The Heritage Retreat Hotel 'Kazeno Kurayoshi' will have its grand opening on Friday, July 17, 2026, and prior to the opening, an opening reception was held on Wednesday, July 1.

Brand Movie 'The Light of Place: A Travel Guide to Staying at Cultural Heritage Sites in Kurayoshi | Kazeno Kurayoshi'

Celebrating the start of a new base of operations.
reception

In the first part, Kurayoshi City Mayor Kazuhisa Hirota, President of Akagawara Co., Ltd. Munihiro Nakagoshi, and Jun Tarikino, President of Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd., along with government officials, local tourism and community development stakeholders, and local representatives, attended the event to celebrate the opening of a new accommodation facility that leverages Kurayoshi's historical assets through a tape-cutting ceremony and a facility tour.

"Kazeno Kurayoshi" is a dispersed heritage retreat consisting of 2 buildings and 11 rooms, utilizing and preserving the Tottori Prefecture designated cultural property "Ogawa House" and the Registered Tangible Cultural Property "Takata House." As the first facility in the "Kazeno" category of the new hotel brand series "Kazeno Heritage," it curates a stay experience that allows guests to enjoy the townscape of red-tiled roofs and white-walled earthen storehouses, Tottori's folk crafts, Mt. Mitokusan, hot springs, the natural environment of satoyama, and interactions with food and people throughout the region.

In Kurayoshi City, there is currently a project underway to create a "Nostalgic Resort Kurayoshi," which aims to redefine the value of staying by utilizing the historical townscape symbolized by the white-walled storehouses and merchant town, as well as the local lifestyle and culture. The city promotes a travel experience that allows visitors to stay as if they live there, enjoying the historical landscape, tranquility, and culture, while also focusing on building a brand aimed at attracting long-term visitors, particularly from Europe and America.

Opening reception
Guest comments

Kazeno Kurayoshi City Mayor Hirota Ikkyou
"Kurayoshi City has many attractive tourism resources, but until now, there has been room for further development in stay-type tourism. This time, with the opening of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi', a facility with high added value that allows guests to stay in cultural properties has been born, and I have great expectations that this will be a significant opportunity to promote stay-type tourism."

Ogawa House Owner Nobuko Saito
"I hope that those who come will feel that it was worth coming. That is my greatest wish.
Regarding the utilization of Ogawa House this time, I believe it is great that we are able to make use of the old elements effectively, and I am truly glad that it has been shaped in this way."

Akagawara Co., Ltd. Representative Director Munetaka Nagoshi
"The Ogawa House, a designated cultural property cherished by generations of building owners, has magnificently transformed into 'Kazeno Kurayoshi.' Together with the Utsubuki Tamagawa in the designated preservation area of Kurayoshi City, we take pride in it as a base for Kurayoshi tourism and pray for its contribution to the revitalization of Kurayoshi City."

Kazeno Heritage Co., Ltd. President Jun Tarikino
"Guests staying here visit this building with a purpose. However, by the time they leave, I hope they take with them an understanding and affection for the history and culture of this region. I believe that creating such a shift in value is the role of this facility. I hope that the time spent in this place itself becomes an experience to deeply know this region."

A dinner to experience the world view
created by the creators.

In the second part, media representatives, local stakeholders, and creators involved in the project participated in a reception dinner featuring a course called 'Satoyama Cuisine,' which incorporated ingredients and memories from Tottori and Kurayoshi. The venue was adorned with a straw installation by the artist Straft, which is planned to be introduced at the facility, and the menu utilized Inshu washi.

At the venue, the experience design by the creators who embody the worldview of Kazeno Heritage was also introduced. Mr. Keisuke Shimizu and Ms. Kako Fujita, who are in charge of creative direction, collaboratively built the core worldview and expression of the brand. Ms. Fujita was responsible for the VI and logo, Mr. Koji Yamamoto handled the selection of decorations and furnishings, and Mr. Takayuki Kono worked on the uniforms.

Additionally, a short documentary of about five and a half minutes directed by Mr. Yuto Nakamura, set in 'Kazeno Kurayoshi', and original background music by Mr. Marihiko Hara were presented. This reception served as an opportunity to share the philosophy of 'Kazeno Kurayoshi', which weaves together cultural heritage, the town, tranquility, food, music, and visuals into a single experiential stay, through experience rather than explanation.

