The Kurashiki River flows through the center of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.
The Kurashiki River Boat Tour is a leisurely 20-minute cruise aboard a small boat that accommodates up to six passengers. Departing from Nakabashi Bridge, the boat travels south to Takasago Bridge before turning around and continuing north to Imabashi Bridge.
During the Edo period, the Kurashiki River served as an important river port for transporting goods from the Bitchū region, and commercial shipping continued actively until the early 1950s. Although the river is now about 10 meters wide, it is said to have once been nearly twice as wide.
The earthen storehouses with their distinctive namako walls, along with the traditional nuriya-zukuri townhouses lining the riverbanks, remain as reminders of the days when this area prospered as a tenryō—territory directly governed by the Edo Shogunate.
One of the highlights of the boat tour is the commentary provided by the experienced boatman. The traditional straw hats available for passengers also add to the charming atmosphere of the ride.
Boat tickets are sold at the tourist information center, “Kurashiki-kan.” This building originally served as Kurashiki Town Hall during the Taisho era. Its wooden Western-style architecture, which blends beautifully into the historic townscape, is also worth noting.