Kushiro City is known as a "fishing port town," home to Kushiro Port, which boasts the largest fish catch in Japan. In recent years, the number of tourists has been increasing, drawn by the sunset from Nusamai Bridge, considered one of the world's top three, and the refreshingly cool summers. This time, we'll introduce two accommodations in the heart of Kushiro: "Cise.Kawakami" and "Kiri no Oto."

Today, we're introducing "Cise.Kawakami" and the private rental inn "Kiri no Oto," both located in Kushiro City. These two facilities are operated by Gomei Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Gomei), a long-established company that has been in business for over 100 years in Kushiro, focusing on wholesale liquor, retail fresh fish, and real estate leasing.

Why would a company that primarily sells liquor and fresh fish venture into the lodging business? A major reason, they say, is to provide a place where even large groups of tourists can relax together in the same room. Business hotel rooms typically accommodate only one or two people, often forcing larger groups to split up into separate rooms. To address this, they decided to create a type of accommodation that was scarce in the city center.

Another reason was their belief in Kushiro's potential as a tourist destination, beyond its reputation as a port town. With these sentiments, both facilities are packed with names and concepts connected to their local Kushiro roots. Now, let's take a look at these two unique places!

The living room of "Cise.Kawakami 1"

First up is "Cise.Kawakami," located in Kawakami-cho, very close to the entertainment district called Suehiro. This location reflects Gomei's hope that guests will use Cise.Kawakami as a base to explore the town and enjoy meals at local restaurants. The name "Cise" means "house" in the Ainu language, and the facility was created with the aim of being "not just a travel inn or a tourist spot, but another home where you can relax with friends and connect with the city."

Cise.Kawakami occupies the third and fourth floors of a building, with "Cise.Kawakami 1" on the third floor and "Cise.Kawakami 2" on the fourth. Each is a full-floor rental that can accommodate up to five people. Both units feature a sunny living room with large south-facing windows, a Japanese-style room, and a Western-style room with two beds, creating an open and inviting atmosphere.

The living room of "Cise.Kawakami 1"

While the room layouts are basically the same, the Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 1" is connected to the living room, creating a more open space. In contrast, the Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 2" is separate from the living room, allowing for more privacy between rooms. It's a good idea to choose based on the group you're traveling with.

The Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 1" is connected to the living room, creating an open space.

The Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 2" is separate from the living room, offering a chic atmosphere.

The Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 1"

There's also a slight difference in the Western-style rooms. "Cise.Kawakami 1" has two semi-double beds, while "Cise.Kawakami 2" features two double beds from the Simmons brand. If you have a preference for bed size or brand, "Cise.Kawakami 2" might be the better choice.

The Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 1"

The Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami 2"

Of course, all the necessary amenities for daily living are provided, including a washstand, bathroom, and toilet. Amenities are also available at the washstand, so you can travel with minimal luggage, just like at a regular hotel.

The washstand in "Cise.Kawakami 1"

The bathroom in "Cise.Kawakami 1"

Next up is the private rental inn "Kiri no Oto." It's located about a 5-minute drive from Kushiro Station and a 15-minute walk from the Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO, a commercial facility overlooking Nusamai Bridge. The most striking feature of "Kiri no Oto" is its unique building. It was designed by Kiko Mozuna, a world-renowned architect from Kushiro, and is said to be his final work in the city.

Artworks with a Kushiro theme displayed in the guest rooms

Originally built as a hospital, it was a familiar place even to those who didn't use it as a medical facility, as it was opened to the public as a cultural center for music and theater on its days off. Tatsuya Gomei, the CEO of Gomei, also felt a close connection to Kiko Mozuna's architecture and decided to transform it into an accommodation facility with the desire to "make good use of the town's culture."

An artwork made from the soil of the Kushiro Wetlands, displayed in a guest room

The most impressive part of this building is the hall right inside the entrance. With its 9-meter-high ceiling and two staircases, it shows a strong sense of design. During the renovation, they made a conscious effort to preserve the original design of this space as much as possible. This spacious 87-square-meter area can be used for various purposes, from large-group meals and parties to events, concerts, dance, theater, seminars, and corporate training.

