In the heart of the Bikan Historical Quarter in Kurashiki, Okayama, you will find an ivy-covered brick building housing the Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel. Though a long walk while toting luggage from the JR Kurashiki train station, it is extremely well located for sightseeing around the neighborhood. It is about a 20 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride away, probably the best option of you have some heavy luggage. Critics claim that the facilities are tired, whereas others enjoy the old-world charm as the red-brick building was originally built in 1889 to serve as a cotton mill which lends to the charm of the Ivy Square.
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel
There are a variety of room options, including a Japanese room which is a good choice for families, standard rooms, and economy rooms which do not have a toiler or shower attached though all have air-conditioning.
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel room
All guests are welcome to use the public bath facilities, which have a traditional Japanese hot-spring style. Technically they are not an onsen because the water is heated by the hotel rather than geothermal sources. The baths are a wonderful way to relax after a day of walking and sightseeing. They are open from 6 to 9 am and 5 pm to midnight.
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel spa
The hotel has two restaurants. Ivy has a western menu and is open from 7 am to 9:30 pm. Tsuta is Japanese-style and is open for lunch from 11:30 am to 2 pm and dinner from 5 to 9:30 pm. There is also a pub, Akarenga, open from 7 pm to midnight. The hotel also has an arrangement with a local health club for guests to use the pool and fitness center at a reduced rate. The Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel is not a luxury hotel, but makes a good base for a short visit to the city.
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel outdoors
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel is an official Heritage of Industrial Modernisation site and has it’s own art gallery and Torajiro Kojima Memorial Hall. Ohara Museum of Art, Kyodo Gangukan (Japanese Folk Toy Museum) and Yurinso Villa and are all around 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel.
Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel buffet
Address is 710-0054 Okayama, Kurashiki, Hon-machi 7-2
