<strong>Japan's first castle hotel:</strong> Ozu Castle in Ehime prefecture's Ozu Town is currently the only castle keep in Japan to allow travelers to stay overnight.
Japan's first castle hotel: Ozu Castle in Ehime prefecture's Ozu Town is currently the only castle keep in Japan to allow travelers to stay overnight.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Ozu Castle: </strong>With a history dating from 1617, it's one of just a handful of timber castles in Japan.
Ozu Castle: With a history dating from 1617, it's one of just a handful of timber castles in Japan.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>'Little Kyoto': </strong>Dubbed the little Kyoto of Iyo (the ancient name of Ehime prefecture), the medieval castle town of Ozu is known for its scenic Hiji River, historical architecture and the elegant four-story Ozu castle. But, like many other rural towns in Japan, its population has drastically dropped in recent decades.
'Little Kyoto': Dubbed the little Kyoto of Iyo (the ancient name of Ehime prefecture), the medieval castle town of Ozu is known for its scenic Hiji River, historical architecture and the elegant four-story Ozu castle. But, like many other rural towns in Japan, its population has drastically dropped in recent decades.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Urban regeneration: </strong>The town has called on<strong> </strong>Kita Management to help transform it into a viable tourism destination. The NGO strives to preserve old houses and repurpose them sustainably and respectfully for the community.
Urban regeneration: The town has called on Kita Management to help transform it into a viable tourism destination. The NGO strives to preserve old houses and repurpose them sustainably and respectfully for the community.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Unique hotel arrival experience: </strong>Upon arrival at the Ozu Castle, guests are welcomed by the sound of shell trumpets, waving flags and a gunpowder squadron.
Unique hotel arrival experience: Upon arrival at the Ozu Castle, guests are welcomed by the sound of shell trumpets, waving flags and a gunpowder squadron.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Kagura performance: </strong>After the grand welcome, guests are treated to kagura, a traditional dance performance.
Kagura performance: After the grand welcome, guests are treated to kagura, a traditional dance performance.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Eat like a Japanese lord: </strong>Dinner is served at one of the four turrets in the castle compound, followed by a moon-viewing session with sake drinking and poetry recitation.
Eat like a Japanese lord: Dinner is served at one of the four turrets in the castle compound, followed by a moon-viewing session with sake drinking and poetry recitation.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Castle Town: </strong>The entire Nipponia Hotel Ozu Castle Town project covers multiple locations around Ozu.
Castle Town: The entire Nipponia Hotel Ozu Castle Town project covers multiple locations around Ozu.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>SADA: </strong>In addition to the castle, 11 hotel rooms have been added to three restored houses across town. SADA, once owned by a doctor in the early 20th century, now features three rooms and serves as the hotel complex's front desk.
SADA: In addition to the castle, 11 hotel rooms have been added to three restored houses across town. SADA, once owned by a doctor in the early 20th century, now features three rooms and serves as the hotel complex's front desk.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>TSUNE: </strong>TSUNE was once occupied by a 400-year-old restaurant that was left vacant in the early 1980s. It now has two guestrooms and a banquet and event hall.
TSUNE: TSUNE was once occupied by a 400-year-old restaurant that was left vacant in the early 1980s. It now has two guestrooms and a banquet and event hall.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>OKI: </strong>OKI belonged to Murakami, a very rich industrialist who made his fortunes producing Japanese wax. It's also one of the oldest residences still standing in Ozu.
OKI: OKI belonged to Murakami, a very rich industrialist who made his fortunes producing Japanese wax. It's also one of the oldest residences still standing in Ozu.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Reviving the town: </strong>"Our goal is to identify fragile houses, convince the owner to lease them to us, engage them in the renovation processes, find a suitable use (and a suitable tenant) and keep them for 15 years," says Diego Cosa Fernandez, director of Kita Management's Architecture and Culture Research Department, an offshoot of the city's Tourism and City Planning bureau.
Reviving the town: "Our goal is to identify fragile houses, convince the owner to lease them to us, engage them in the renovation processes, find a suitable use (and a suitable tenant) and keep them for 15 years," says Diego Cosa Fernandez, director of Kita Management's Architecture and Culture Research Department, an offshoot of the city's Tourism and City Planning bureau.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Garyu Sanso: </strong>The castle stay includes breakfast at Garyu Sanso, a historical cliffside villa with a teahouse overlooking the Hiji River.
Garyu Sanso: The castle stay includes breakfast at Garyu Sanso, a historical cliffside villa with a teahouse overlooking the Hiji River.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd
<strong>Cormorant Fishing: </strong>Ozu is one of the few places that still practices traditional cormorant fishing.
Cormorant Fishing: Ozu is one of the few places that still practices traditional cormorant fishing.
Kita Management / Seki Co Ltd