Following the castle stay business that began at Fukuyama Castle in July 2024 in collaboration with the Fukuyama Arts and Culture Foundation, Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd. (a Value Management Group company based in Kyoto) has been selected by Fukuyama City to operate the cafe at Fukuju Kaikan, a registered tangible cultural property. The venue will reopen in April 2026 as "Fukuyama Castle Ninomaru Fukuju Kaikan Terrace Cafe."
In addition, leveraging 21 years of expertise in cultural property management, the company will simultaneously develop party and wedding businesses, aiming to create a sustainable economic cycle through the preservation of historic buildings within the Fukuyama Castle grounds.
Background of the Business
Multi-faceted Development of Cafe, Wedding, and Party Businesses to Promote Economic Circulation Within Fukuyama Castle
Fukuyama City is one of Hiroshima Prefecture's major tourist areas, attracting approximately 5 million visitors annually. However, visitor destinations are concentrated in Fukuyama Station and surrounding commercial facilities, with visitors predominantly being men in their 40s and 50s, primarily for business purposes, accounting for over 30%.
Against this backdrop, the "Fukuyama City Tourism Promotion Basic Strategy (2025-2027)" emphasizes creating experiences for nighttime and weekday stays as a priority theme. Fukuyama Castle, in particular, attracts high interest from both citizens and tourists (interest level: 56.5%) and is the city's most compelling historical resource, with high expectations for its effective utilization.
Building on the achievements of the "Fukuyama Castle Castle Stay" business that launched in June 2024, this project will create multiple usage scenarios within the castle grounds, including a cafe, weddings, and parties. By redefining the value of Fukuyama Castle, a nationally designated historic site, and transforming "sightseeing by viewing" into "staying tourism," the initiative aims to establish a sustainable cultural hub where diverse people gather from morning to night. The goal is to attract 20,000 customers within the Fukuyama Castle grounds over the next three years, contributing to Fukuyama's tourism promotion and economic development.
Business Overview
1. Cafe Business (Reopening Scheduled for Late April 2026)
The cafe will transform the atmospheric space of Fukuju Kaikan, a registered tangible cultural property, into a place where citizens and tourists can experience cultural heritage on a daily basis.
Features:
- Menu items featuring roses, Fukuyama City's symbol, designed to be visually appealing
Cafe Details:
- Name: Fukuyama Castle Ninomaru Fukuju Kaikan Terrace Cafe
- Location: 1-8-9 Marunouchi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture (5-minute walk from JR Fukuyama Station North Exit)
- Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on holidays)
- Hours:
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (L.O. 3:30 PM)
- Weekends and holidays: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (L.O. 4:00 PM)
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fukujuterrace/
2. Party Business (Banquets and Group Lunches for the Local Community)
Using the Japanese and Western buildings of Fukuju Kaikan as a venue, the space will provide a setting for community gatherings and special meals.
Plan Overview:
- Local banquet plan (corporate use): Designed for welcome/farewell parties and year-end/New Year parties for local businesses
- Local banquet plan (individual use): A venue to celebrate milestones for citizens, such as reunions and longevity celebrations
- Premium group lunch: In collaboration with travel companies, offering "local gastronomy" featuring abundant seasonal ingredients from the Setouchi region (sea bream from Tomonoura, Hiroshima beef, Fukuyama's specialty arrowhead, etc.)
3. Wedding Business (Heritage Weddings)
Produced under the concept of "celebrating Fukuyama's history and life through a city-wide wedding," the business will offer wedding ceremonies and receptions that leverage the value of historic buildings.
Features:
- Ceremony styles: Japanese garden ceremonies overlooking Fukuyama Castle's keep, "castle weddings" including a bridal procession through the castle grounds, and "photo weddings" with cultural properties as backdrops
- Cultural collaboration: Future plans include incorporating local industries and traditional culture, such as using Bingo denim linens and live Fukuyama koto performances, as a venue for promoting regional attractions
Future Schedule
- February 25, 2026: Special website launch, party bookings begin
- Late April 2026: Fukuyama Castle Ninomaru Fukuju Kaikan Terrace Cafe opens, wedding reservations begin
- Around Fall 2026: Wedding services begin
About Fukuju Kaikan
Fukuju Kaikan is a registered tangible cultural property located in the northeast of Fukuyama Castle's main bailey, within the nationally designated historic site "Fukuyama Castle Ruins."
Built in the early Showa period (1935-1937) as a villa for local businessman Kazusuke Abe, known as the "Shipping King," the expansive grounds feature a dignified "Japanese building" based on Shoin-zukuri style and a "Western building" characterized by Venetian Renaissance-style pseudo-window decorations and decorative columns. This modern architecture showcases a beautiful harmony of Japanese and Western styles, highly valued for its strolling garden with a pond that incorporates Fukuyama Castle as borrowed scenery.
Due to its historical and cultural significance, seven buildings were designated as registered tangible cultural properties by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 1997. Having survived wartime damage, this precious heritage conveys the splendid architectural culture of that era and is now one of Fukuyama City's representative cultural and tourist attractions.
Official website: https://fukuyamajo.jp/miru/fukujyu/
