The Bikan Historical Area, where history and culture thrive.
The Kurashiki International Hotel serves as a gateway to this area.
A long-established hotel with over 50 years of history, it has built a reputation of trust.
For example, the Kurashiki International Hotel is chosen when members of the imperial family stay in Kurashiki.
The work of Munakata Shiko displayed in the atrium lobby is one of the largest woodblock prints in the world and is a must-see!
Introducing the Kurashiki International Hotel, where you can feel history and culture.
Overview of Kurashiki International Hotel
Kurashiki International Hotel is a long-established hotel located about an 8-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station, at the entrance to the Bikan Historical Area.
Opened on December 1, 1963, it has welcomed visitors from both Japan and abroad.
It has also been chosen by domestic and international VIPs; for example, during the G7 Kurashiki Education Ministers' Meeting held in 2016, representatives from various countries stayed here.
Going back to the Showa era, it is said that the French philosopher Sartre and writer Beauvoir also stayed here.
The hotel is equipped with the following facilities.
- Guest Rooms (105 in total)
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Café Lounge
- 4 Banquet Halls
In addition to accommodation, it can be used for lunch, meetings, and weddings.
With its excellent location, you can easily access the Bikan Historical Area, making it easy to enjoy a stroll to view the night scenery after dinner.
Architecture of Kurashiki International Hotel
The hotel was designed by architect Shintaro Urabe, who supported the town development of Kurashiki.
In 1964, the year after its opening, it received the Japan Architectural Association Award, and even today, many people visit to see its architecture.
The architectural charm of Kurashiki International Hotel is detailed in the following article, so please check it out.
History of Kurashiki International Hotel
The founder of Kurashiki International Hotel is businessman Ohara Soichiro.
Let me briefly introduce Ohara Soichiro and the townscape.
Preserving the Beautiful Townscape
Ohara Soichiro served as the president of what would later become KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD. and as the chairman of Kurashiki Central Hospital, greatly contributing to the development of industry and Kurashiki.
It was also Soichiro who significantly developed the Ohara Museum of Art, founded by his father, Ohara Magosaburo.
Soichiro was impressed by the historical townscape preservation efforts of the German ancient city of Rothenburg, which were achieved through the power of its residents.
Soichiro envisioned making Kurashiki a beautiful town that preserves its historical buildings and leaves a cultural heritage for future generations.
In the 1940s, thanks to the efforts of people invited by Soichiro, townscape preservation activities began ahead of the rest of the country.
A Hotel Harmonizing with the Beautiful Town
In the 1950s, with the rapid development of the Mizushima Coastal Industrial Zone, there was a growing demand for an international standard hotel in Kurashiki.
In response to requests from the local political and business community, Soichiro established the Kurashiki International Hotel.
The Bikan Historical Area is characterized by a townscape that combines traditional Japanese architecture with white walls and Western-style architecture reminiscent of the Greek temple of the Ohara Museum of Art.
The goal was to create a hotel that blends into the local environment and conveys the town's spirit, merging Japanese and Western styles.
In 1963, as envisioned, a hotel that is not overly assertive yet allows beauty to be felt throughout was completed, embodying a harmonious blend of Japanese and Western styles.
For over 50 years, Kurashiki International Hotel has been welcoming guests from both Japan and abroad.
While undergoing several renovations, it has carefully preserved the original concept and traditions since its establishment.
Atrium Lobby and Munakata Shiko
The lobby of Kurashiki International Hotel features an atrium space that extends up to the third floor.
Looking up, you can see the woodblock print titled "The Fence of the Great World: Kon - From Humanity to the Gods," created by world-renowned artist Munakata Shiko to coincide with the hotel's opening.
Munakata Shiko referred to his woodblock prints as "board prints," born from the board.
Its dimensions are 12.84 meters wide and 1.75 meters high.
It is the largest of Munakata Shiko's works and one of the largest woodblock prints in the world.
It is said to have been inspired by the emotions felt when viewing Picasso's "Guernica."
The Ohara family was a good understanding partner of Munakata Shiko and built a deep friendship.
Ohara Museum of Art Crafts and Oriental Gallery has a Munakata Shiko Print Room where you can see works sent personally.
When Ohara Soichiro passed away, Munakata reportedly issued a tribute stating, "He was the greatest understanding of Japanese beauty."
