THE RYOKAN COLLECTION

Take a shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto to Okayama, a 1 hour and 15 minute trip.
On arrival at Okayama station you will be met by your driver and transfer to Kurashiki.


On the way to Okayama, you may stop by Himeji to see Himeji Castle, which is undergoing a five-year renovation, expected to be complete in March 2015. Himeji Castle is also known as Shirasagijo (White Egret Castle) and Hakurojo (White Heron Castle) due to its blinding white exterior. It is known as the unbreachable castle as it was never destroyed. One of the great leaders of Japan, the shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi, once resided in this castle. It is now one of Japan’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites.


Welcome to beautiful Kurashiki!

When the shogun took control of the Kurashiki area some 300 years ago, a magistrate’s office was established, and the town and its canal were developed into a center of trade. With its clusters of old-fashioned storehouses with their white walls and distinctive crosshatch pattern, and rows of townhouses with lattice windows, the town still hearkens back to its past as an Edo period commercial center. The beautiful Ryokan Kurashiki, an oasis of elegant calm in the bustling, history-steeped district, presents a special trip through the centuries, back to old Japan.


Check in at Ryokan Kurashiki
Situated amid the waterways and streets of the city of Kurashiki's lovingly preserved Bikan Historical Quarter, by the banks of a pretty, willow-lined canal, the beautiful 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. All of the furniture and décor have been carefully selected and blend into a lovingly preserved, centuries-old kura warehouse building. From the moment you step into this ryokan, you enter a nostalgic world. There are only five rooms, so you can be assured of friendly, attentive service.

If you arrive before check in time, you may enjoy exploring the Bikan Historical Quarter after checking your luggage at the ryokan. This national historical preservation district, nestled along a narrow canal and against the base of the low hill of Tsurugata-yama, is not at all large, but the townscape preserves a stretch of history from the Edo period (1603-1868), when samurai were still a common sight, to the Meiji and Taisho periods (1868-1926) when Western cultural influence grew.

Return to the ryokan and relax in your room, which has unique interior designs that blend traditional Japanese lines with an exotic touch.

In the morning you will head for Kojima, in southern Kurashiki, a place renowned for denim goods. This trip by private car takes about 30 minutes. Kojima is the birthplace of Japanese denim, and lots of jeans shops can be found in the area known as “Jeans Street.” You may order an original pair – an excellent souvenir of Kojima.

Takashiro Senko is a traditional indigo dye maker, which has been in business for more than 80 years in Kojima. They dye their goods by hand, and you may have a chance to see how they treat the textiles in the traditional way. Seeing this technique still in use, having been passed down from generation to generation over the years, is fascinating.
*Advance booking is required.
*Not available in winter.

In the afternoon you may join a special tour. You could visit the Morita Shuzo sake brewery, which was established in the Taisho era (1912-1926), or a tour of the Institute of Dyeing and Hand-Weaving, which trains students in the techniques of hand-woven materials as well as teaching the traditional Japanese way of life. These are special guided tours, as both places are usually closed to the public.
*Advance booking is required.
*The sake brewery visit is only available from the middle of April to October.
*The Institute of Dyeing and Hand-Weaving is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Today is at leisure – you are free to relax at the ryokan or explore the town. Some suggestions:


Ohara Museum of Art – 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.
*Closed on Mondays
* A VIP tour escorted by the Curator can be arranged.
Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft – 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.
*Closed on Mondays

Former Ohara Family Residence – Former Ohara Family Residence was the primary residence of Ohara Magosaburo and the later generations of his family. The house is full of traditional features of Kurashiki townhouse, such as Kurashiki Window and Lattice, stone pavement, a storehouse, and Japanese garden. With these historic features, the Yurinso (main building), a detached room, and its eight storehouses were designated as a National Important Cultural Properties in 1971. Former Ohara Family Residence is open to public, and visitors can see the unique architecture and valuable items collected by the family.

Inoue Residence Garden – Inoue Residence Garden is the oldest townhouse in Kurashiki Bikan District, built in 1721. Inoue Residence Garden was also designated as a National Important Cultural Properties. The residence has become finally open to public since March 2023. The Kurashiki Window on the second floor is well-known for a unique architectural feature of historic Kurashiki townhouses.

Ohashi Residence – Ohashi Residence is built in 1796, and the residence was designated as a National Important Cultural Properties. Ohashi Family was foremost amongst the merchant class of Kurashiki. They developed wide rice fields and salt farms, which is how they made a fortune. Tatami-floored rooms with elegant sliding doors and hanging scrolls for entertaining guests as well as private quarters, storage rooms, and a kitchen represent the simple beauty of Kurashiki townhouses.

