Dramatic changes in Kurashiki and Shimotsui! A private inn for a relaxed conversation: Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) Shiomachi
This service includes sponsored advertisements.
Shimotsui , a Port town in Kurashiki City , Okayama Prefecture , is a seaside town that once flourished as a port of call for Kitamae-bune ships. The townscape, which still retains the atmosphere of the Showa, is undergoing a dramatic transformation as culture and new ideas are fused together through the efforts of local residents and immigrants. Symbolizing this change is the private lodging facility "Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse)."
Written by
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
-
Table of Contents
- A private inn with a name synonymous with Shimotsui
- The owner moved here because he was interested in the sea and has a comfortable atmosphere.
- An Indoor garage where you can spend time with your beloved car
- Once you step inside, you'll feel like stopping the clock.
- Dining in a Port town: how you enjoy it is up to you
- There are three bedrooms with different themes to lift your spirits.
- How do you spend a morning in a Port town?
- "Tonight's side dish is here!" The local fishmonger returns
- Nearby Spot 1: Washuzan Rest House to be renovated in spring 2025!
- Nearby Spot 2: The Seto Bridge - From above? From below? From which?
- A way to travel and enjoy the town like you live there
A private inn with a name synonymous with Shimotsui
Located in a corner of the streets that still retain the atmosphere of a Port town, Shimotsui Kazemachi Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) is a private lodging house that has been renovated from an old house built over 100 years ago. In the Edo period, many ships would anchor in Shimotsui as they waited for the right wind and tide, and the name was chosen to pay homage to this Shimotsui Port town 's history, and to bring back the bustle of the past.
The theme is "A private lodge for a relaxed conversation." There are no televisions or clocks, and only quiet, gentle time flows here, allowing you to spend time chatting with your loved ones. The warm space, which makes use of wood and original designs, allows you to forget about your daily life and immerse yourself in it.
The owner moved here because he was interested in the sea and has a comfortable atmosphere.
The owner, Tatsuya Hasegawa, moved from the Kanto region after the COVID-19 pandemic. Having grown up in an area without a sea, he traveled around the country wanting to live near the sea, and found that Shimotsui matched his desire for climate and environment.
From the preparation stage of moving, he met friends involved in Shimotsui's town development, and was drawn to the old house while working on it. He resolved to "revitalize this place as a unique inn," and renovated it into a private inn. He is also a member of the local revitalization group "Shimotsui Sea Village," and is not just running the inn, but is also working hard to utilize vacant houses and develop tourism resources. He is looking back at the town's resources and giving them new value. This attitude is reflected in the atmosphere of the inn, which is nostalgic yet has new charm.
An Indoor garage where you can spend time with your beloved car
The first thing that catches your eye at Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) is the Indoor garage. Its appeal is its convenience, allowing you to check in without getting wet even on rainy days. In addition, you can see your car or motorcycle through the glass from your room at any time, and many people spend the evening chatting with their beloved vehicles.
In addition to being used as a garage, the large covered space is also used for exhibitions, workshops, and events, providing a place where local people and travelers can naturally interact and connect with each other.
Once you step inside, you'll feel like stopping the clock.
When you pass through the noren curtain, you will be greeted by a blue earthen floor, the color of Shimotsui's ocean and Kojima Denim. Beyond that is a spacious hall that makes you feel at ease as soon as you step inside. There is a spacious dining room, a low table with a Irori (traditional sunken hearth), and the outside view is purposefully hidden, allowing you to escape from your daily life in an instant.
There are no televisions or clocks here. This is because we want you to relax and enjoy your time without worrying about time. Of course, there are no digital games either. Antiques and textured accessories are casually placed here, making you feel as if you are in a "continuation of life" in this town.
Dining in a Port town: how you enjoy it is up to you
We do not provide meals as we want to ensure that our guests do not intrude on our time and spend their precious time alone. Guests can choose to dine at restaurants in the neighborhood or in the Kojima area, or make use of the fully-equipped kitchen and Irori (traditional sunken hearth), depending on their style.
It's also a worthwhile experience to buy local seafood and cook Self-catering. There is also a full range of tableware and cutlery to make you feel good, so you can enjoy your meals as part of your "travel time." BBQ sets are also available for rental (reservations required in advance).
There are three bedrooms with different themes to lift your spirits.
There are three bedrooms, so it is perfect for multiple families or mixed-gender groups.
Each room has its own unique style, so you might find yourself fighting over one. All of the rooms are designed to be warm and comfortable.
The twin rooms make use of the latticed shoji screens and the original intricate design, allowing you to enjoy a Japanese atmosphere.