Guests can enjoy a closer view from the second and third floors, so please take your time to appreciate it.
The author feels a sense of the preciousness of life, along with sadness and anger when viewing Guernica.
In "The Fence of the Great World: Kon - From Humanity to the Gods," I felt a brighter compassion.
Not only Munakata Shiko, but many art pieces are displayed throughout the hotel.
The hotel features beautiful mosaic tiles and curves in various places, and just visiting the lobby left me in awe of the architectural beauty.
Calm Guest Rooms
Kurashiki International Hotel offers the following types of guest rooms.
- Single Room
- Standard Twin Room
- Deluxe Twin Room
- Deluxe Corner Twin
- Triple Room
- Connecting Room
- Suite Room
Guest Rooms with Brown as the Base Color
The guest room themed "luxury" has a chic appearance that allows you to feel the warmth of wood.
The interior and structure vary by room.
In the deluxe corner twin room of the main building, the curves of the ceiling illuminated by indirect lighting create gentle shadows, giving a sense of the uniqueness of Kurashiki International Hotel.
It is wider than a typical business hotel, with not only a bed but also a table and chairs, creating a calm atmosphere that is easy to relax in.
It is of high quality and elegant, well-cleaned, and seems comfortable to spend time in.
The bathtub is spacious enough for most people to stretch their legs.
Guests have commented that they can "relax and spend time comfortably" and feel "warmth in the oldness, making it pleasant."
Suite Room
The highest grade suite room is divided into a living room and a bedroom.
In the classical living room, there is a reproduction of Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," which is part of the collection of the Ohara Museum of Art.
Monet's "Water Lilies" is housed in various places around the world, but the one at the Ohara Museum of Art was personally selected by Monet as one of his favorite works.
In addition to the bathtub, there is also a shower booth.
The stylish door reminiscent of a namako wall storehouse is also fashionable.
Enjoy Dining at Restaurants and Directly Managed Stores
Guests staying at the hotel receive discount coupons that can be used at the following locations.
- 1st floor of the hotel "Restaurant Wisteria"
- Basement 1st floor of the hotel "Bar Regina"
- Within the Bikan Historical Area "Kameyutei Restaurant" (directly managed store)
- Within the Bikan Historical Area "Tsurugata Restaurant" (directly managed store)
The restaurant inside the hotel offers French-style cuisine.
The carefully crafted sauces are made using traditional methods with considerable time and effort.
As part of its initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals, the hotel focuses on local production for local consumption, using a lot of vegetables from the Takahashi River basin.
Local edible flowers are also used, making the dishes visually enjoyable.
The directly managed stores are also well-regarded.
Tsurugata has also supervised in-flight meals for JAL domestic first class.
During the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (the current Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita) to Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, despite the distance, there was a request for Tsurugata to provide bento boxes.
The term "gyoko-kei" refers to the Emperor and Empress going out together.
As of April 2023, breakfast is offered as a "Takahashi River Basin Breakfast Buffet," featuring about 40 types of Western and Japanese dishes made with a focus on local production for local consumption.
Photo provided by Kurashiki International Hotel
Lunch and afternoon tea are also popular among non-staying guests.
The menu offered in the "Kurashiki Afternoon Tea" features "Victoria Cake," which is said to have been favored by Queen Victoria, as the main item, along with sweets that highlight the flavors of the ingredients.
Kurashiki International Hotel is not only a place for guests but also a gathering place for local residents.
I spoke with Ryo Shiraiwa from the Kurashiki International Hotel Sales Support Team.
Data on Kurashiki International Hotel
| Name | Kurashiki International Hotel |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1-44 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (next to Ohara Museum of Art) |
| Contact | 086-422-5141 |
| Check-in | 2:00 PM |
| Check-out | 11:00 AM |
| Payment Methods |
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| Facility Information | All rooms non-smoking, 3 smoking areas outside guest rooms Western-style toilets in each guest room Options for plans including room only/breakfast included/dinner and breakfast included |
| Bath | Each guest room has a bathtub No large public bath |
| Wi-Fi | Available |
| Parking | Available For guests, 1,000 yen (tax included) per night Usage hours are from 1:00 PM to 11:00 AM the next day, with a charge of 250 yen for every 30 minutes outside of these hours 40 cars on a first-come, first-served basis |
| Website | Kurashiki International Hotel |
