A new Japanese hotel offers travelers the first kind of experience - to live like a medieval god in a real palace.
Ozu Fort in
Ehime Prefecture The city of Ozu is the first and only fort in Japan to allow overnight
travelers. With a history of 1617, it is one of the few remaining timbers in
Japan.
Although the
transformation of Ozu Fort into a hotel is a great achievement, in reality, it
is part of a larger mission - to revive the shrinking rural town.
'Little Kyoto'
Known as the
"Little Kyoto" (ancient name for the Ehime Prefecture) of Oo, Ozu is
famous for its beautiful Haji River, historic architecture and elegant
four-story Ozu Fort.
Once a
political center in the Edo era (1603–1868), it is credited with the production
and trade of wax and silk during the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926)
periods.
Like many
other rural towns in Japan in recent decades, Ozu's fortunes have dropped
significantly.
Since the
1950s, the city has seen a sharp decline in population, from 79,000 inhabitants
in 1955 to 42,000 in 2020.
"With
this businesses will close and homes will be vacated, which will find better
opportunities for young people," the Bureau of Tourism and City Planning
said.
"Younger
couples crunch, fewer children are born, and the snowball is bigger."
Under these
trying circumstances, many landlords decided to demolish their old houses due
to a lack of financial value.
"In most
cases, the former houses are vacant or used as parking lots," Fernandez
told CNN Travel. "There's a feeling among the local people that this
should not be a practice. Something needs to be done."
Kita becomes
part of the Om solution.
An
organization working to preserve old homes that are "disappearing at a
terrible rate" its team constantly and respectfully reintroduces them to
the community.
Born and
raised in Spain, Fernandez studied architecture in Kyoto for a year after
completing his degree in architecture in the early 2000s. He returned to Japan
in 2012 to pursue a Ph.D. in Water, Architecture, and History. Then Ozu stumbled
upon it.
“This field
has become the backbone of my research,” Fernandez said, adding, “My local the network has expanded a little.
"Across
Japan, rural settlements - and the Japanese government - are trying to come up
with a 'magic' formula or the right approach to stop the bleeding. We are part
of this trial and error plan."
Stay at Oju
Fort
The current
Ozu Castle has been re-grouped’ with the newly opened accommodation option -
explaining why the authorities allowed it to be converted into a hotel.
Japan's laws
for the protection of cultural property have strict restrictions on the
conversion of clear heritage buildings, including palaces in the country.
After the
demolition of the original Ozu Fortress in 1888, in the 1990s the city decided
to recreate its ancient monument, using wood instead of concrete from the
ruins.
“Timber
construction is many times more expensive and post-war construction law does
not allow timber structures to be higher than 13 meters,” Fernandez said.
"Ozu Funnel 19 meters high."
After lobbying
for national ministries, Ozu finally agreed in 2004 to build and rebuild the
timber.
Ozu Castle
opened its doors to hotel guests in July, allowing guests to enjoy the castle
construction privately after the gate closed to public visitors at 5 p.m.
For the first
year, only 30 migrations are allowed’ with a maximum of six guests per stay.
The rate is
one million yen (or, 9,469) per night for two guests - and 100,000 yen or
46,946 for each additional guest.
So what does
the palace-like to live in?
Upon arrival,
guests - dressed in traditional kimonos and medieval warriors costumes - are
greeted’ with the sound of shell trumpets, waving flying flags and ammunition
squadrons.
They are
treated’ to a local kagura, a traditional dance performance recorded as an
important unfinished folk cultural asset of Japan.
Dinner will be
served’ in one of the four towers of the palace complex, followed by a drinking
scene with poems and poetry readings.
The towers are
original and have survived for the last four centuries.
After spending
the night at the compound, guests will have breakfast at Gary Sano, a historic
reef with a teahouse with a view of the Haji River.
Castle Town
Hotel
But the Castle
Hotel is not the only new accommodation option in the city. The entire Nippon
Hotel Ozu Castle Town project includes several locations around Ozu.
Another 11
hotel rooms are scattered in three restored homes across the city.
The houses
inspired by the names of the three ancient Oju lords - known as SADA, OKI and
TSUNE - each have an interesting story.
SADA was owned’
by a physician in the early 20th century and can be used as a clinic. It now
serves as a desk in front of the hotel complex and the hotel has a restaurant
open to guests and the public.
TSUNE was once
occupied’ by a 400-year-old restaurant that was vacant in the early 1980s. It
now has two rooms and a banquet and event hall.
“OKI is an
ornament among old houses,” Fernandez said.
"It
belongs to Murakami. He was a very wealthy industrialist, earning a fortune
producing Japanese wax. He made many efforts to demonstrate his status as Oki's
main residence. It is one of the oldest residences still in Oju."
Overnight stay
at one of the Palace Townhouses starts at 17,000 Yen ($ 160).
The first
phase will focus on hotel rooms only, while the second phase will open
additional stages, which will include a microbrewery.
"Our goal
is to identify fragile homes, lease them out to the owner, engage them in
renovation processes, find suitable use (and suitable tenants) and keep them
for 15 years," Fernandez said.
After 15
years, the rebuilt house will be returned’ to their original owners, who will
decide whether to continue the business.
"Finally,
we aim to create a more livable city center where young couples can move to
jobs, bars and cafes because they have food and sleeping nurseries for their
children. Take care of attractive homes - and residents decide to stay for the
same reasons," Fernandez said. .
For the
Spaniard, Ozu’s biggest attraction is its contrasting elements.
"There is
a palace, Zen temples, fine temples, tea houses, merchant houses, samurai
residences, pottery making, silk making, Japanese washi making and
festivals," he said.
"Beautiful,
none of them may deserve superstardom but the ensemble is attractive and
comfortable - and it's just a short distance away. It's like a small or simple
encyclopedia of Japanese art and history."
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