The bedroom on the first floor has a ceiling that is slightly higher towards the middle and resembles the bottom of a ship, a design unique to an old house that evokes the history of the Port town.
Those who wish to sleep next to their beloved car can enjoy the rare experience of sleeping together in the large hall, separated by glass.
The washroom area also comes equipped with amenities to lift your spirits, such as a high-performance hair dryer and lotion from a popular cosmetic brand.
There are various touches throughout the hotel that make your stay there truly worthwhile, and discovering them is part of the fun.
How do you spend a morning in a Port town?
It's about a two-minute walk from Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) to the beach. You can walk while admiring the fishing boats heading out to sea and the Seto from various angles.
Stroll through the streets of Shimotsui , where many of the designs unique to a Port town remain. Take a little further and relax in the parks and shrines. You can also enjoy conversations with locals, and discovering your own original morning that you won't find in guidebooks might be one of the benefits of staying in the town.
"Tonight's side dish is here!" The local fishmonger returns
Located about a 3-minute walk from Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) is Yoshimata Shoten, a long-established store selling seafood and dried goods, marked by a rotating sea bream.
The owner, Yoden Yoshie, has been working for many years to bring prosperity to Shimotsui, and her wish that "a Port town needs a fish shop" has been realized, with the long-awaited fish shop opening in Shimotsui Yokocho, a renovated former garage.
This long-awaited shop "returned" in 2024 to Shimotsui , a Port town that had not had a fresh fish shop for many years.
Ino-san called out to Nobuhiro Inoki, who has been involved with fresh fish for over 20 years. He has a proven track record in managing a fish shop, and with his keen eye for quality, knife skills, friendly smile, and natural energy, he is the perfect "fishmonger" who has quickly become close to the people of the town, running the shop together with his wife and becoming an indispensable presence in their daily lives.
It is not uncommon to see guests staying at Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) buying seafood from Yoshimata Fish Shop Shoten for dinner. Many regular customers come from far away in search of seafood, as well as locals, and the fishmongers that used to be found in every town have returned, creating a new landscape that connects the local community with travelers. You can even have the fish you catch prepared for you.
Nearby Spot 1: Washuzan Rest House to be renovated in spring 2025!
Washuzan Rest House , where you can take the classic photo of the Seto and Bisan Seto Inland Sea that you often see in tourist guides, will be significantly renovated in spring 2025 in collaboration with local businesses. In addition to its role as a tourist facility, it has been reborn as a hub for culture and exchange that connects the local area with the outside world.
In addition to selling standard souvenirs, there are also select shops with local products, making it a fun place for people of all ages.
The charm of the region is also promoted from Mt. Washuzan , the symbol of Shimotsui .
"Local Shokudo" serves set meals and set menus that make use of local ingredients. It is popular not only with tourists but also as a "restaurant" that locals can use on an everyday basis.
The "Bookstore" is a space that revolutionizes the concept of a bookstore, where you can find books selected by the owner.
It is equipped with a rest area, nursing room and multi-purpose space, and has evolved into a new type of complex facility.
Washuzan Rest House ｜Official Instagram
Nearby Spot 2: The Seto Bridge - From above? From below? From which?
One of the ways to enjoy Shimotsui is to be able to enjoy the Seto from both above and below.
From Tsuchiura Park in Shimotsui , you can see the Seto from directly below. Looking up, the scale of the bridge fills your field of vision, the view of the Great Seto Bridge stretching from near sea level to Seto and the sky, and the sounds of cars and trains passing by from above are refreshing and create a unique sense of openness.
Also, from the " Azumaya Observation Deck ", located about a 10-minute walk from Mt. Washuzan Station of the former Shimotsui Electric Railway, you can see the towering piers of the Seto directly in front of you, which is also an extraordinary view. It is a place where you can get a panoramic view of the bridge and the cars passing by "from above".
A way to travel and enjoy the town like you live there
There are trips to enjoy tourist facilities and leisure activities, trips to get to know a place deeply, and trips to detox from everyday life. All of these have their charms, but this time we introduced "Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse)," a private inn where you can spend time away from the clock and your everyday life, and the surrounding attractions. You can make reservations and inquiries for "Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse)" on their official website.
[Shimotsui Kazemachi Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) ]
Address: 1-7-30 Shimotsui , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 080-6804-4751 (Hasegawa)
Parking: Available
*Please understand that we may not be able to answer the phone.
※Click here for Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse)'s official Instagram
(Some images provided by Kazemachi Shiomachi (Guesthouse) and Akatsuki Corporation)
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
Special Features
More
