Kurashiki

Kurashiki, city, southwestern Okayama ken (prefecture), western Honshu, Japan. It is situated on the eastern bank of the lower Takahashi River at its mouth on the Inland Sea. During the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603–1867), it was an important trading centre for rice, cotton, and oil; many of its storage houses, built in traditional style, remain. The city has been known for its textile manufacturing since the late 19th century. During World War II, a large...