Kushiro City is known as a fishing port town, home to Kushiro Port, which has the highest catch in Japan. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting has been increasing, with visitors seeking the sunset seen from Nusamai Bridge, one of the world's three greatest sunsets, and the coolness of the chilly summer. This time, we will introduce two accommodations in downtown Kushiro: Cise.Kawakami and Kirinooto.

This time we will introduce two accommodations in Kushiro city: "Cise.Kawakami," a lodging facility, and "Kirinooto," a private lodge. Both facilities are operated by Gomei Co., Ltd. (hereafter "Gomei"). This long-established company has been operating in Kushiro for over 100 years, focusing on alcohol wholesale, fresh fish retail, and real estate rental.

Why did a company that primarily sells alcohol and fresh fish start an accommodation facility? The main reason is that they want large groups of tourists to be able to relax in the same room. Business hotels only accommodate one to two people per room, so large groups often have to share rooms. That's why they decided to open an accommodation facility in the city, which was scarce.

Another reason was that Kushiro, known as a port city, saw potential as a tourist destination. With this in mind, the two facilities are packed with names and concepts that are closely related to the local area of Kushiro. Let's take a look at the two facilities!

The living room of "Cise.Kawakami1"

The first place we would like to introduce is "Cise.Kawakami." It is located in Kawakami-cho, close to the downtown area of Suehiro. This location reflects Gomei's desire for guests to use "Cise.Kawakami" as a base to venture out into town and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants. "Cise" means "home" in the Ainu language, and the hotel was created with the aim of being "a place that is neither a travel inn nor a tourist spot, but a place like a 'second home' connected to the town where you can relax and unwind with friends."

Cise.Kawakami is located on the third floor of the building as Cise.Kawakami1, and on the fourth floor as Cise.Kawakami2. Each floor can be rented out for up to five people. Both rooms are made up of three rooms: a sunny living room with a large south-facing window, a Japanese-style room, and a Western-style room with two beds, creating an open atmosphere.

The living room of "Cise.Kawakami1"

The layout of the rooms is basically the same, but the Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami1" is connected to the living room, creating an open space. On the other hand, the Japanese-style room in "Cise.Kawakami2" is separate from the living room, making it easy to maintain privacy in each room. It seems like it would be a good idea to use them differently depending on the people using them together.

The Japanese-style room at "Cise.Kawakami1" is connected to the living room, creating an open space.

The Japanese-style room at "Cise.Kawakami2" has a chic atmosphere with a separate living room.

Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami1"

There are also some slight differences in the Western-style rooms. The Western-style rooms at "Cise.Kawakami1" have two semi-double beds, while the Western-style rooms at "Cise.Kawakami2" have two Simmons double beds. If you are particular about the size and brand of the bed, you might want to choose "Cise.Kawakami2."

Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami1"

Western-style room in "Cise.Kawakami2"

Of course, the rooms are equipped with all the necessary amenities for daily life, such as a sink, bathroom, washstand, and toilet. Amenities are also provided at the sink, so you can travel with minimal luggage, just like in a regular hotel.

"Cise.Kawakami1" washbasin

Bathroom of "Cise.Kawakami1"

Next on our list is Kirinooto, a private lodge. It's about a five-minute drive from Kushiro Station and a 15-minute walk from Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO, a commercial facility overlooking Nusamai Bridge. The most distinctive feature of Kirinooto is its visually unique building. It was designed by the world-famous architect Mozuna Kiko, a native of Kushiro, and is said to be his last work in the city.

Kushiro-themed artwork displayed in the guest rooms

Originally built as a hospital, it was open to the public as a cultural facility for music and theater performances on closed days, making it a familiar place even for people who did not use the hospital. Gomyo's CEO, Tatsuya Gomyo, also felt a close connection to the architecture of Kezuna Kikō, and decided to renovate it as a lodging facility, with the desire to "make good use of the town's culture."

