Historical buildings in Tottori transformed into sustainable luxury retreat

Kazeno Heritage announced that it will open Kazeno Kurayoshi in July in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture, a facility that focuses on the adaptive reuse of historical architecture to promote regional revitalisation and cultural succession.

Kurayoshi City features a townscape designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The area is known for its white-walled storehouses and red-tiled roofs dating from the Edo to Taisho periods. Kazeno Kurayoshi operates as a decentralised hotel, meaning guest rooms are situated within preserved historical buildings scattered throughout the district.

The hotel consists of 11 rooms across two primary heritage buildings. The Ogawa House is a Tottori Prefectural Protected Cultural Property that served as a prominent merchant residence since the Edo period. It features a main building from the late Meiji era, a tea room, and a traditional garden. The Takata House is a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property characterised by its heavy earthen walls and storehouses. These structures have been restored to retain original beams and pillars while providing modern comfort.

The facility plans to offer a three-day heritage retreat programme designed to facilitate mental and physical recovery. This moves away from traditional tourism consumption toward a regenerative experience. Guests participate in activities that connect them with the local environment and spiritual culture, including a walking meditation through abandoned railway tunnels and bamboo groves, followed by a lakeside brunch at Lake Oyama.

Another retreat focus is the immersion in local mingei folk crafts. Guests engage in hands-on workshops with artisans to experience a state of flow through manual work. The hotel also offers guided climbs of Mount Mitoku, home to a National Treasure temple built into a cliffside.

Kazeno Heritage aims to preserve historical buildings without relying on tax subsidies, and the opening of Kazeno Kurayoshi represents a commitment to sustainable town development and the protection of Japanese architectural heritage.