Between the Bikan Historical Area and Kurashiki Civic Hall, there is the Western-style architecture with striking red bricks, Kurashiki Ivy Square.
When talking about Kurashiki, one cannot overlook the Japan Heritage "A Kurashiki story beginning with a single cotton flower - a town of textiles woven with Japanese and Western influences," of which Kurashiki Ivy Square, retaining the remnants of the headquarters factory of KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD., is one of the stages. It opened in 1974 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
We will introduce Kurashiki Ivy Square, where improvements are still ongoing to provide a comfortable accommodation environment for guests.
The information provided is based on data from July 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of Kurashiki Ivy Square
Kurashiki Ivy Square is a complex cultural facility located a 15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station, situated between the Bikan Historical Area and Kurashiki Civic Hall. The four essential functions for tourism that Kurashiki Ivy Square offers are as follows:
- Accommodation (145 rooms)
- Dining (offering both Japanese and Western cuisine)
- Shopping (handling local sweets and handicrafts from Okayama and Kurashiki)
- Cultural experiences (Bizen pottery workshops and kimono rental shops)
The guest rooms and large public bath located in the accommodation building are facilities available only to guests, but dining and shopping can be enjoyed without staying overnight.
It also functions as a "place of relaxation for citizens," and is used for banquets, meetings, and weddings.
Accommodation Plans at Kurashiki Ivy Square
Kurashiki Ivy Square offers standard accommodation plans such as room-only and one-night two-meal plans, as well as student discount plans and accommodation plans in collaboration with various facilities in the Bikan Historical Area.
The accommodation plans in collaboration with the Bikan Historical Area are as follows:
- Kimono rental set plan
- Journey into Kurashiki Art - Ohara Museum special plan
- Cut glass lantern making experience plan
- Enjoying sake - adult travel plan with sake brewery tour (suspended during winter from November to February)
- Pottery workshop with a handmade experience - plan with painting experience
Being just a 5-minute walk to the Bikan Historical Area, it is a facility where you can enjoy accommodation along with nearby cultural facilities and shops.
History of Kurashiki Ivy Square
Kurashiki Ivy Square was constructed in 1889 as the headquarters factory of KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD..
The Kurashiki headquarters factory of KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD. had been a dormant factory for a long time after the war. However, as demands for preservation and regeneration grew from Kurashiki City and local residents, Ohara Museum of Art (Annex) and Kurashiki International Hotel were among the many buildings designed by Uraabe Shizutaro, who undertook the renovation design, and construction began in 1973. It was completed in the following year, 1974.
The architecture of Kurashiki Ivy Square is introduced in the following article.
In 2007, it was recognized as a Modern Industrial Heritage by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and in 2017, it was designated as one of the cultural properties of the Japan Heritage by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
While its value as a cultural property is recognized, in 2018, the Nagakurako warehouse located in the southwest of the site was removed, and a large banquet hall, the "Ivy Emerald Hall," with a capacity of 1,000 people was added. In 2020, the four accommodation buildings underwent a major renovation.
Even now, Kurashiki Ivy Square continues to provide a stayable "cultural facility" for those visiting to experience its historical remnants. Let’s take a look inside while considering the points of the major renovation in 2020.
Experience the "Modern Industrial Heritage" inside the facility
The greatest charm of Kurashiki Ivy Square is that you can stay in a building designated as a "Modern Industrial Heritage."
From the connecting corridors inside, you can see the view of the red bricks and ivy, which are the symbols of Kurashiki Ivy Square.
Standing in this place, where the blue sky reflects on the water surface, creating an illusion of floating, brings a sense of calm.
Additionally, there are walls exposed with brickwork inside, allowing you to feel the remnants of its days as a spinning factory.
Barrier-free facilities
It is said that it is not easy to implement barrier-free measures while preserving the landscape of historical cultural properties. However, at Kurashiki Ivy Square, renovations are being carried out with a focus on barrier-free measures to ensure that guests with various needs can have a comfortable stay.
An elevator was installed during the 2020 renovation, reducing the number of rooms.
Moreover, even compact rooms are designed to accommodate wheelchair access.
The Bikan Historical Area is a spot frequented by foreign tourists. It is likely to provide a comfortable environment not only for wheelchair users but also for foreign travelers with large suitcases.
Many accommodations have introduced foldable luggage racks, but at Kurashiki Ivy Square, one of the features is the built-in wooden luggage rack that blends with the room's interior (some guest rooms are excluded). It is installed near the entrance, making it convenient for putting on and taking off shoes.
Unified wooden-themed guest rooms
In the renovation of 2020, the guest rooms were significantly renewed.
The guest rooms at Kurashiki Ivy Square consist of the following 145 rooms.
- Suite (2 rooms)
- Deluxe Twin Room (22 rooms)
- Moderate Twin Room (14 rooms)
- Standard Twin Room (43 rooms)
- Standard Single Room (4 rooms)
- Family Room (8 rooms)
- Economy Twin Room (52 rooms)
From the 55 square meter Deluxe Family Room to the compact Standard Single Room and Economy Twin Room of about 15 square meters, a wide range of guest rooms are available to accommodate various lodging purposes, from leisure to business.
All rooms are designed to evoke the warm climate of Okayama, creating a relaxing space with a natural image by utilizing wooden materials. Each room features custom-made domestic furniture that is distinctive.
In the Deluxe Superior Twin Room, furniture from the bamboo manufacturer TEORI in Mabi is used.
Selectable bathing facilities
Kurashiki Ivy Square has a large public bath. This is a service exclusive to guests, and some guests have decided to stay at Kurashiki Ivy Square because of the large public bath.
On the other hand, all guest rooms are equipped with bathrooms (some rooms have shower booths).
At the time of its establishment in 1974, there were as many as 180 guest rooms, so there were some rooms without bathrooms. However, with the changes of the times, the demand for bathing in one's own room increased, and in 2019 (the first year of Reiwa), bathrooms were installed in all guest rooms.
On-site restaurant and bar
Additionally, there is a restaurant and bar located within Kurashiki Ivy Square.
Both feature architectural designs that retain the atmosphere of the Kurashiki Spinning Company era, allowing guests to enjoy meals and drinks in a space that feels like a time slip back to the Meiji period.
Application services
In the guest rooms, a QR code is displayed next to the telephone connected to the front desk.
By scanning the QR code with a smartphone or tablet camera, guests can access a webpage with information about the facility. It supports multiple languages, making it a convenient service for foreign tourists to access information in their own language.
Additionally, communication with the front desk can be done not only by phone but also through chat on this website.
I have a hearing impairment and cannot make phone calls, so I usually go to the front desk if there is a problem at the accommodation. However, with the chat function, even someone like me with a hearing impairment can conveniently inquire with the front desk from the guest room.
This service was developed to provide "contactless" service during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Currently, it functions as an effective service for people with hearing impairments like me and for foreign tourists.
While preserving the historical landscape, Kurashiki Ivy Square continues to pursue a comfortable lodging environment. I spoke with Ken Fukai, the head of the Kurashiki Ivy Square accommodation department.
Data on Kurashiki Ivy Square
| Name | Kurashiki Ivy Square |
|---|---|
| Location | 7-2 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0011 |
| Check-in | 3:00 PM |
| Check-out | 11:00 AM |
| Payment methods |
|
| Facility information | All rooms non-smoking (designated smoking area available) |
| Bath | Large public bath, in-room bathrooms (some with shower booths) |
| Wi-Fi | Available |
| Parking | Available 120 cars *No reservation required for guests, 500 yen per car per night (until 12:00 PM the next morning) |
| Website | Kurashiki Ivy Square |