Hayashi Genjuro Shouten Design Market – Opened in 2012, this is a market that focuses on products from Kurashiki, such as foods, clothes and crafts. Hayashi Genjuro was the 11th master of the Hayashi family, who has been running a pharmacy in Kurashiki for 350 years. 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.

River cruise – 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.
*Operates every day except for the second Monday of the month, March ~ November.
*Operates Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays December – February.


Ryokan Kurashiki has several other special activities for you to choose from:

Option 1 – Sakazuyaki pottery studio visit
Sakazuyaki originally began its history in the land of Kurashiki in the Meiji era. You will have a chance to visit artisan’s studio, and watch them create the special lustrous glaze for which these ceramics are famous.

Option 2 – Bizen-yaki pottery studio & Osafune Japanese sword studio visit (day trip)
On a day trip, you can visit Bizen-yaki pottery studio and Osafune Japanese sword studio. Feel the charm of Bizen-yaki pottery in your hands through various pieces at a studio and experience learning how to make the famous leading Japanese sword brand, Osafune Japanese sword.

Option 3 – Kurashiki temari workshop studio visit
Kurashiki temari uses naturally dyed threads and other threads with gentle colors, and its soft colors and textures are its most attractive features. You can experience making your own Kurashiki temari at a workshop studio.

Option 4 – Sunami Toru Shoten studio visit
Sunami Toru Shoten was originally founded in 1886, manufacturing mats in Kurashiki. Kurashiki is the birthplace of hanagoza. Kurashiki had a thriving rush farming and rush product industry. Still, as the production area declined, Toru Sunami Shoten stopped making mats and now only makes "ikago," baskets made of rushes. Mr. Sunami, the current 5th generation, inherited the "ikago"' craft that his grandmother taught him since he was a child, and he continues to make each one carefully by hand.

Option 5 – Cruise trip to Teshima and Inujima (day trip)
If you are into art, Teshima Island and Inujima Island are the perfect places to explore for a cruise day trip, which only takes two hours by train and a boat from Kurashiki. Teshima and Inujima are parts of Seto Inland Sea art islands, including Naoshima. Adjacent to Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima feature more contemporary art installations, like the ones at Teshima Art Museum and Inujima Seirensho Art Museum. Enjoy a cruise day trip to the paradise of art and leisure in the Sato Inland Sea.

Option 6 – Cruise trip to Kasaoka Islands (day trip)
The Kasaoka Islands are composed of seven richly individual islands. The seven inhabited islands in the group are Takashima Island, Shiraishi-jima Island, Kitagi Island, Obi Island, Kobi Island, Manabeshima Island, and Mushima Island. Known as the "Stone Islands of Setouchi," the Kasaoka Islands have been recognized as a Japan Heritage site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The islands are filled with a nostalgic and relaxing atmosphere. These remote islands are unbelievably photogenic, offering a treasure trove of photo spots. There are seven inhabited islands, each boasting a different sea and island scenery.

Check out from the ryokan and transfer to Uno pier by private car, a 1 hour trip. Upon arrival, a ferry takes you to the remaining 20 minute cruise to Naoshima.
*Boat charters can be arranged by advanced booking.

The island of Naoshima is a special place, famous for its long history and beautiful natural setting, as well as for its numerous contemporary art galleries. Located in the Seto Inland Sea between the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku, the island is a paradise for art lovers. The best-known facility is the Benesse House art complex, which integrates a respected art museum with a hotel, both designed by architect Tadao Ando.

Just a few of the other museums on the island are the Chichu Art Museum, which boasts a number of installations as well as paintings by Claude Monet and others; the Lee Ufan Museum, dedicated to works by the acclaimed artist Lee Ulfan; and Miyanoura Gallery 6, converted from an old pachinko parlor and turned into a relaxation space as well as a venue for art exhibitions.

Two other fascinating initiatives are the Art House Project, which rescues empty houses in the area and turns them into works of art; and Naoshima Bath “I♥湯”, an installation in which visitors can actually soak in a lovely hot bath. The motto “I♥湯” is a playful pun – it includes the Japanese character for hot water, “yu,” so it is pronounced “I Love Yu,” a play on the English “I love you” and the Japanese “I love hot water.”

* A VIP tour escorted by the Curator can be arranged.

You may spend a few nights here or take a ferry again to Uno pier, then continue on to Okayama.