Overlooking the Nakabashi Bridge at the center of the Bikan Historical Quarter, by the banks of a pretty, willow-lined canal, sits the beautiful Ryokan Kurashiki; situated at the center of the waterways and streets of the city of Kurashiki's lovingly preserved Bikan quarter, Ryokan Kurashiki is an oasis of elegant calm in the bustling, history-steeped district.
The ryokan was originally the home of a wealthy sugar merchant who outfitted the house with exquisite craftsmanship and fine antiques.
The ryokan itself consists of several buildings joined together into a single unit with old kura, or traditional warehouse buildings (the "kura" in Kurashiki), plus newer structures.
The whole place was thoroughly renovated a few years ago and now boasts all the modern conveniences one expects in a fine hotel, including modern fixtures and flat-panel TVs, but it retains the essence of the Bikan quarter and its aura of solidity, wealth and luxury.
Inside the ryokan, the crosshatch design on the kura outside repeats itself in the corridors and entranceways, in the tile walls and distinctive white namako joints (so called because the joints reminded people of namako, or sea cucumbers).
Overseeing the operation of the ryokan is the okami (proprietress), who is both knowledgeable about the area and fluent in English.
She and her staff understand the needs of foreign visitors, having hosted numerous foreign celebrities in the past, and their local knowledge and connections in the community can open doors to a host of unique experiences.
With Ryokan Kurashiki as your base, you can explore the fascinating Bikan area and beyond, or simply stay at the ryokan, and let Okami and her friendly staff show you the timeless essence of Japanese hospitality.
Ryokan Kurashiki has five rooms, all of them large and comfortable, and with unique interior designs that blend traditional Japanese lines with Western details; the furnishings are simple but high-quality, making best use of the collection of antiques amassed by the owners over the years.
These include antique clocks and fine furniture, as well as all the comforts one expects to find at a premium Japanese ryokan.
Okuzashiki is Ryokan Kurashiki's biggest and most opulent suite, it sleeps six, making it the perfect size for a family, and gives the impression of a private residence.
Located in the innermost space of the ryokan, it is quiet and serene, and features two tastefully-appointed tatami rooms that do double duty Japanese-style as living/sleeping rooms, as well as a Western-style master bedroom with big twin beds.
The bath area is large and spacious, with separate tub and shower rooms, and the room has two toilet rooms, one off the master bedroom.
The furnishings and decorations in Okuzashiki are changed regularly to reflect the seasons.
This room boasts a unique design that makes it one of the most popular at Ryokan Kurashiki.
The entrance is kura style, with the distinctive black tiles and white piping, and opens onto a set of stairs that leads upstairs, under the eaves.
The popular writer Ryotaro Shiba wrote several of his novels in this room.
No doubt inspired by the beautiful view over the trees and rooftops of Kurashiki's Bikan quarter.
He must have also appreciated the fine details of the room, the old wood of the 260-year-old structure and the prints, oil paintings and other artworks, as well as the exposed beams in the ceiling that give the room a compact and cozy atmosphere.
This maisonnette-style room, converted from a 300-year-old Edo period kura, has a spacious tatami living room featuring a kotatsu foot warmer and a wood-floored bedroom with twin beds.
This room also boasts a second story of sorts, a tatami room under low sloping beams that is accessible by a steep set of stairs.
This is a yane-ura beya, or attic room, often used in traditional homes as an additional bedroom, as a play area and secret place for children, or as a storage room.
The sloping black rough-hewn beams, left over from the original kura, seem a bit low at first, but from floor level, where one spends most of one's time in this room, they are an ideal height for sitting.
Gazing out the low window at the Bikan quarter below provides a nice natsukashii (old-time) feeling for Japanese guests.
Matsu is a comfortable spacious suite decorated in a sort of retro Japanese-Western style reminiscent of the early Showa era in the early 20th century, with a Japanese-style tatami living room, a
Western-style hardwood-floored parlor complete with rocking chair, a beautiful tokonoma alcove with seasonal painting and decorations, and twin beds in a separate bedroom.
This room features a Japanese-Western theme, with ink paintings and beautiful antiques accenting the comfortable furnishings; converted from 260-year-old rice granary, it is now a spacious
and comfortable room consisting of a Western-style bedroom with twin beds and a tatami living room.