Four large woodblock prints by Kiko Mozuna are displayed in the main hall.

The guest rooms at "Kiri no Oto," a former internal medicine clinic, were created by renovating what used to be examination rooms, treatment rooms, and the director's office. Each room is named in the Ainu language, expressing a theme related to Kushiro.

For example, one of them is "URARA" on the first floor, themed on a foggy forest. They've paid great attention to the spatial design, such as using custom-made lighting fixtures created with a 3D printer to represent fog.

"URARA," with its foggy forest concept

"URARA" has two semi-double beds from Simmons. Using the storage bed, it can accommodate up to four people.

In addition, there are a total of four unique rooms: "CUH" on the first floor, themed on a "town illuminated by the setting sun"; "UPAS" on the second floor, themed on a snow-covered wetland; and "ATUY," themed on a morning voyage. They are all so appealing that you might have a hard time deciding where to sleep.

"CUH," with its orange-based design, is inspired by Kushiro's world-famous sunset.

"UPAS," with its white-based design, is inspired by the snowy landscape of the Kushiro Wetlands.

When there are fewer people, it's also great to use as a relaxation space.

"ATUY," themed on a morning voyage

The bathroom is also a specially designed space, with the floor, walls, and ceiling all finished with Mortex, a waterproof plaster material, creating a cave-like atmosphere. There is also a separate shower room, which can be used concurrently when there is a large group of people.

A unique bathroom with a cave-like atmosphere

Other facilities include a gallery with an 80-inch large-screen monitor for watching YouTube and other video sites, and a terrace where you can enjoy the Kushiro breeze with a drink in hand. It seems suitable for a wide range of uses, from tourism and employee training to art events.

The large-screen monitor on casters in the gallery can be moved to the hall for presentations.

A washer-dryer is also installed.

One thing not to forget about "Kiri no Oto" is the kitchen with all-you-can-drink beverages. Leveraging Gomei's strength as a liquor store operator in Kushiro's largest entertainment district, they offer over 60 types of drinks for free.

In addition to bottled beers like Sapporo Classic, Asahi Beer, Corona, and Heartland, as well as carbonated drinks, juices, and teas in the refrigerator, there is also a server that dispenses four types of Japanese sake, including Fukutsukasa from Kushiro and Kita no Kachi from Nemuro. Furthermore, a dedicated shelf is lined with 36 types of spirits, including whiskeys (mainly from Hokkaido), shochu, liqueurs, gin, vodka, tequila, and rum.

The kitchen also features plaster walls made from the soil of the Kushiro Wetlands and a counter made from a single slab of natural Hokkaido wood. You're sure to have a special experience here that you can't get anywhere else.

"Cise.Kawakami" and "Kiri no Oto" are both located in the center of Kushiro City. When we asked Mr. Gomei for his recommended way to spend time, he said that he hopes guests will take advantage of the excellent access to "head out into the town and enjoy the restaurants."

Kazuma Saki, who is in charge of managing the facilities, is currently planning a guided tour to introduce the charms of Kushiro's city center to guests. It's still in the preparation stage, but by the time you're seriously planning your trip to Kushiro, a new service might be available.

Of course, you can also buy fresh ingredients at the market and cook in the kitchens of each facility. Both places are equipped with basic kitchen utensils such as rice cookers and kettles.

The kitchen in "Cise.Kawakami 1"

The kitchen in "Kiri no Oto"

At "Kiri no Oto," you can also order a special course (for an additional fee) from a partner izakaya. This is a great service for those who want to both relax in their accommodation and enjoy delicious food prepared by a professional.

A special course meal created for "Kiri no Oto" by the partner restaurant "Robata Izakaya Hatagoya"

Whether you want to go out and enjoy the town or live like a local, why not stay at "Cise.Kawakami" or "Kiri no Oto," which cater to the desires and purposes of various people, when you travel to Kushiro?