Stay Overnight in the Former Home of an Edo Period Sugar Merchant

As an important trading center en route to the capital city of Edo, Kurashiki presented opportunities to enterprising merchants throughout the Edo period. Sugar was big business at the time, imported via Dejima in Nagasaki and transported along the so-called Sugar Road. The Kawahara family built such a fortune on sugar that they were able to construct an impressive home in Kurashiki including kura storehouses and a garden. In 1957, the property was converted into Ryokan Kurashiki, welcoming travelers to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

A Stay with a Sense of Place

Relax in Style at Ryokan Kurashiki with its Beautiful Guest Rooms, Garden, Terrace, and Private Stone Bath

When you first arrive outside Ryokan Kurashiki, take a moment to admire its carefully preserved exterior. Like many of the other historic structures in the district, the building is characterized by classic Edo period features such as white mortar walls, wooden latticed windows, and kawara tile roofs. As you step towards the entrance, just imagine for a moment that you have traveled back in time and are about to be feted by a family of wealthy Kurashiki merchants.

Between your arrival and dinner, feel free to wander through Ryokan Kurashiki’s Youzen-no-Niwa garden. This attractive inner garden is a peaceful sanctuary where different flowers bloom according to the season. Be sure to look over your shoulder as you walk—the garden provides particularly beautiful views of the ryokan itself.

If you're feeling a bit thirsty after your stroll through the garden, you can visit the ryokan’s nearby specialty coffee store Kurashiki Coffee Hall. Opened in 1971, Kurashiki Coffee Hall is justly renowned for its delicious coffee as well as its calm relaxing atmosphere. Plentiful indoor seating is available or you can sit outdoors on the cozy enclosed patio. If you prefer to relax in the ryokan, feel free to relax on the private terrace for views of the garden and self-service drinks (coffee, tea, matcha) and sweets.

If you would like to enjoy a relaxing bath during your time at Ryokan Kurashiki, you can reserve the ryokan’s exclusive private bath for up to 50 minutes during your stay (the bath is open from 6:00-9:00 AM and 3:00-11:00 PM each day). This bath contains a large Aji stone bathtub that has been a part of the building for many generations, and it looks out upon trees and garden plants that change colors with the seasons.

Pre-Selected Rooms

Beloved by renowned figures such as Shiko Munakata and Ryotaro Shiba, Tatsumi is a guest room converted from a rice storehouse built approximately 280 years ago. Original beams, pillars, and structural elements have been carefully preserved, maintaining a strong sense of the building’s past. From the sofa area beyond the Western-style bedroom, guests can look across tiled rooftops toward Achi Shrine atop Mount Tsurugata.

Other Rooms

Inui

Located on the second floor of a former sugar storehouse built around 170 years ago, Inui offers both comfort and a sense of history. From the tatami room, guests can enjoy views of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, while the Western-style bedroom and bathroom overlook the Youzen-no-Niwa garden, lovingly preserved since the Edo period.

Nishi

Featuring both a Japanese-style room and a Western-style bedroom accented by striking wooden beams and pillars, Nishi is well suited for stays with or without children. In the evening, the view transforms as the white-walled streetscape and the Western-style wooden Kurashiki-kan building across the river are beautifully illuminated.

*Please note that room assignments may be subject to change based on availability. If a change is necessary, the rate may vary, and we will notify you of the details beforehand.

Moments at the Table

Savor a Kaiseki Dinner with Seasonal Ingredients from Around the Seto Inland Sea

The Seto Inland Sea and its surrounding regions are renowned throughout Japan for the extraordinary quality and variety of the fish, fruit, and vegetables produced there throughout the changing seasons of the year. The head chef at Ryokan Kurashiki includes many of these fine local ingredients within his kaiseki dinners, striving for the perfect balance of culinary innovation and traditional Japanese cooking.

Breakfast

Start your day with a vibrant selection of side dishes and freshly made dashimaki (rolled omelet), served alongside rice cooked in a traditional clay pot. Served in the on-site restaurant, breakfast is a leisurely affair, allowing you to slowly ease into the day.

• Guests are free to choose either a Western-style or Japanese-style breakfast.

Dinner

Served in classic kaiseki style, with multiple courses including many small dishes designed for balance in terms of flavor, color, and texture. Be sure to take a moment to savor the aroma and visual beauty of each dish before you taste it. The dinner menu changes based on the ingredients available in each of the four seasons.

• While classic kaiseki is standard, guests can also choose meat or seafood shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, sushi, or tempura. Please notify Wabunka of your preference in advance.

Immerse Yourself Within the Historic City of Kurashiki with a Ryokan Stay

A night at Ryokan Kurashiki will provide you with a relaxing stay in a beautifully designed room along with delicious meals and access to a private bath and terrace. But the experience runs deeper, somehow. At some quiet moment during your stay, you may pause to reflect on the hundreds of years of history that have taken place within those walls—all those lives, all those memories, all those decisions.