Once used as a sugar warehouse, this 150 year old 2nd floor suite has a garden view from the Western bedroom and a lovely canal
view from the Japanese main room; full in-suite bath and toilet.
The head office and guest rooms of the local sugar merchant, this 2nd floor suite has a prime canal view from the Japanese sitting room.
A separate bedroom with two double beds, full private bath/shower and toilet.
Formerly the office and guest rooms of the local sugar merchant, this 2nd floor suite features both garden and canal views.
A Japanese room and a bedroom using thick traditional futons, there’s full private bath and toilet.
The cuisine at Ryokan Kurashiki is delicious and exquisite kaiseki ryori, as one would expect from a top-notch establishment, with a focuses on fresh, local ingredients, including fish from the waters of the nearby Seto Inland Sea, and meat and vegetables from local farms.
Sashimi and grilled fish, nabemono one-pot dishes and nimono stewed foods and fresh vegetables are the stars of the show here; in addition to the restaurant, the ryokan has four private dining rooms, which can serve two to 30 guests.
Ryokan Kurashiki is in the center of Kurashiki's Bikan Historical Quarter, a location with enough history to keep a visitor interested for days; next door is Kohi-kan, a cozy old wood and brick traditional-style kisaten coffee shop, one of the first in
Japan to roast coffee beans on the premises, and when they're roasting, the aroma of coffee wafts deliciously about the neighborhood.
The beautiful traditional Japanese garden features gravel pathways that wind serenely among stone lanterns, mossy rocks, venerable matsu pine trees and seasonal flowers; dining al fresco in the garden is a rare pleasure in good weather.
Overlooking the garden is the Lounge, a friendly common space where guests can mingle or sit and be served coffee and tea, and drinks in the evening.
There is a Library in a main building which overlooks the river.
The Library is a cozy space decorated with antiques and knickknacks and equipped with several shelves full of old books.
Ryokan Kurashiki has four private dining rooms, which can serve two to 30 guests; two of them are on the second floor overlooking the beautiful Nakabashi bridge and tree-lined canal below; it is a perfect way to enjoy the ryokan's exquisite traditional Japanese haute cuisine.
Other dining rooms, which have traditional Japanese-style tatami flooring, can also be furnished with tables and chairs, if the diners prefer.
Of course, this being a premium Japanese ryokan, the bathing is excellent at Ryokan Kurashiki; in addition to the spacious bathtub in each room, there is a pubic bath for guests to soak in, a big, beautiful, granite number with a view of the garden.
Guests have unlimited use of the bath (women and men bathe at different times), and may reserve the bath for private bathing.
The neighborhood is home to a number of excellent museums, including the Ohara Museum of Art (Japan's first museum of Western art, founded and bequeathed by businessman, philanthropist and Kurashiki native Magosaburo Ohara), the Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft, the Kake Museum of Art, the Japanese Rural Toy Museum and many others.
Other attractions include numerous parks, gardens, historical homes, shrines and traditional factories; around the corner is a sake brewery, and Achi Shrine is a lovely old structure perched on a hill overlooking the city and the tile rooftops of the Bikan Quarter.
You will find the Hayashi Genjuro Pharmacy Museum inside the market. You may have a tea break and look down from the rooftop and enjoy the view of the town of Kurashiki.
It is a historic city located in western Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea. Explore this beautiful place.
Here you can encounter objects finely crafted to bring beauty to everyday life. The museum was built by renovating rice granaries that date from the late 18th century, and is the second-oldest craft museum in Japan.
A demonstration by the chef of Ryokan Kurashiki can be arranged, in which he will show you how to make Matsuri-sushi (sushi decorated with seafood and vegetables on top, and traditionally served at festivals).
One of the world's most comprehensive private museums. Ohara Magosaburo, an entrepreneur born in Kurashiki, opened this private museum in 1930. It was the first museum to feature Western art in Japan.
In the Bikan Chiku historical area, two small boats ply the river where, during the daytime, you can enjoy a view of the riverbanks while experiencing a gondola-style boat ride.
You will have a chance to visit artisan’s studio, and watch them create the special lustrous glaze for which these ceramics are famous.
Shakyo, the practice of tracing the sutras, calms your mind and brings a feeling of harmony of your body and mind. No special knowledge is needed, just a willingness to try it and purify your mind.
RYOKAN KURASHIKI
HonmachiKurashikiOkayama Prefecture 710-0054Japan