The City of Kurashiki, Japan’s ‘Little Venice’
The area, with numerous canals running through it, transports visitors to a timeless atmosphere.
The Bikan district, nestled in the city of Kurashiki, not far from Okayama, traversed by the Takahashi River and its canals, is considered the ‘Venice of Japan’. Various waterways wind through this area, offering visitors an ideal setting for a boat trip or just a walk by the water. Bikan is also known for its traditional merchant houses, some of which have been turned into museums to attest to the commune’s feudal past.
Art lovers will also find something for them as the district is home to the Ohara Museum of Arts, the first permanent collection of Western art in Japan. It features works by Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet.
TRENDING
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Jinbocho, Tokyo’s Book District
This neighbourhood in Chiyoda-ku has become a popular centre for second-hand book stores, publishing houses and antique curiosities.
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Yukio Mishima and the Acceptance of his Homosexuality in Post-War Japan
In 'Confessions of a Mask', a novel inspired by his life, the author details the struggle to accept his difference in a conservative society.
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Issei Suda’s ‘Family Diary’, A Distant Look at Daily Life
For two years, he photographed his family using a Minox, a tiny camera notably employed by intelligence agencies.
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Roland Barthes and Japan
From his travels to Japan in the 1960s, the author drew 'Empire of Signs', a book in which he details the things which caught his attention.
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Recipe for ‘Okayu’ from the Film ‘Princess Mononoke’
This rice soup seasoned with miso is served by a monk to Ashitaka, one of the heroes in Hayao Miyazaki's film.
