Ryori Ryokan Tsurugata is a top class traditional Japanese ryokan located in the historic Bikan Quarter of Kurashiki. This historic city is known for its scenic canals and traditional shopping streets. The original building was built in 1774 and is located directly along the canal next to the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum. The proximity to the canal is advantageous and allows for easy access to the nearby sights and shops including the Kurashiki Denim Street and Ohara Museum of Art. In the evening, the lantern lit streets and the canal are picturesque and worth the stroll.
There are eleven rooms in the ryokan of different sizes and offering different views of the grounds. The rooms are spacious and traditional in their layout with a sitting area, tatami flooring with futon beds and modern restrooms. Rooms may accommodate anywhere from 2 to 6 people. There may be an outdoor garden for guests to stroll and relax. The staff are extremely gracious and speak English. Luggage may be dropped off for storage earlier than check-in time which is at 3 p.m. The inn staff provided umbrellas for the guests during the rainy season.
The room price includes dinner and breakfast. The ryokan has an adjoining restaurant and is well known for its excellent food. Dinner is a multicourse kaiseki dinner served in room highlighting seasonal vegetables and seafood. The highlight is sea bream ochazuke, a comforting and generous dish of raw pieces of sea bream in a rice porridge. Breakfast is traditional as well and includes grilled fish. Breakfast is served in the dining room of the restaurant attached to the hotel. There is free wi-fi and also a public onsen segregated by gender.
Kurashiki is a quaint historic city worth the visit and Ryokan Tsurugata is an excellent accommodation with a great location.
