Things to do in Kurashiki

It was pouring rain that day, so we couldn't take a boat ride. Instead, we explored small shops in Kurashiki, ate snacks, made pancakes, enjoyed peach ice cream, had takoyaki, bought button hair accessories, visited the Momotaro Museum (old but funny), exchanged jelly, saw Snoopy and Miffy bread, found Sumikko Gurashi merchandise, browsed denim shops, explored free gardens, visited art museums, and had soba noodles for lunch. There was so much to do! We walked around in the rain from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. After lunch, we took the JR at 2:30 PM to Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden! It was a great walk, and the 'Sanpo-ken' (walking pass) was very useful. The three of us bought five passes to use. You can't reuse them at the same store, and each person needs their own pass. For 250 yen, we had a great time for most of the day. It was beautiful and there were great things to buy! Excellent!

We were there on 5 April for our 5-yo daughter. The services were amazing, couldn’t have asked for more! The location is a big plus as it’s just an easy walk of 2 minutes from the riverside.

This is an amusement park with a peculiar vibe. There are an incredible number of stairs, which can be tiring. For those who find the stairs difficult, they've created alternative paths like hillsides and wooden structures. While it doesn't really have a strong theme or beautifully decorated areas, there are lots of kids having fun, which makes it feel exciting by association. Not all the rides are perfectly made, but they're decent enough to ride. I was worried it would be empty, but there were actually quite a few people there. The line to get in is long. Kiosks wouldn't really fit in here! There are only a few windows where people manually sell tickets. Going up and down the stairs and playing games at the main stage, making the kids sit down and stand up, is so much fun! The sky was a bit cloudy and visibility was low when I visited, but I bet the view would be great on a nice day!

The shop is not far from the riverside in Kurashiki, located on the second floor of a clothing store. The owner is very kind and attentive. Although she doesn't speak Chinese, we were able to communicate using Google Translate and simple English. All the kimonos in the shop are beautiful, and the owner's skillful hands can make your hairstyle look amazing. Considering the price and the results, I highly recommend it! It was very hot that day, and the owner thoughtfully lent us an umbrella, which we really appreciated.

The driver was very nice. We didn't know we'd pass a huge torii gate along the way, and she specifically pointed it out to us. Luckily, we made a detour to take photos; otherwise, we would have almost missed an interesting sight! 😆

The exhibition primarily features optical illusions, and some of the displays are great for taking photos. Overall, it's more recommended for those with children. As people in our late thirties, we finished touring it quite quickly. Oh, and the staff were all very friendly and tourist-friendly!