Interview with the owner of Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei
We spoke with the owner of Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei, Kyono Tagami.
This interview was conducted during our first visit in August 2020.
Why she started Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei
Why did you decide to use this house to start an inn?
Tagami
My husband and I originally bought old houses as a side business, renovated them, and rented them out.
Rather than just hiring tradespeople to do the renovations, we also did things ourselves, such as laying floors and finishing walls with plaster.
As part of that, we bought a house that came up for sale in a great location, just a five-minute walk from the Bikan Historical Area.
At first, we planned to rent it out as we had done before, but the location was so appealing that we thought an inn would be better.
So we decided to start an inn.
How many properties have you renovated, including Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei?
Tagami
Eight, not counting our own home.
Renovating Kawasemi-tei was fun because we could put more care into it than we could with a rental property.
For example, we couldn't use tiles in the kitchen of a rental property because the cost didn't work out.
With an inn, there are fewer cost constraints, so we could include the things we wanted to do.
You like plastering, don't you? I've always admired it, but it seems difficult to apply.
Tagami
I got the idea after seeing a friend plaster the walls of an old house where her grandmother had lived as a DIY project. I thought I'd give it a try myself.
At first, I worked while looking up information online.
After that, I became completely captivated by plaster, and have finished the walls of our rental houses and our own home with it.
I attended a housing renovation course at a vocational training school for six months, where I had a little training in plastering, but I think my skills are still only a little better than an amateur's.
Still, I like to tell myself that I've gotten faster and better at it.
At Kawasemi-tei, we first applied a coat to the original walls to prevent stains and help the plaster adhere, then applied two coats of primer, followed by a base coat and a top coat of plaster.
When I'm applying it, I get absorbed in the work and my mind goes blank.
A love of natural materials
Were you familiar with the Bikan Historical Area from long ago?
Tagami
I moved to Okayama Prefecture to attend university and started visiting the area when I was a student.
The streetscape is lovely, isn't it?
Before starting a rental property business, I studied real estate, earned a real estate transaction specialist qualification, and looked at all kinds of buildings.
Since I had many opportunities to see detached houses, I became interested in traditional timber-frame construction.
That led to my admiration for the streetscape of the Bikan Historical Area, where many beautiful old houses remain.
What do you find appealing about the buildings in the Bikan Historical Area?
Tagami
Smoked roof tiles and namako walls are well known, but there's more to it than that.
I especially like the woodwork.
I really love the approach of “making the most of natural materials.”
So I don't like painting pillars and fittings with paint.
For interiors in particular, I prefer a natural oil finish.
Not every old building around the Bikan Historical Area is like this, but I find it appealing that some have very thick pillars and beams, as well as beautiful fittings.
Many newly built homes these days seem to use engineered wood.
Engineered wood, made by bonding dried lumber together with adhesive, has many advantages: it is less prone to warping and can be made to the required dimensions.
Which is better probably comes down to personal preference, but I prefer solid wood.
I find it fascinating to look at the thick beams and ranma transoms in old houses and wonder, “Where did they get such massive, fine timber, and how did they transport it? Amazing!” or “How long did it take to create such delicate craftsmanship?”
Also, many of the building materials used in modern homes are plastic products known as “new building materials.”
Most interior materials and adhesives are petroleum-based. Walls are usually covered with vinyl resin wallpaper pasted on with glue.
Floors are made of bonded plywood or cushioned flooring, and even tatami may be made of plastic materials such as Styrofoam.
Personally, I prefer plaster walls, which help regulate humidity, and solid wood floors or tatami, which feel nice underfoot.
We had the tatami replaced about six months ago, so guests sometimes comment, “It smells so nice of igusa (rush grass)” when they come in through the entrance.
Those moments make me really happy.
That said, new building materials aren't necessarily bad, and we do use them at Kawasemi-tei, too.
We choose materials according to their purpose. For example, the kitchen floor is made of new building material that is resistant to water.
But wherever possible, we use solid wood.
Did you have any particular ideas for the exterior?
Tagami
There's a beautiful house designed by a well-known local architect just to the south, so we clad the west wall in yakisugi (charred cedar) to create a sense of harmony.
We wanted it to look like an inn, so we had a carpenter make custom fittings, including a sliding entrance door and Kurashiki latticework for the first-floor windows.
There are different types of yakisugi, and apparently these days the surface is often lightly charred with a blowtorch.
But the material used on this building is made the traditional way: three cedar boards are arranged in a triangle, tied together with rope, and set alight inside to char them.
With the blowtorch method, only the surface gets slightly charred, so the charred layer soon falls off.
The traditional method produces a much thicker layer of char.
What are the characteristics of yakisugi walls?
Tagami
They're slow to deteriorate and very durable.
Termites don't eat them, and they repel water.
They're also easy to maintain.
Plastic-based paint needs maintenance after about ten years, but yakisugi can last much longer without maintenance (it's said to last around 30 to 50 years).
If part of the cedar gets damaged, you can replace just that section.
We also kept in mind that the exterior should suit Kurashiki's streetscape.
The benefits of renting an entire house with no meals included
What do guests particularly appreciate?
Tagami
I think it's the fact that they can rent the entire house.
Right now (August 2020), during the COVID-19 pandemic, quite a few guests say they chose Kawasemi-tei because they won't come into contact with other guests.
They only meet a staff member at check-in and have no contact with other guests at all.
Do you only offer room-only stays?
Tagami
Yes. We are a room-only inn, so meals aren't included.
There are lots of restaurants near the Bikan Historical Area, aren't there?
So we might recommend a restaurant where you can try Okayama specialties, or in summer tell guests, “This place's peach juice is delicious and great value—highly recommended!” We share local tips like these with our guests.
We hope to contribute to the local community, even in a small way, while creating a relationship that benefits everyone.
We also go around trying different places ourselves so we can recommend them to guests.
We'd like to help make Kurashiki a more vibrant place together with the local community.
The price of 11,000 yen per person per night for exclusive use of the whole house (for 2–6 guests) seems reasonable.
Tagami
There are fewer travelers at the moment because of COVID-19, but we do our best to make this an inn people will choose.
We do as much of the renovation work ourselves as we can, and keep the accommodation prices reasonable.
We don't know what the future holds, but for now we have just one property, so we handle everything ourselves, including cleaning and washing and changing the sheets and other linens.
We hope guests who enjoy a room-only stay will come and stay with us, and explore Okayama and Kurashiki on foot.
Stay in a cozy home
This inn is full of thoughtful touches, created by an owner who loves the building.
It's ideal for people who like to seek out restaurants that catch their eye while traveling, eat what they like, and spend their time at their own pace.
I also felt it would be a good choice for families with children, small groups, and three-generation trips.
Why not stay in Kurashiki as if you lived there, relaxing in an inn filled with the scent of rush grass and the warmth of wood?
Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei Information
| Name | Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-13-13 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 050-7119-8547 |
| Check-in | 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. |
| Check-out | By 10:00 a.m. |
| Payment methods |
Advance payment through the official website is by bank transfer only |
| Facility information | From ¥11,000 per person per night (available for parties of 2 or more, up to 6 guests) ※Prices vary by day of the week, season, etc. ※Free for children under 3 who do not need bedding, etc. No smoking indoors Private toilet with bidet Room only (no meals) Room with tatami flooring No pets allowed |
| Bath | Private bathroom Bathtub available |
| Wi-Fi | Available |
| Parking | Available 1 space 1-minute walk from Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei ※Parking in the lot next to the building is prohibited |
| Website | Kurashiki Kawasemi-tei |
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