Kurashiki is located on the eastern side of Honshu, the largest of the four main islands of Japan, 650 km south-west of Tokyo. It is part of the Okayama prefecture.
400 years ago Kurashiki was a small fishing village on a narrow piece of land between the Inland Sea and a range of hills.
It quickly grew into such an important centre for the transportation of rice, cotton and other agricultural products that during the Edo Period (1615 - 1868) Kurashiki was governed directly from Tokyo.
Although Kurashiki had good soil and more sunshine-hours than anywhere else in Japan, agricultural growth was slow until land reclamation began at the end of the 1500's. As the land available for farming grew, so did Kurashiki's prosperity. One of the main crops grown on the new land was cotton and by the end of the 1890's several large cotton mills had been built in the city. This established a textile industry of national importance in Kurashiki and the Okayama region.
The area around Kurashiki began to industrialize during the Second World War with the building, on reclaimed land, of the Mitsubishi Aircraft Factory in 1941. After the war the factory was converted to car production and became the nucleus for the Mizushima Industrial Area, which quickly grew into one of Japan's leading heavy industry zones.
Kurashiki's economic vitality continues into the 21st Century. The Kurashiki and Okayama region is a major centre for the production of steel, petro-chemicals and ship building and remains the second largest producer of clothing in Japan.
Visitors to Kurashiki can gain an insight into the city's past in the beautiful Bikan Historical Quarter, an area of traditional homes, storehouses and canals that date back to the Edo period.
Kurashiki is also a cultural centre. It has museums of architecture, folkcrafts and toys and is the home to the Ohara Art Museum. The museum, which was established in 1939, was Japan's first museum of western art and is now home to more than 140 paintings by European masters.
Kurashiki became a sister city of Christchurch in 1973. Michael Gorman, a Christchurch businessman who had moved to Kurashiki, was instrumental in establishing the relationship.
Since then Christchurch and Kurashiki have developed a very active relationship. Christchurch has long been a popular tourist destination for the Japanese and has a growing Japanese community.
Activities:
konnichi wa hello ohayo gozaimasu good morning konbanwa good evening sayonara goodbye watakushi wa ........ desu my name is ........ arigato gozaimasu thank you hai yes iie no
Note: Observance dates for some holidays change each year
| January 1-3 | New Year's Day (Shogatsu) |
| January 13 | Coming of Age Day (Seijin-no-Hi) |
| February 11 | National Foundation Day (Kenkoku-kinen-no-Hi) |
| March 20 | Vernal Equinox Day (Shumbun-no-Hi) |
| April 29 | Green Day (Midori-no-Hi) |
| May 3 | Constitution Day (Kempo Kinen-bi) |
| May 4 | Citizen’s Holiday (Kokumin-no-kyujitsu) |
| May 5 | Children's Day (Kodomo-no-Hi) |
| July 21 | Marine Day |
| September 15 | Respect-for-the-Aged-Day (Keiro-no-Hi) |
| September 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day (Shubun-no-Hi) |
| October 13 | Health and Sports Day (Taiku-no-Hi) |
| November 3 | National Culture Day (Bunka-no-Hi) |
| November 24 | Labour Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha-no-Hi) |
| December 23 | Emperor's Birthday (Tenno Tanjo-bi) |
| December 31 | Bank Holiday |
