A small boat sits in the Karashiki canal next to houses and trees that line the banks.  Kurashiki City is the second most populous city in Okayama prefecture.  The city was administered directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo period (from the 17th century to the 19th century), and prospered as a key spot for gathering goods and materials under the leadership of the local merchants.  The area retains to this day what once served as warehouses or residents of the then wealthy merchants, handing down the splendor of their daily and cultural life to the present.

From a Pennsylvania collection.  Minor wear and toning. Lightly hinged to the original mat.