Surrealism in Kurashiki

What?
Kurashiki (倉敷) is a city in the south of Okayama Prefecture (岡山県) most famous for the Bikan Historical Quaerter (倉敷美観地区), a canal area that is preserved like it was in the Edo Period (1603-1868). The city is also famous as the center of jeans in Japan. It is less famous though for the Washuzan Highland Brazilian Park (鷲羽山ハイランドブラジリアンパーク), an absolute oddity in the world of theme parks.
Where?
On the JR Sanyo Line (山陽線 ), Kurashiki is a 20 minute train ride away from Okayama City (岡山市) in Okayama Prefecture. The historical canal area can be reached on foot from the station. The Kojima (児島) area with its jeans street and Washuzan Highland is more difficult to reach. There are trains connecting it with Kurashiki and Okayama stations via the Setoohasi Line (瀬戸大橋線), but they are far and in between. Buses run slightly more regular between Kurashiki and Kojima stations, however they take around 45 minutes.
URL
Website of Sightseeing in Kurashiki - Bikan Historical Quarter Website of Sightseeing in Kurashiki - Kojima Quarter Washuzan Highland Brazilian Park

Kurashiki is one of those destinations of which I’m not sure what to think. The city’s claim to fame is a well-preserved district from the Edo period around a canal with original storehouses. On one hand I like these old buildings, and the willow trees around the canal have both an awe-inspiring and relaxing effect. I could stroll around and find peace of mind here. On the other hand, this only works when there aren’t many people around. On a beautiful sunny holiday like today, the streets were crowded with tourists – me being one of them – and all the magic of the place disappears.
Some of the storehouses have been transformed into museums, but most are now shops and restaurants. In other words, it kind of felt like I went to a shopping center with an admittedly very impressive setting.

One of the things you can shop for is jeans in a small street called Denim Street. But the stores find their origin elsewhere in Kurashiki. Pretty much out of the way, the Kojima Jeans Street is a quarter with an impressive amount of jeans shops. Most of these shops make their own jeans, meaning they are all made in Japan, and some really have very original creations on sale. If you fancy jeans, classic or creative in style, this is the place to be.
What I did not understand, though, is that the Betty Smith Museum is again way out of the way. There is a special “jeans bus” that connects the jeans street with the museum, but combining everything with Kurashiki was quite a mission impossible.

All boat rides were fully booked.

Near the Kurashiki Ivy Square.

The hugely popular "Sumikko Gurashi" in Kojima jeans.

No shortage of jeans in the jeans street.

Another attraction in Kurashiki, and very much at the top of my list, is the Washuzan Highland Brazilian Park. One look at the antiquated website already lets you guess what to expect: an absolutely surreal rundown park.
The park has a good number of attractions: three roller coasters, a ferris wheel, a “sky cycle,” a bungee-jump installation, and some other basic attractions, some of which require an extra fee. The one thing they all have in common is that they are in dire need of maintenance. I boarded a very simple swing ride and while I am sure the rides are tested, I was not really comfortable in the cables affected by rust and the chairs seemingly made in the period when they were just inventing plastic. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a whole lot of fun.
One of the things I enjoyed the most: my first roller-skating experience in more than 25 years. Even here, though, the free rental skates were so worn down it bordered on the irresponsible.

So what does this all have to do with Brazil? Beats me…
They have a center stage where around five Brazilians perform the whole day through. They are clearly as puzzled as I am about why they are here, and it shows in their performances. At one point one of the dancers – and I’m very generous in using this word – was just watching his cellphone while performing. I couldn’t even blame him after the sixth time of the same horrible theme park song.
Watching these performances is similar to watching a train wreck – you know it’s horrible but you can’t avert your eyes.
The one big exception: at 13:00 when the Brazilians announced a game of bingo, the national sport of Japan. It was all so surreal, which contributed to the fun though.

What does set this park apart are the absolutely gorgeous views you get on a beautiful day like today. The park is located on a small peak — Washuzan — which looks out on the many tiny island of the Seto Inland Sea, the Seto Ohashi Bridge, and Shikoku in the distance.
Don’t come to this park for the rides or the food or the performances. Come here with people with whom you can be your childish self, and don’t take it all too seriously.