Heritage Retreat Inn "Kaze no Kurayoshi" Launches Retreat Journey Experiences in Kurayoshi, Tottori

Published: June 4, 2026
Heritage Retreat Inn "Kaze no Kurayoshi" Launches Retreat Journey Experiences in Kurayoshi, Tottori

A new accommodation in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture, called "Kaze no Kurayoshi," is scheduled to grand open on July 17, 2026. Housed within two nationally registered and prefecturally designated cultural properties — the Ogawa Family Residence and the former Takata Family Residence — the inn began accepting reservations for its stay plans and retreat experiences on June 4, 2026.

Kaze no Kurayoshi is the first property in the Kazeno Heritage brand series. It positions itself as a dispersed heritage retreat inn where guests can explore the surrounding region's red-tile and whitewashed earthen warehouse townscape, Tottori mingei (folk art) crafts, Mt. Mitoku, hot springs, satoyama (rural) nature, local cuisine, and encounters with local people. Its curated programs are themed around a "Five-Senses Retreat Journey."

Four Retreat Journeys for the Five Senses

The stay plans and experiences now open for booking are organized around four retreat themes, drawing on the culture, nature, spirituality, and craftsmanship found throughout Kurayoshi and the central Tottori region.

1. Abandoned Railway Meditation & Walking — Deep Breath Retreat Stay

"Walk the bamboo-lined abandoned railway and quiet tunnel, and find restoration."

This program invites guests to step away from urban noise and information overload and surrender to deep stillness. The former Kurayoshi Line, once a working railway now gradually being reclaimed by bamboo, serves as the setting for a guided meditation led by a Buddhist monk from Jizo-in temple in Kurayoshi. After the meditation, participants walk through the quiet interior of a tunnel where light and sound are almost entirely cut off. A rest by the shores of Lake Oike follows, where guests can experience a sense of unity with the surrounding landscape and a deep release. Through the simple acts of walking, breathing, and resting, the program aims to help participants restore their mental and physical rhythm.

Walking the abandoned railway to restore deep breathing

Walking the abandoned railway line to reclaim deep breathing

The monk's bell resonating in the bamboo grove

Time: 9:00 AM, approximately 90 minutes

2-Night 3-Day Stay Plan Includes:

  • Meals: 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts
  • Guided meditation on the abandoned Kurayoshi Line by a Buddhist monk from Jizo-in temple (meditation mat included)
  • Walking with a dedicated guide (guide fee included)
  • Rest at Lake Oike

Reference Pricing:

  • Stay plan: from ¥117,875 per person (2 nights / 3 days, 2 guests sharing a room, dinner and breakfast included)
  • Experience only: from ¥13,500 per person (for 2 or more guests)

Reservations are limited to inn guests only, and can also be added to a 1-night stay. This program is planned as a seasonal offering.


2. Immersive Folk Craft Experience — Immersion Retreat Stay

"Immerse yourself in Tottori folk crafts, and find mindfulness."

This program focuses on the traditional handcrafts of Kurayoshi — an area sometimes described as a sacred site of mingei (folk art). Guests choose from experiences in Kurayoshi kasuri (traditional indigo-dyed cloth), blacksmithing, or pottery. Diving into the work of skilled artisans allows distracting thoughts to fall away, leading to a state of flow — a focused and restorative immersion.

Craft experience in Kurayoshi — immersed in an artisan's work, finding mindfulness

Choose from Three Tottori Folk Craft Experiences:

(1) Weaving — Kurayoshi Kasuri

Participants weave kasuri cloth on a traditional loom, listening to the rhythmic sound of each thread being set in place. Concentrating on the intricate process of creating the kasuri pattern brings about a sense of carefully reweaving oneself.

Kurayoshi kasuri, with its complex and beautiful patterns tracing back to the late Edo period

Weaving process at a kasuri studio

(2) Blacksmithing — Paper Knife

At a smithy with more than 120 years of history, guests try the craft of forging — shaping and cutting heated iron. Bringing a hammer down with full concentration amid a shower of sparks delivers an immersive sense of achievement.

Striking and shaping heated iron at the blacksmith workshop

A paper knife created through the blacksmithing experience

(3) Pottery — Kazuwa-yaki

Kazuwa-yaki is a traditional pottery style from Kurayoshi, Tottori. Working under the third-generation kiln master in a serene workshop, participants focus on the sensation of damp clay under their fingertips — a kind of "moving meditation" — tracing the process of a form gradually taking shape while adapting to the material.