Original in-house music by Mr. Marihiko Hara
[PENSÉE — Thoughts]

At the opening reception, the original in-house music "PENSÉE — 思惟（ぱんせ しゆい）" by composer and musician Mr. Marihiko Hara, who worked on the music for the film 'National Treasure' and won the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026", was unveiled for the first time. This music is not merely background music to fill the space of the building; it is completed by overlapping with the sounds of the building that can be heard by guests, the voices of birds, the comings and goings of people, the sounds during check-in, and the ambient sounds flowing through the town.

Mr. Hara commented on the tranquility he felt while staying in the room, saying, "I wanted to write music that could deepen this silence, which seems to allow even the voice inside my heart to be heard, without disturbing it. I want to create a space where people can reflect and transform within the silence of sound."

Title: PENSÉE — Thought
Composer & Piano: Marihiko Hara
Kudo: Renzen Kudo
Santur: Kazune Iwasaki
Nagauta Shamisen: Ryujuro Kondo

Mr. Marihiko Hara Profile
Graduated from the Faculty of Education, Kyoto University. Focusing on "strength in silence," he creates acoustic works using piano-centered chamber music, field recordings, and electronic sounds. He has participated in the artist group "Dumb Type" and has worked on music for stage productions by Hideki Noda, Kohei Nawa, and Mirai Moriyama, as well as films such as "National Treasure" and "The Wandering Moon," Yuzuru Hanyu's "Prequel," and NHK's "Sunday Art Museum" (co-created with Miu Sakamoto), among others. He received the "Best Original Score Award (Film)" and "Best Soundtrack Album Award" at the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026. He has numerous awards, including the Best Music Award and Best Theme Song Award at the 49th Japan Academy Awards.

"Not a record, but a reflection of memories"
A new form of travel video guide by Yuto Nakamura.

The brand movie "Scenery | A Travel Guide to Staying in Cultural Properties and Exploring Kurayoshi," directed by Mr. Yuto Nakamura, was released simultaneously. Set in "Kazeno Kurayoshi," it depicts guests walking through the town, meeting people, tasting local flavors, and taking time to rest, illustrating their stay in the land of Kurayoshi as a cohesive travel experience. Creative direction was handled by Mr. Keisuke Shimizu, music was composed by Mr. Marihiko Hara, and costume provision and styling were managed by Mr. Takayuki Kono, with appearances by Ms. Junmi Ando and Takumi.

Mr. Nakamura commented on the video production, saying, "While immersing myself in the craftsmanship of Kurayoshi and the quiet time flowing through the old town, I was able to detach myself from everyday thoughts and capture the genuine atmosphere sensorially. This is not a video introducing famous landmarks, but rather an experience that touches the memories of the land and helps to calm the heart. I hope that 'Kazeno Kurayoshi' will become a special place that unravels and rejuvenates everyone’s hearts."

Yuto Nakamura Profile
A film director/cinematographer active mainly in documentaries, commercials, and music videos. He has directed videos for Asahi Beer, Prime Video, SONY, Tokyo Metro, CITIZEN, and others. Recipient of the Excellence Award at the 52nd Fujisankei Group Advertising Awards, among others.

Movies, transportation, urban development.
Opening amidst growing attention on Kurayoshi.

In recent years, multiple movements surrounding Kurayoshi, Tottori, related to culture, transportation, and tourism development, have overlapped, creating a new momentum. The city of Kurayoshi is advancing the redefinition of stay value by utilizing its historical landscapes and living culture through the "Nostalgic Resort Kurayoshi" creation project. Additionally, the live-action film adaptation of the globally acclaimed work by Tottori-born manga artist Jiro Taniguchi, titled "To a Distant Town," is set for nationwide release on Friday, October 9, 2026. The official website also provides information on the filming locations in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture, and behind-the-scenes insights. In the fall, a high-speed night bus connecting Kurayoshi and Tottori City to Tokyo is expected to resume, raising expectations for attracting visitors from the metropolitan area.