. He’s explaining about the bridge in the center of the Kurashiki River. It weighs about 9 tons. I’m not sure if it’s heavy or light… The chopsticks themselves are designated as a cultural property, and it seems to be a bridge with a long history. The boatman is guiding me intently, so I never get bored. It’s a sunny day, and the cityscape and sky reflected on the water’s surface are stunning. ☺️ The riverboat moves very slowly. It’s a great experience for those tired of the hustle and bustle of the city or looking to escape reality. Enjoy the sound of the waves, too. The Bikan Historical Quarter is a tourist destination, so there are quite a few people, but it’s not as noisy as Kyoto or Nara, so the whole town is calm and peaceful. This is the kibi dango shop I mentioned earlier. There’s a very large tree . Apparently, during the Edo period, large ships were allowed in through this tree. This tree was a hard worker during the Edo period, so now it’s retired and enjoying a slow, peaceful life. I wonder if they’re spending time together 🤔 We went on a boat ride under the autumn leaves, which really brought back the childhood memories within us. The tour, which lasted about 45 minutes, was completed and I felt very relaxed. Personally, I highly recommend it. If you’re ever in the Bikan Historical Quarter, be sure to take a ride! By the way, I filmed a 45-minute video of the boat ride, but it’s too long, so if there are many comments of interest, I’ll post it separately. Also, the boatman’s guide was in Japanese, but the audio guide was also a bit much. However, it was an incredibly great experience! While still basking in the afterglow of the riverboat, I want to enjoy the townscape of the Bikan Historical Quarter a little longer. I’m walking through a shopping street in a back alley. There are so many traditional Japanese sweets on display, and my appetite is overwhelming in the middle of the afternoon 😅 I discovered a famous “okaki shop”! “Okaki” is a type of rice cracker made from glutinous rice. It seems that especially high-quality okaki are sometimes presented to the Imperial family. There are so many different flavored okaki spread out before my eyes, and I can’t decide what to eat… huh…? I had assumed I was going to eat it without even realizing it 😅 The wet rice crackers also looked delicious. I ordered the wet rice crackers with shichimi pepper. Let’s take a bite ! They’re incredibly delicious!!! Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside , and the sweetness of the sugar and soy sauce, along with the spice of shichimi, is incredibly flavorful! If you’re in the scenic area, be sure to give them a try 😄 It was so good, I finished it in less than a minute 😋 Right in front of the rice cracker shop, we arrived at Kurashiki Ivy Square. Kurashiki Ivy Square is a beautiful red brick building that was originally a spinning mill. Kurashiki is truly the city of denim, and who knew there was such a powerful spinning mill there! Let’s take a walk inside. It feels like a stylish Japanese-style park. I’m digressing a bit, but I love Japanese gardens. I often visit Japanese gardens all over Japan, but for some reason, Saitama and Tottori are the only two prefectures that don’t have any. I’m not a Saitama or Tottori resident, so I don’t really think much of it. It’s a mystery why these two prefectures are the only ones without Japanese gardens. 😌 In that sense, perhaps Saitama and Tottori prefectures are “overseas.” I’ll refrain from saying that, as I’ll likely be criticized from many quarters. I spotted a particularly large, ivy-covered building, so I decided to go inside. It ‘s huge! Originally a spinning mill, it retains a remnant of its former glory. Inside, there’s a wide selection of denim products. It’s probably the largest denim store in the Bikan Historical Quarter. The mannequins’ outfits are stylish and cool, and the red zippered denim pouches are cute . They’re just parading around. (Warning: motion sickness! ⚠️) It’s so large, it’s hard to see the details. 😅 I’ll finish off with a kimono-like T-shirt. I ‘m thirsty, so I’ll stop by a convenience store. There’s a Lawson inside Ivy Square. If you visit a Japanese Lawson, I highly recommend trying their “Karaage-kun” (fried chicken). It seems I’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I wonder if this ivy-covered building is the actual Ivy Square building? Even so, it’s really overgrown! Let’s go inside! The inside of the building is made of red brick and is very stylish. There’s a piano. Is it a street piano? Maybe people who are confident in their skills can play it. Red Brick Road continues. Turning my gaze to the left, I saw a large hall. There aren’t many people here, so it’s a good place to stop by if you get tired of walking. It’s a big Christmas tree . It’s still November, but they’re already preparing for Christmas. The red bricks and red curtains go well with Christmas, so coming during the Christmas season might be an option! It seems there is also an authentic Japanese restaurant in Ivy Square. The restaurant’s name is “Ivy,” which perfectly sums up the exterior of Ivy Square. There is also a Western-style restaurant. The name of this restaurant is “Ivy,” which I later learned means “ivy” in English. It’s a big Christmas tree. Is it a red-eared slider turtle? If you look closely, you’ll see a large number of turtles sunbathing. The red-eared slider turtles are also green and red, making them perfect for Christmas. 🤣 There were also large carp swimming around. The tame carp approached humans, expecting food. When you pretended to feed them, they gathered around, their mouths wide open. I felt like an anime character controlling living creatures. It’s been a while, and it’s getting close to evening, so I decided to head home. Of course, I’ll stop by any interesting spots on my way back, but it seems to be a denim research lab. It doesn’t really seem like a research lab. 😅 I wonder if they sell denim products for stylish young people? There was also a store specializing in Kurashiki’s local sake! I wonder if they sell sake, shochu, and other drinks? There are a variety of shochu lined up, including barley and rice shochu and craft gin . I’m starting to feel like drinking… Kurashiki’s sake selection is also quite extensive. I love sake, so I’ll try some at an izakaya later. Sake pairs perfectly with fish dishes like sashimi and tempura, so I ‘m starting to feel like eating fish dishes too . They even had liqueurs! Okayama is also famous for its fruit production, so I’m sure the liqueurs will be delicious too. On my way back, I found a masking tape shop. It seems that masking tape originated in Kurashiki. A masking tape shop is quite unusual, isn’t it? There were quite a few masking tapes in the store. If I had time, I would have liked to look at each one individually, but I’m heading home. This was my first visit to Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter, and there were many good things about it . To summarize, there are three main good points. The first is the beautiful scenery, which makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. I tried to convey that in this video, but I would encourage you to experience Japanese history and culture with all your senses. Even I, a Japanese person, was impressed. The second is that it is very compact. The Bikan Historical Quarter is not as crowded as Kyoto or Nara. Furthermore, because it is not too large, you can fully experience the scenery and culture in one day. By the way, the prices of things are also very cheap compared to Kyoto and Nara, so you can spend your money on various foods and experiences, which is a very good point. If you want to fully enjoy yourself in one day, Kurashiki is a great tourist destination. The third point, which I personally think is important, is the good sunshine rate in Okayama Prefecture . I think it is common for people to decide to travel and then arrive at their destination only to find that it is raining. However, Okayama Prefecture has a high sunshine rate and long sunny hours, so the probability of it being sunny is higher than other tourist spots. Even if you do, it’s still expensive. If you’re going to see a beautiful view, it looks better on a sunny day, so I personally think that’s an important point. This is purely my personal opinion, so please take it as a reference only. Finally, I’ll briefly explain how to get to this scenic area. The nearest station is JR Kurashiki Station. If you’re going to Kurashiki from Osaka, first take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station. The fare is ¥5,940 for an unreserved seat and ¥6,670 for a reserved seat. Then take the train from JR Okayama Station to JR Kurashiki Station, which takes about 17 minutes. You can get from Tokyo Station to Okayama Station by Shinkansen without changing trains, but it takes nearly four hours, so it may seem a little far. By the way, you can save money by taking a local train from Osaka to Okayama, but it requires two changes and takes about four hours, so I don’t recommend it. Also, there is a large outlet park north of Kurashiki Station, so it is also a great tourist destination for shopping. The nearest station is JR Kurashiki Station. This channel will slowly introduce tourist spots where you can enjoy Japanese history, culture, and nature, so I would appreciate it if you could support me by subscribing to the channel and rating it highly. Thank you for watching.

