Kazeno Kurayoshi, a Heritage Retreat Utilizing Kurayoshi's Historical Assets, Holds Opening Reception

Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Jun Tairiku) held an opening reception on Wednesday, July 1, ahead of the grand opening of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi,' a heritage retreat in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture, scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2026.

The Light of Place: Kurayoshi | Kazeno Kurayoshi

Celebrating the launch of a new lodging destination rooted in Kurayoshi’s historical assets

The first part of the event was attended by Kurayoshi Mayor Kazutaka Hirota, Naoki Nago, Representative Director of Akagawara Co., Ltd., Jun Tairiku, Representative Director of Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd., as well as local government officials, tourism and urban development stakeholders, and community members. Through a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour, attendees celebrated the launch of this new lodging destination that leverages Kurayoshi’s historical assets.

Mayor Kazutaka Hirota of Kurayoshi, representatives from Akagawara Co., Ltd., and Kazeno Heritage attended the opening reception for 'Kazeno Kurayoshi.'

'Kazeno Kurayoshi' is a decentralized heritage retreat composed of two buildings with 11 rooms, preserving and repurposing the Tottori Prefecture-designated protected cultural property 'Ogawa Family Residence' and the nationally registered tangible cultural property 'Former Takata Family Residence.' As the first facility in the new hotel brand series 'Kazeno Heritage' under the 'Kazeno' category, it curates a holistic regional experience centered on the red-tiled roofs and white-walled storehouses, Tottori folk crafts, Mount Mitoku, hot springs, satoyama nature, cuisine, and human connections.

Kurayoshi City is currently advancing the 'Nostalgic Resort Kurayoshi' initiative, redefining the value of stays by leveraging its historic townscape—symbolized by white-walled storehouses and merchant districts—and living culture. The city emphasizes compatibility with 'living-style travel,' where visitors immerse themselves in the authentic historical scenery, tranquility, and culture, and is building a brand targeting long-stay travelers, particularly from Europe and North America.

Spaces preserving and revitalizing the Tottori Prefecture-designated 'Ogawa Family Residence' and the nationally registered 'Former Takata Family Residence' were unveiled.

Guest comments from the opening reception

Mayor Kazutaka Hirota of Kurayoshi

'Kurayoshi City has many attractive tourism resources, but there has been room for growth in overnight, stay-based tourism. The opening of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi,' a high-value facility allowing guests to stay within cultural properties, is highly anticipated as a significant catalyst for advancing stay-based tourism.'

Shinoko Saito, Owner of the Ogawa Family Residence

'I hope this becomes a place where visitors feel, 'I’m glad I came.' That is my greatest wish.

The current revitalization of the Ogawa residence skillfully utilizes the heritage passed down through generations. I am truly pleased with how it has been transformed.'

Naoki Nago, Representative Director, Akagawara Co., Ltd.

'The Ogawa Family Residence, a prefectural cultural property cherished by its owners for generations, has been beautifully reborn as 'Kazeno Kurayoshi.' Alongside Kurayoshi’s Tottori City Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Tsurugi Tamagawa, we are proud to see it become a cornerstone of Kurayoshi tourism and hope it contributes to the city’s revitalization.'

Jun Tairiku, Representative Director, Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd.

'Guests come here for the buildings themselves. But by the time they leave, we hope they take with them a deeper understanding and affection for the region’s history and culture. Creating this transformation of value is the role of this facility. We hope that the time spent here becomes an experience that deepens one’s connection to this place.'

Dinner experience showcasing the creators’ vision

The second part of the event featured a reception dinner attended by media representatives, local stakeholders, and creators involved in the project. The dinner served a 'Satoyama Cuisine' course incorporating local ingredients and memories from Tottori and Kurayoshi. The venue featured a straw installation by artist Straft, planned for future use in the facility, and menus printed on Inshu washi paper.

At the Takata residence dinner venue, a straw installation by 'Straft' was set up, bringing the world of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi' to life. Each dish expressed Tottori and Kurayoshi’s ingredients and local memories under the theme of satoyama cuisine.

The event also introduced experiential designs by the creators shaping the Kazeno Heritage universe. Creative directors Keisuke Shimizu and Yoshiko Fujita jointly developed the brand’s core worldview and expression. Fujita also led the visual identity and logo design, while Kosuke Yamamoto curated interior decorations and furnishings, and Takayuki Kono designed the staff uniforms.

Uniforms designed to quietly blend into the space

Additionally, a short documentary film of approximately five and a half minutes by director Yuto Nakamura, set in 'Kazeno Kurayoshi,' and original in-house music by composer and musician Marihiko Hara were unveiled. The reception served as an opportunity to share the philosophy of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi'—weaving cultural heritage, town, silence, food, music, attire, and visuals into a unified stay experience—not through explanation, but through direct experience.

Original in-house music by Marihiko Hara [PENSÉE — Shii]

Coinciding with the opening reception, composer and musician Marihiko Hara, known for scoring the film 'National Treasure' and winner of 'MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026,' premiered the original in-house music 'PENSÉE — Shii (Pensée Shui).' This music is not background music meant to fill the space, but rather designed to harmonize with the subtle sounds guests hear—the creak of the building, birdsong, footsteps, check-in sounds, and ambient town noises—completing the auditory experience.

Hara commented on the silence he experienced during his stay: 'I wanted to create music that doesn’t disturb but deepens this silence, where one can almost hear the voice within oneself. I aim to create a space within the silence of sound, where people can reflect, regenerate, or transform.'

Title: PENSÉE — Shii

Composition & Piano: Marihiko Hara

Kudo: Renzan Kudo

Santoor: Kazune Iwasaki

Nagauta Shamisen: Ryujuro Ito

Profile of Marihiko Hara

Graduate of the Faculty of Education, Kyoto University. Centered on 'strength within silence,' he creates chamber music centered on piano, field recordings, and electronic sound works. Active in diverse fields, including participation in the artist group 'Damtype,' music for stage works by Hideki Noda, Kōhei Nawa, and Mirai Moriyama, films such as 'National Treasure' and 'The Moon,' Yuzuru Hanyu’s 'Prequel,' and NHK’s 'Sunday Art Museum' (co-created with Misato Sakamoto). Recipient of the 'Best Score for a Film' and 'Best Soundtrack Album' at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026. Multiple awards including dual wins for Best Music and Best Theme Song at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize.

Yuto Nakamura’s new form of travel visual guide: 'Not recording, but capturing memory'

Simultaneously released, director Yuto Nakamura’s brand film 'The Light of Place: Staying in Cultural Properties, a Travel Guide to Kurayoshi' portrays guests walking through the town, encountering people, savoring flavors, and resting—immersing themselves in the essence of Kurayoshi itself through their stay at 'Kazeno Kurayoshi.'