We interviewed Ms. Hiratsumoto Yurie, who works as the front desk staff at the Ryokan Tsurugata.
A long-established ryokan that has been cherished as a place of celebration in the Bikan Historical Area
Ryokan Tsurugata is said to be the second oldest building in the Bikan Historical Area.
Hiratsumoto (no honorifics)
That's correct.
The building of our ryokan was constructed by a carpenter who designed the Murakami Navy, a pirate ship from the Seto Inland Sea. The banquet hall on the second floor utilizes a space that was previously a warehouse, featuring thick and large beams in the ceiling that resemble an overturned ship.
The banquet hall on the second floor is mainly used for tour groups and celebrations for local residents. It is also used for weddings and receptions.
A wedding in such a charming building sounds wonderful.
Hiratsumoto
Thank you.
Some guests hold their wedding ceremonies at our ryokan, while others have their ceremonies at the nearby Achi Shrine and hold their receptions at our ryokan. Many guests choose to wear traditional Japanese attire that matches the building.
Additionally, we have a partnership with Kurashiki International Hotel, so we can provide not only cakes and traditional attire but also Western attire.
Of course, since we are a ryokan, there are guests who stay before and after the wedding. Although it has decreased recently, in the past, there were families who would stay at our ryokan to enjoy a leisurely time during the ceremony.
We have staff specialized in wedding ceremonies and partnered kimono dressing staff, so please feel free to consult us with your requests.
Please tell us your favorite spot.
Hiratsumoto
I love the lobby.
Being a traditional Japanese house, the entrance is spacious. I particularly love the moment when light enters this warm wooden entrance.
Our ryokan faces the Kurashiki River, so there are many spots where the reflected light sparkles.
Flexible accommodation plans tailored to guests
What kind of guests usually stay with you?
Hiratsumoto
We have families with children, couples in their 50s and 60s, and of course, an increasing number of young solo travelers. We also have 6-tatami mat rooms, so solo guests can stay comfortably.
Moreover, we are seeing an increase in foreign guests. Our ryokan has 11 guest rooms, and on some days, about 6 of them are occupied by foreign guests. Annually, around 30% of our guests are foreign visitors.
Do you offer any special services for foreign guests?
Hiratsumoto
Many foreign tourists visiting Kurashiki seem to be accustomed to Japanese tourism.
While we do prepare knives and forks for meals, most guests prefer to eat with chopsticks. Although we offer Western-style breakfast at our partner Kurashiki International Hotel, everyone requests Japanese breakfast.
However, many guests stay for multiple nights. There have been guests who stayed for as long as 6 nights.
Since we do not offer a room-only plan, our head chef has been working hard to provide different dinner menus for 6 days.
In this way, we are flexibly changing accommodation plans to match our guests' travel plans.
Tsurugata as a "cooking ryokan"
I hear the cuisine is also a highlight.
Hiratsumoto
As a cooking ryokan, we put a lot of effort into our cuisine.
In particular, during the winter season, we recommend our plan featuring shabu-shabu made with cold-saba (kanzawara). Additionally, as a Japanese restaurant, we offer plans throughout the year that allow guests to enjoy delicious fish.
Lunch is available for general customers at the dining place "Tsurugata," but breakfast and dinner are exclusively for guests, so we hope they enjoy it.
We want guests to enjoy a relaxed "extraordinary" experience within the facility
What do you consider important in customer service?
Hiratsumoto
When guests arrive, I pay attention to the tone of the greeting "Irasshaimase" (welcome) to create a friendly atmosphere.
Also, since a ryokan is a place where guests come to relax their minds and bodies, I try to speak slowly to ensure clarity. I want guests to feel that time flows slowly the moment they enter our ryokan, allowing them to enjoy a peaceful and extraordinary stay.
Since this is a place for relaxation, I hope guests can spend their time leisurely from check-in to check-out.
What kind of accommodation experience do you want guests to have?
Hiratsumoto
Our ryokan is a traditional Japanese house, so I believe it is a space where time flows slowly. I want guests to savor that flow of time to their heart's content.
For those who are usually busy with work, child-rearing, and household chores, I want to help them spend valuable time away from their daily lives and enjoy a leisurely experience at our ryokan.
We want to remain a ryokan beloved by both tourists and locals
What kind of people would you recommend Ryokan Tsurugata to?
Hiratsumoto
I would like tourists to experience the atmosphere of the Bikan Historical Area.
Not only that, but I also want to be a ryokan that is more familiar to local residents.
The historical charm of our building pairs very well with Japan's traditional seasonal events. In May, we display the "May dolls," and during the autumn folding screen festival, we exhibit folding screens.
Local residents who usually do not stay with us have expressed that "it is not easy to step inside," so I hope they feel free to visit through seasonal events. If they like our ryokan, I would love to be involved in local events such as meals and gatherings.
If it is during a time when we are not accommodating guests, we warmly welcome non-staying guests to tour the facility. Please feel free to ask anytime.
As Ryokan Tsurugata approaches its 55th anniversary in 2025, what are your future prospects?
Hiratsumoto
I want our ryokan to be a place where guests who have visited once will want to come back again.
Especially since our cuisine changes completely with the seasons, I hope they can enjoy those offerings.
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Hiratsumoto
Ryokan Tsurugata is the second oldest building in the Bikan Historical Area, and it retains the atmosphere of the time it was built, so I hope many people from both inside and outside the prefecture will come to see it.
Please feel free to visit anytime.
Conclusion
At Ryokan Tsurugata, guests can enjoy a "non-daily" experience of staying in a beautiful old building while savoring delicious cuisine that differs from their everyday meals.
By being located in the center of the Bikan Historical Area, I can confidently propose a tourism experience in Kurashiki, including accommodation, and for Kurashiki residents, visiting can evoke a sense of nostalgia. I feel that this is such a place.
For tourism, accommodation experiences, and as a place of celebration.
How about spending a peaceful time at a cooking ryokan?
Data of Tsurugata Ryokan
| Name | Tsurugata Ryokan |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-3-15 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-1635 |
| Check-in | 3:00 PM |
| Check-out | 10:00 AM |
| Payment Methods |
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| Facility Information | Rooms: 11 (all Japanese-style) Capacity: 34 for general guests, 38 for groups All rooms equipped with air conditioning, TV, and Western-style toilets |
| Bath | Large bath (male and female) (Some rooms have a bathroom inside) |
| Wi-Fi | Available Wi-Fi accessible in all rooms |
| Parking | Available Advance notice required for parking use. For overnight stays, free use of Kurashiki International Hotel parking (5-minute walk) from 1:00 PM to 11:00 AM the next day. Note that the parking lot (40 cars) is shared with Kurashiki International Hotel and is on a first-come, first-served basis. If the hotel parking is full, nearby contracted parking will be guided. *For use outside hotel parking hours, 250 yen per 30 minutes |
| Website | Tsurugata Ryokan |