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🍁4Kで見ていただくと、より綺麗な景色をお楽しみいただけます。

このチャンネルでは、日本のおすすめ観光地を旅している動画を投稿していきます。
日本ならではの、ゆったりした時間の流れを動画を通じて体験いただけると嬉しいです！

今回の旅先は、倉敷の美観地区です。
倉敷美観地区は、白壁の町並みや静かな川沿いの風景が美しいエリアです。
昔ながらの建物が残る通りを歩いたり、カフェやショップを巡ったりと、ゆっくり散策を楽しめます。
落ち着いた雰囲気の中で、穏やかな時間を過ごしたい人におすすめです。

☆行ってみたらこんなところがオススメだった！
【岡山県倉敷市美観地区】
とにかく景観が江戸時代風で、タイムスリップを体験できる
松の木や紅葉、川沿いの柳などの草木が綺麗
京都や奈良などの主要な観光地ほど人が多くない
デニム商品が多数揃えられている

☆行き方
・美観地区：JR倉敷駅から徒歩約10分🚶‍♂️‍➡️🚶‍♀️‍➡️
倉敷の分かりやすいMAPはこちら👇

倉敷美観地区の外国語案内図

☆人気の一人旅動画
これから頑張ります！

#japan #trip #tourist #Okayama #kurashiki #Bikan

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☆目次
0:00 オープニング
0:21 早朝散歩
6:35 カフェでゆっくり
9:49 昼散歩
12:29 川沿いの美しい景色
14:34 倉敷デニムストリート
15:51 川舟←☆オススメ！
18:53 商店街
20:18 倉敷アイビースクエア
27:14 帰路