Ryokan Kurashiki
Kurashiki

Ryokan Kurashiki is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Secret Gems and Top 10 Luxury Ryokans.

This ryokan is halfway along the idyllic willow-lined canal in Kurashiki, and shares a 300-year history with the converted trading warehouses either side of it.

The property and the manager Nakamura-san are the distillation of all that is refined and elegant about Japan, and they have welcomed distinguished western guests, including Sophia Loren, over the years. There is nothing ostentatious about it though – there are just eight spacious and well appointed rooms with a wonderful array of antique furniture from Japan, China and Europe. The exposed oak beams throughout the property are reminiscent of our own quaint architecture, and the new rooms are particularly charming, with their wooden ‘ofuro’ bath tubs and direct views on to the canal. Despite the nostalgic feel of this ryokan’s traditional setting, access to fast Wi-fi is included.

It would be difficult to surpass the aesthetic and culinary quality of the food, with handcrafted plates and lacquer ware as well as ingredients changing with the seasons. The whole experience is one of Japan's finest examples of 'omotenashi', a uniquely Japanese approach to hospitality that anticipates the guest's needs without standing on ceremony.

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