Artwork made from soil from the Kushiro Wetlands displayed in the guest rooms

The most impressive feature of this building is the hall just inside the entrance. It has a 9m high atrium ceiling and two staircases, which show great attention to detail. Even during the renovation, the building was conscious of preserving as much of the original design as possible. The open 87m² space can be used for a variety of occasions, including large dining and drinking parties, as well as events, concerts, dance, theater, seminars, and corporate training.

In the main hall, four huge prints by Kezuna Ikko are on display.

The guest rooms at Kirinooto, a former internal medicine clinic, have been renovated from former examination rooms, treatment rooms, the director's office, etc. Each room has a name that expresses a Kushiro theme in the Ainu language.

For example, "URARA" on the first floor is themed around a misty forest. The design of the space has been carefully considered, with original lighting fixtures created with a 3D printer to represent the mist.

"URARA" is based on the concept of a misty forest

"URARA" features two Simmons semi-double beds. By using the storage bed inside the bed, it can accommodate up to four people.

There are four other unique rooms available, including "CUH" on the first floor, which is themed around a city illuminated by the setting sun, "UPAS" on the second floor, which is themed around a snowy marsh, and "ATUY," which is themed around a morning voyage. They're all so charming, you might have trouble deciding where to sleep.

"CUH" is based on orange, inspired by Kushiro's one of the world's three most beautiful sunsets.

"UPAS" is based on white, evoking the image of the snowy landscape of the Kushiro Wetlands.

It is also recommended to use it as a relaxing space when there are only a few people.

"ATUY" with a morning voyage theme

The bathroom floor, walls, and ceiling are all finished with the waterproof plastering material Moltex, creating a space that feels like a cave. There is also a shower room separate from the bathroom, which can be used when there are a large group of people.

A specially designed bathroom with a cave-like space

Other facilities include a gallery with a large 80-inch monitor where you can watch videos from YouTube and other video sites, and a terrace where you can enjoy the fresh Kushiro breeze with a drink in hand. It seems like it could be used for a variety of occasions, from sightseeing to employee training and art events.

The large screen monitor in the gallery can be carried into the hall for presentations.

Washing machine with dryer also available

One thing that should not be forgotten about Kirinooto is the all-you-can-drink kitchen. Utilizing Gomei's strengths as a liquor store operator in Kushiro's largest downtown area, the bar offers an all-you-can-drink menu with over 60 types of drinks.

The refrigerator is stocked with bottled beers such as Sapporo Classic, Asahi Beer, Corona, and Heartland, as well as carbonated drinks, juices, and teas. There's also a server where you can enjoy four types of sake, including Fukutsukasa from Kushiro and Kita no Katsu from Nemuro. A dedicated shelf is also lined with 36 types of whiskey, shochu, liqueurs, gin, vodka, tequila, and rum, all mainly from Hokkaido.

The kitchen is also decorated with plaster walls made from soil from the Kushiro Wetlands, and the counter is made from a single piece of natural wood from Hokkaido. It looks like you'll have a special experience that you won't find anywhere else.

Cise.Kawakami and Kirinooto are located in the center of Kushiro City. When we asked Gomei what he recommended for spending time there, he said that they should take advantage of the easy access and "go out into town and enjoy the restaurants."

Saki Kazuma, who is in charge of the facility's operation and management, is currently planning a guided tour to convey the charms of Kushiro city to guests. Preparations are currently in full swing, so by the time you start planning your trip to Kushiro in earnest, a new service may already be in the works.

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

The kitchen of "Cise.Kawakami1"

Kirinooto's kitchen

Kirinooto also offers a special course menu (additional charge) at affiliated izakayas. This is a great service for those who want to both relax at their accommodation and enjoy delicious food prepared by professionals.

A special course meal created by our partner restaurant, Robata Izakaya Hatagoya, for Kirinooto

Whether you're looking to enjoy a day out in town or just want to live like a local, when you travel to Kushiro, why not try out Cise.Kawakami or Kirinooto, which cater to the desires and goals of a wide range of people?