If you’re going to visit the Bikan Historical Area, you’ll want to stay at an inn that preserves the atmosphere of days gone by and enjoy the area to your heart’s content.
Restaurant Tsurugata is an inn housed in a merchant’s residence dating back to the Edo period, along the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Area.
The inn features many folk-art pieces, including works by Munakata Shiko, and its historic architecture makes it an ideal place to experience history and tradition.
Here we introduce Restaurant Tsurugata, which offers a relaxing stay away from everyday life despite being in the lively tourist destination of the Bikan Historical Area.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in February 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of Restaurant Tsurugata
Restaurant Tsurugata is a long-established inn located in the Bikan Historical Area, about a 10-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
The inn was opened in 1970 in a renovated merchant’s residence built in 1744 during the Edo period. Since then, it has welcomed many visitors from Japan and abroad.
As its name suggests, the inn places great importance on food, offering dining experiences that change with the seasons.
The inn has the following facilities:
- 11 guest rooms (all Japanese-style)
- Public baths (men’s and women’s)
- Banquet hall (large hall)
- Restaurant Tsurugata (lunch only)
In addition to overnight stays, the inn is also a popular venue for special occasions such as betrothal ceremonies and wedding receptions.
Architecture of Restaurant Tsurugata
Restaurant Tsurugata occupies a former oil wholesaler’s residence built in 1744, during the reign of Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun. It is said to be the second-oldest building in the Bikan Historical Area (the oldest is the present-day Inoue House), and is distinguished by the dignified appearance of a traditional Edo-period townhouse with a low second floor.
The 52-tatami-mat great hall on the second floor of the main building retains massive east-west beams, and the impressive heft of its ridgepole, passed down from the Edo period, is striking. From the hall’s lattice windows, you can enjoy a spectacular view overlooking major sights in the Bikan Historical Area, including the Kurashiki River, Ohara Museum of Art, and Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
The courtyard is home to Kurashiki’s oldest tree, a pine more than 400 years old. You can enjoy a tranquil, traditional landscape with stone lanterns and Kitayama cedar.
Inside the inn, we found works of art on display, including pieces by Munakata Shiko.
You can choose a complimentary drink from a charming writing desk, or sit back in a well-loved chair and gaze at the courtyard—an indulgent chance to experience life surrounded by folk art.
Japanese-style rooms throughout
All guest rooms at Restaurant Tsurugata are Japanese-style.
The interiors and layouts vary from room to room. Each room is named after a place in Kurashiki City and has shoji screens and an alcove.
The windows look out onto the namako walls of the Bikan Historical Area and a well-maintained courtyard, giving you a true sense of staying in the Bikan Historical Area.
Although the inn is along the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Area, the guest rooms are set back from the river, so they feel peaceful and quiet. The serene interior may make you feel as though you’ve stepped away from everyday life.
Enjoy the cuisine unique to a culinary inn
Restaurant Tsurugata does not offer room-only plans.
That’s because the inn wants guests to savor its renowned cuisine.
The inn has also supervised in-flight meals for JAL domestic first class.
When the Emperor and Empress at the time (now the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita) made an imperial visit to Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, Tsurugata was reportedly asked to provide boxed meals despite the distance.
Not only does the cuisine change with the seasons, but guests staying multiple nights are served different dishes each day.
It is truly an inn where you can savor the seasons through its cuisine.
The adjoining Restaurant Tsurugata serves Japanese cuisine, but guests who prefer Western food can also enjoy a meal at the affiliated Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel. (Available at a discounted price.)
We spoke with Hitsumoto Yurie, who runs Restaurant Tsurugata, an inn where you can experience Kurashiki’s traditions.
Ryokan Tsurugata Information
| Name | Ryokan Tsurugata |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-3-15 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-1635 |
| Check-in | 3:00 p.m. |
| Check-out | 10:00 a.m. |
| Payment methods |
|
| Facility information | Guest rooms: 11 (all Japanese-style) Capacity: 34 individual guests, 38 guests in groups All rooms have air conditioning, heating, a TV, and a Western-style toilet |
| Baths | Large communal baths (men’s and women’s) (Some rooms have an en-suite bathroom) |
| Wi-Fi | Available Wi-Fi available in all rooms |
| Parking | Available Please contact the inn in advance to use the parking lot. Guests staying overnight may use the Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel parking lot (a 5-minute walk) free of charge from 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 a.m. the following day. The 40-space parking lot is shared with Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If the hotel parking lot is full, guests will be directed to a nearby affiliated parking lot. *Use of the hotel parking lot outside these hours costs 250 yen per 30 minutes. |
| Website | Ryokan Tsurugata |
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A visit made by the Emperor and Empress together.