Walking Tour Through Kurashiki’s Cotton Heritage with Interpreter

A New Way to Step Into Everyday Life in Kurashiki!

This tour is a walking experience set in Kurashiki, a town that flourished through the textile and spinning industry. It shines a spotlight on the passionate local people who continue to carry these traditions and ways of living into the future.

An interpreter accompanies the tour, which begins at the Kurashiki Monogatari-kan. In the first part of the tour, a guide from the distinguished Hara family of Kurashiki provides an in-depth explanation of the city’s history—from the Edo period to the founding of Kurashiki Spinning Company—while leading you through the Bikan Historical Quarter and Kurashiki Ivy Square. At the Monogatari-kan, you will deepen your understanding through a seated session using historical materials before visiting Ivy Square to explore the related facilities.

At the Tsuchiya Residence, you will tour the traditional townhouse and storehouses designed to blend naturally into the atmosphere of Kurashiki. With commentary from Mr. Tsuji, you will observe the thoughtful details woven into the architecture—such as lighting height, window placement, and ceiling design—giving you a real sense of “melting into the life of Kurashiki.”

Next, on the second floor of the adjacent Machiya Café Miyake Shoten, you will view a mini-theater introduction to the community film “Kura no Aru Machi” (“The Town with Storehouses”), a project in which Mr. Tsuji served as an executive committee member. Through this, he shares his passion and the spirit behind preserving and passing down Kurashiki’s culture.

To conclude the tour, you will learn about the innovative “diatomaceous earth–infused denim wall” used in the mini-theater—a unique proposal for new possibilities in denim craftsmanship. Finally, the tour ends with a reflective meal shared with Mr. Tsuji at the café on the first floor, where participants can discuss their impressions and connect more deeply with Kurashiki’s story.