Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter during the day is awesome, but nighttime is even better with the beautiful lights lining the walkways and historical buildings! So why not spend a night at this amazing destination in Japan? The atmosphere here at night is completely different from the vibe during the day, especially with lesser crowds!
However, as you can imagine, most accommodations in the area won’t be cheap. So if you are traveling with a group of people, here are a few choices for you to consider (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
The inns run by Kurashi no Yado Temari (暮らしの宿 てまり) only take one set of guests at a time. So, you will have the whole traditional townhouse to yourself, and the accommodation will also be COVID-19-safe!
What differentiates the inns from regular Airbnb accommodations is that you have access to the inns’ staff during your stay. It is like a hybrid of normal hotels and Airbnb (≧▽≦).
We recommend Yukikai and Madoromi if you are a small group of up to 6 people (Yukikai for up to 3 people). If you are coming with young children or in a group of up to 9 people, Oitoma is your choice!
The Yukikai Inn
The Yukikai Inn is located at the center of the Bikan area. It was renovated from an old private residence. During your stay at the Yukikai Inn, you will be experiencing a day similar to the locals when you watch people walking along the streets from just your bedroom window!
Here at Yukikai Inn, you will be able to relax in this very rare traditional Japanese bathtub. Nowadays, it is uncommon to find one like this.
For guests who stay at Yukikai Inn only, you will receive a welcome drink!
At Yukikai Inn, you will also be able to experience sleeping on Japanese futon beds! Before your arrival, the staff will make the beds for you, and if you have any questions regarding the futon beds, they will be more than happy to answer.
Because it is an old house, the stairs are steep. So, please walk carefully.
During your stay, you can examine the beams and the architectural style in detail.
How to Get to Yukikai Inn
Finding the entrance to Yukikai Inn might be hard, so here are some directions.
Firstly, you will need to find the shop Bikandō (美観堂). Once you have found it, your bedroom is just above the shop on the second floor!
The friendly staff at Bikandō will kindly guide you to Yukikai Inn’s entrance, located in the small alley right next to Bikandō.
If Cafe Yuurin-An is also on your itinerary (which we highly recommend), you can also check with the staff at Bikandō to help you get there.
The Oitoma Inn
If you are traveling with young children or are a larger group of people, give the Oitoma Inn a try! It is another renovated old folk house owned by Bikandō.
Since it is located on the side of the Bikan area, you can enjoy your time at Kurashiki with minimum disruption from other tourists. (^_-)-☆.
In addition, the house has a workspace that was newly created in 2022 for remote work. You can also stay there to read quietly.
Note that whilst they allow up to 9 people to stay here, there are only 4 single beds. The bedding for the remaining 5 people will be the traditional Japanese futon bed. Although it is not as soft as normal beds, we love it too! After all, it is a part of the cultural experience!
Children’s futon beds are also available!
Note that if you are a vegetarian or vegan and want to select the plans with meals, check email them to confirm if they can accommodate your dietary requirements.
The Kid’s Area
Just opposite the single beds at the Oitoma Inn, there is a kid’s area! There are quite a few picture books that your kids can enjoy, and surprisingly, there are even books in English!
Tip: We know traveling with many baby stuff can be hard. So if you let them know the size of the diaper you need (and even the brand – Japanese brand only), they will make sure enough is left in the inn for you to use. Also, it is FREE!!!
If you need help in any form of communication with the hotel, let us know by filling in the contact form HERE, and we will get back to you!
Madoromi Inn
Madoromi was open in early 2023. It is another Temari’s inn that accepts only one group of customers per day.
The inn is located on the second floor of a confectionery shop called Haremokemo (はれもけも). As it is located at the back of Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, the area is relatively quieter, perfect for a good night’s sleep.
Different from Yukikai Inn, a small kitchen is there for you to prepare a simple meal. Using the cutlery and utensils collected across Japan, your meal at Madoromi is going to be more stylish!
You can refer to Temari’s Website for photos of Madoromi Inn!
Useful Information about Staying at the Three Inns
- You can also go for the accommodation plan with dinner included (please enquire beforehand if you have special dietary requirements)
- The check-in time is between 3 pm to 6 pm. Please advise your check-in time before your arrival. This is important so they can arrange for staff to be at the inn in time for your check-in.
- Checking in after 6 pm will incur a fee of 2,500 yen.
Important: If you are running late, contact the inn in advance. It is never a good thing to keep people waiting, even if you are paying.
- For Toitoma Inn, if you can send through your passport details, self-check-in is available (the gate passcode will be advised to you in advance). Note that notification of your arrival through email or phone call is still required.
- Check-out time is at 10 am. It is possible to arrange a late check-out with an extra 2,500 yen, but not guaranteed. Please advise the inn when you make your reservation if you would like to have a late check-out. The inn will then inform you whether it is possible on the day of your visit, depending on whether there are other bookings on the following day.
- Please take note of their cancelation policy. Depending on which platform you use to make your booking, cancelation charges differ.
- The Toitoma Inn is located on the side of a road. Although it is not usually a busy road, you might find it not as peaceful as you like if you are extremely sensitive to noise.
- Regarding pajamas, Yukikai Inn only offers adult-size pajamas to its guests. If you are staying at the Toitoma Inn, you will need to bring your own pajamas.
- Even though pest control is completed twice a year, you still might see bugs in summer during your stay at Toitoma Inn. Since the Inn was a renovated historical townhouse located close to the mountain, there may be a few unwelcomed bugs sneaking into the house (this isn’t really due to the lack of regular cleaning and maintenance).
Tip: If you really like anything in your room and would like to bring it back home, talk to the staff, and you will most likely be able to purchase it!
How to Reserve Your Stay
To reserve, please click HERE. Reservation information in English is below the Japanese paragraphs.
Vegetarian-Friendly Dining at Kurashiki Bikan Quarter
Click HERE to find out about some vegetarian-friendly restaurants that you will be able to enjoy with your non-vegetarian friends and families!
Explore the Famous Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is a historic area filled with traditional Japanese buildings, perfect for some photography sessions.
With a variety of shops, trendy cafes and galleries in the area, you can easily spend a whole day here without getting bored!
Find out more about this gorgeous part of Japan with our Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter article!
