Kurashiki Monogatarikan was constructed in the mid-Edo period, and its dignified Nagayamon gate on the south side, the alley on the west side, and the four storehouses create a beautiful and calm atmosphere, conveying the atmosphere of the Edo period to the present day.
The Kurashiki Story Hall was renovated by the city of Kurashiki from the former Higashi Ohashi family home, and opened in 2009 as a tourist hub to improve the mobility of tourists visiting Kurashiki, and as a place for cultural exchange and activities for local residents. As it is located at the entrance to the scenic area, it plays the role of first conveying the "Kurashiki-ness" to tourists visiting the scenic area.
The main Nagayamon gate is used as a tourist information corner, and the first floor of the two-story wooden main building in the center of the site houses an exhibition corner that conveys the traditional townscape of Kurashiki. Other facilities include a multi-purpose hall, exhibition room, and cafe.

Located in the center of the scenic area, the Kurashiki River is its symbol. The three bridges that cross the river, the boats floating down the river, the willow trees lining the river, the white-walled storehouses, the town houses, and Western-style architecture such as the Ohara Museum of Art combine to form the beautiful scenery of the scenic area.
The sightseeing riverboats that run slowly down the Kurashiki River allow you to enjoy the scenery and townscape from a low angle, and are so popular that they are fully booked during the tourist season.
The Kurashiki River was once a bustling river with riverboats carrying goods, but as development of the surrounding area progressed, restrictions were put on transport by boat, and it ceased to be used as a canal after the Kojima Bay closure dike was built in 1959. The subsequent tourism boom prompted the Kurashiki River to be improved, and in 1979 the Kurashiki Riverside was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
The Kurashiki River still retains the atmosphere from the Edo period, and various facilities remain, including the three bridges, Imabashi, Nakabashi, and Takasagobashi, as well as night lights, a wharf, and a gangi (staircase) for loading and unloading boats.

Ohara Museum of Art is Japan's first private Western art museum, established in 1930. It was founded by Ohara Magosaburo, a businessman who contributed to the cultural development of Kurashiki. It consists of the main building, an annex, the Crafts and Oriental Gallery, and the Torajiro Kojima Memorial Hall (currently only the exterior can be viewed), and houses and exhibits approximately 3,000 works from across countries and eras, including masterpieces of Western art, Japanese Western paintings, sculptures, and crafts. The main building exhibits famous Western masterpieces such as El Greco's "The Annunciation," Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," Renoir, and Gauguin.
There is also a museum shop on site, which sells reproductions of famous paintings from the museum's collection, as well as stationery and accessories featuring the artworks.
*The annex is currently closed. The grand opening of the Torajiro Kojima Memorial Museum is scheduled for the end of fiscal year 2024.