Wallpaper* checks in at Yoruya, a Japanese inn where less is always more

In Japan’s Kurashiki City, behind a traditional timber latticed facade typifying the architectural vernacular of the area and an unassuming hand-crafted knotted nawa-noren rope curtain, lies Yoruya, a new boutique hotel transformed from a 110-year-old former kimono merchants shopfront and residence. The 13-guest room property is an exercise in graceful restraint, harmoniously blending tradition and modernity, and counts with a bar, lounge and restaurant highlighting locality and seasonality with kaiseki dining.

Wallpaper* checks in at: Yoruya, Kurashiki

What’s on your doorstep?

Located within a quiet and residential corner of the Bikan Historical Quarter, the hotel is surrounded by the famed cluster of meticulously preserved centuries-old white-plastered storehouses, shopfronts, and residences. Alongside a picturesque canal, buildings possess a history of over 400 years, reflecting the town’s rich mercantile history through cotton production and its former flourishing textile industry. That prosperity further blossomed a rich, burgeoning culture for the arts and crafts.

Who is behind the design?

‘Our mission was to convey the true character, history, and craftsmanship deeply rooted in this region,’ cites Yuta Oka, hotelier and founder of Naru Developments, who ‘inherited’ the site and spearheaded the project along with Kyoto-based developer Kiraku. Yoruya – translated as twisting threads in Japanese – extends as a metaphoric anchor for the ethos of the property. ‘It is a term that captures both the softness and the craftsmanship that define the town,’ notes Oka.

The sophisticated renovation was no less undertaken by Simplicity Design Studio, who were entrusted to oversee the entire hotel’s design and weave new life into the century-old site.

The back story

Following the quarter’s strict regulations around aesthetics and density, Simplicity renovated the property’s traditional structures whilst designing two additional new buildings inspired by the town’s Edo-era shikkui white-plastered warehouses and Meiji-era brick buildings as a continuation of its architectural landscape. The four volumes are interconnected by a series of white-walled passages reminiscent of the town’s narrow alleyways. Referred to as hiyasai, Simplicity aimed to recreate an extension of these walkways within the hotel as a ‘vista for the guests to be able to experience three different identities of the buildings,’ they explained. Further adding, ’Especially to praise the light and shadow between the buildings.’

The wow factor

Kurashiki’s cultural richness was heavily instigated and nurtured by the patronage of the town’s revered Ohara Family. This ethos inspired Yoruya’s team to cultivate and commission various original ceramics, crafts and artworks by next-generation and established local artisans. Throughout the hotel, pottery by Kota Miyake, ceramic sculptures by Maki Takeuchi (son of famed local potter Seijo Takeuchi), woven wares by Sunami Toru Shoten, handblown glassworks by Yamanone Glass, carved zelkova wooden tablets by woodworker Midori Takayama, tapestries by artist Jun Tomita and paper sculptures by Bitchu washi artisan Naoki Tange – to name but a few – decorate the interiors. Thoughtfully curated, they emphasise the depth of Yoruya’s authentic approach to localised encounters.

What are the rooms like?

The hotel’s 13 guest rooms are segmented into one main suite, two junior suites and three guest rooms located within the two traditional timber buildings. The rich history of traditional elements marries beautifully with Simplicity’s contemporary touches. The remaining ten guest rooms are found within the two new additional buildings designed in a modern maisonette style. These double-floored guest rooms feature a naka-niwa inner garden, allowing natural light to flood through. In-room amenities include complimentary local beer, juices, green tea sourced from Northern Okayama tea farms and coffee brewed by local roaster ‘something like that’.

Staying for dinner?

Expect traditional Japanese kaiseki dining (a traditional multi-course Japanese meal) with a modern approach. Dishes are crafted from ingredients sourced directly from the surrounding region and paired with an excellent sake selection. The restaurant’s open-plan kitchen and u-shaped hinoki wood counter seating allow for an intimate experience with executive chef Fumio Niimi, whose thoughtful dishes evoke the flavours and nuances of Japanese micro-seasons.

The verdict

The space breathes true luxury, preserving rich heritage whilst navigating the site into the future. For Oka, he envisions Yoruya as an enduring addition to the town’s future legacy. ‘The history of Kurashiki has been passed down through generations, and through the will of its people, it has grown into something as strong and impressive as a thick rope,’ he analogises. ‘It is our hope that Yoruya, though today still a thin and delicate thread, will eventually be woven into this unique tapestry of Kurashiki’s history.’

Yoruya, 2-7 Higashimachi, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-0053, Japan, tel +81 50-5799-4721, yoruya-kurashiki.com. Rates: from ¥52,635