Tottori is home to many kiln masters with deep ties to the mingei folk art movement

Kneading clay with the kiln master

Time: 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM (last entry), approximately 90 minutes

2-Night 3-Day Stay Plan Includes:

  • Meals: 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts
  • Choice of weaving, blacksmithing, or pottery (including the cost of the item made during the experience)
  • Prices vary by experience

Reference Pricing:

  • Stay plan: from ¥113,375 per person (2 nights / 3 days, 2 guests sharing a room, dinner and breakfast included)
  • Experience only: from ¥7,500 per person

Reservations are limited to inn guests only, and can also be added to a 1-night stay.


3. Mt. Mitoku Pilgrimage Climb — Shugendo Retreat Stay

"Sharpen body and mind on a pilgrimage climb to Nageire-do, a National Treasure."

The centerpiece of this program is a guided pilgrimage climb to Nageire-do, a National Treasure located within Mitokusan Sanbutsuji — a Japan Heritage site. Navigating the rugged mountain terrain with a guide, over the same steep rock faces once traversed by ascetic mountain practitioners, becomes an ultimate active meditation that strips away daily distractions and draws participants fully into the present moment. After a demanding ascent, the sight of Nageire-do awakens not only a sense of achievement but also intellectual curiosity and deep reverence. Recovery follows at nearby hot springs and beside peaceful waterside surroundings.

Climbing toward Nageire-do on Mt. Mitoku — scaling the steep mountain path

The path up Mt. Mitoku

Rocky terrain on the Mt. Mitoku trail

Time: First session 9:00 AM / Second session 1:00 PM, approximately 180 minutes

2-Night 3-Day Stay Plan Includes:

  • Meals: 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts
  • Guided pilgrimage climb to Nageire-do at Mitokusan Sanbutsuji
  • Recovery at nearby hot springs such as Misasa Onsen (bathing fee not included in plan price)

Reference Pricing:

  • Stay plan: from ¥119,875 per person (2 nights / 3 days, 2 guests sharing a room, dinner and breakfast included)
  • Experience only: from ¥14,000 per person

Reservations are limited to inn guests only, and can also be added to a 1-night stay. A separate pilgrimage/entry fee is required on-site at Mitokusan Sanbutsuji. This program is planned as a seasonal offering. The pilgrimage climb may be canceled due to weather or mountain access conditions — please check details at the time of booking.


4. Renowned Hot Springs Tour and Water Activities in Central Tottori

"Three distinct hot springs in central Tottori — gently recalibrate body and mind."

This stay proposal centers on visiting the celebrated hot springs scattered around the Kurayoshi area, helping guests restore their natural sense of wellbeing through quality water. The lineup includes Misasa Onsen, one of the world's leading radium springs; Togo and Hawai Onsen, which bubble up beside a lakeside; and Sekigane Onsen, known for its clear, pure waters. Water activities on Lake Togo and Lake Oike are also part of the experience. Throughout the stay, guests are encouraged to pay attention to the quality of water they consume — through habits such as drinking hot water, enjoying dashi-based meals, and rehydrating after bathing — as a way to gently restore their physical condition.

Seven foot baths near Lake Togo, each named after one of the Seven Lucky Gods

Kayaking through the nostalgic red-tile townscape near Lake Togo

Details on hot spring tours and water activities in central Tottori will be announced on the official website soon.


Each program includes a model 2-night 3-day itinerary to give guests a concrete sense of the Retreat Journey at Kaze no Kurayoshi. Single-night additions and inquiries for individual activities are also available. To fully savor Kurayoshi's stillness, crafts, nature, food, hot springs, and evening atmosphere, stays of two nights or more are recommended.

Reservations

Reservations Open: June 4, 2026
Property: Kaze no Kurayoshi
Grand Opening: July 17, 2026 (Pre-opening: July 1, 2026)
Booking Method: Via the official website
Format: Stay plans and request-based activities
Stay Plan Pricing: from ¥113,375 per person (2 nights / 3 days, 2 guests sharing a room, dinner and breakfast included)
Experience Programs (standalone): from ¥7,500 per person

Each experience will be formally confirmed following a check on availability. Seasonal availability, operating conditions, pricing, inclusions, transfers, bathing fees, and cancellation policies vary by plan.

Facility Overview

Kaze no Kurayoshi

Name: Kaze no Kurayoshi
Address: 1969 Kawara-machi, Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture
Phone: 0120-210-289
Total Rooms: 11 rooms across 2 buildings

  • Ogawa Family building (Tottori Prefecture-designated Cultural Property: Ogawa Family Residence)
  • Takata Family building (Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property: Former Takata Family Residence)

Facilities: Guest rooms, front desk, dining, lounge
Access: 15 minutes by car from JR Kurayoshi Station (shuttle available); 50 minutes by car or bus from Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport; 70 minutes by car from Yonago Kitaro Airport
Check-in / Check-out: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM / 11:00 AM
Parking / Shuttle: Available
Official Website: https://www.kazenoheritage.jp/hotels/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kazeno.kurayoshi/