Keirin Hotel 10 by Onko Chishin: Japan's First Art-Filled Stadium-Integrated Hotel

Tamano City is located on the scenic Seto Inland Sea coast at the southern tip of Okayama. Keirin Hotel10 by Onko Chishin opened in 2022 as Japan's first stadium-integrated hotel, accompanying the renovation plan of the Tamano Velodrome, which boasts a long 73-year history in that area.

Just a few meters from the hotel, cycling athletes race on the velodrome's track, and inside the hotel, you'll find cycling-themed interiors everywhere, repurposed from materials of the former velodrome. The colorful interiors, a mix of retro and new, offer photogenic spots at every turn. Join us as we introduce a one-night, two-day stay where you can immerse yourself in the unique world of cycling and hospitality.

Uno Station, the closest station to the hotel, serves as a gateway to the islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea. It is located close to Uno Port, within the area of the Setouchi International Art Festival, a contemporary art festival held once every three years. Uno Station itself, surrounded by geometric patterns, is an art piece created by Italian artist Esther Stocker.

Next to the station building, you will discover another art piece: abandoned bicycles welded with scrap metal, reborn as new bicycles. It's surprising to learn that these colorful bicycles are not just objects; you can also rent them as bicycles by completing the procedures at the Tourist Information Center. Don't forget to gather information from the local sightseeing maps available in front of the Tourist Information Center.

Before heading to the hotel, be sure to check out the symbolic art piece at Uno Port! Approximately 7 to 8 minutes on foot from the station towards the sea, near the passenger ferry terminal, you will find Uno Chinu, a monument commemorating the 80th anniversary of Uno Port's opening. This large artwork, approximately 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) tall and 6 meters (19.7 feet) wide, is also a popular photo spot.
This piece has reportedly been featured in art textbooks in recent years. If you look closely, you'll see that many vinyl umbrellas, sandals, and empty detergent bottles were used as materials.

Next to it, you will find Uno Kochinu, a unique artwork with a slide inside its mouth.

After enjoying art around Uno Station, head back to the station and take a taxi to the hotel. You can also take a shuttle bus to the keirin track to reach the hotel, but a taxi is more convenient if the bus schedule doesn't suit you. If you take a taxi, you can receive a cashback service of up to 1,000 JPY by submitting your receipt.

As you ascend a gentle slope with the sea on your left, the eight-story Keirin Hotel10 will appear before you. Its exterior features motif colors used in keirin racers' helmets and uniforms.

Next to the entrance, a large hotel logo welcomes you. It features the hotel's concept: "YOU ARE THE 10TH RACER." This is a welcoming message to guests; in keirin (cycling race), the race is competed by nine racers. Beside the vibrant logo, you'll find colorful chairs that were actually used in a former keirin stadium.

Before or after checking into the hotel, you'll definitely want to experience a cafe break at the adjacent Restaurant FORQ. This restaurant offers outstanding views overlooking the velodrome track. It's open to non-hotel guests as well, and it's a unique spot where you can enjoy a meal from a prime seat, even on race days.

Although it wasn't a race day when we visited, we encountered athletes practicing on the track! On non-race days, athletes often train here, and their presence is captivating.

On this day, we enjoyed the Setouchi Lemon Pound Cake (600 JPY) and the Shimoyama Family's Hojicha Blancmange (600 JPY), which is generously made with hojicha (roasted green tea) from the Shimoyama family in Mimasaka, Okayama. The pound cake, made with 6 to 7 whole local lemons (including the peel) per cake, allows you to fully savor its refreshing lemon flavor. The blancmange has a delightful jiggly texture and a moderate sweetness. When you pour the richly brewed hojicha syrup over it, a rich flavor spreads throughout your mouth.

At the restaurant, be sure to notice the tables and lighting fixtures, which are upcycled from discarded materials from the former velodrome. The tables with number designs, in particular, have a delightfully retro feel that will make you want to take a photo with your sweets.

The drink menu, featuring local ingredients, is also extensive. The menu includes options such as Spiced Lemon Soda, Cilantro Lemon Soda, and Seasonal Homemade Soda (each 660 JPY).

Inspired by the sight of athletes practicing through the large windows, conversations flow about this extraordinary experience. Inside the restaurant, monitors display keirin events being held in other regions. You can witness the tension before the start, and you might find yourself watching the races of athletes who catch your eye.

There's also a free table tennis corner in one part of the restaurant. Anyone can use it anytime during business hours, and racket and ball rentals are free. Since it's easy to play, we recommend giving it a try after your cafe break.

As it was past 3:00 PM, we headed to the front desk to check in. While completing the check-in process at the counter, our eyes were drawn to the lockers and small items behind the staff, reminiscent of those found in a locker room. Upon asking, we learned that all of these items were no longer needed when Tamano Velodrome was renovated. The use of repurposed materials, also seen in the restaurant, was a key feature of the interior design.

The lobby features a floor guide and many other colorful items. Looking around, you'll find lighting fixtures made from bicycle wheels, objects crafted from frames, and even fences and spectator seats from the old stadium, all arranged to create a vibrant, pop atmosphere.

At the entrance, there is also a display of road bikes actually used by professional keirin racers. You can closely observe their stylish, unadorned shapes, the thinness of the tires, and the height of the saddles.

Stepping out of the lobby, you'll find the Tamano Velodrome track right next door. Just then, we were captivated as we watched the training racers speed past us at incredible speeds. It's a completely different and powerful view compared to the restaurant!

Returning inside, if you look closely at the signs for the restrooms and vending machines next to the front desk, you'll notice that the figures on them are wearing bicycle helmets. Be sure to look out for these delightful touches throughout the hotel that are sure to make you smile. Searching for these playful details, like a treasure hunt, is one of the joys of your stay.

We headed to our room, the Ocean Bank View Semi-Open-Air Suite with Terrace. The hotel boasts 149 guest rooms in total, with 126 offering bank views. The most sought-after accommodations are the two exclusive suite rooms located on the top (8th) floor.

From the wall-to-wall windows, guests can overlook the entire stadium and, beyond it, the tranquil Seto Inland Sea. Step out onto the terrace, and you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of countless large and small islands stretching out before you, all for your private enjoyment. The terrace is also equipped with a table, chairs, and a bench sofa.

*During races, access to the terrace is restricted for safety and to prevent match-fixing.

The interior, themed as a local showcase, features a rich collection of intriguing objects and decor. From chandeliers made of bicycle frames and artistic objects repurposed from stadium waste materials to craftworks by artists from Okayama, each piece is a delight to behold.

In one corner of the room, you'll find a beautiful counter bar with a rounded design at the top. It is equipped with a coffee grinder, a pot, a wine cellar, and glasses.

All soft drinks from the Setouchi region in the refrigerator are complimentary. If you're looking to enjoy some wine, we recommend trying a rare wine from Okayama (available for an additional charge).

A cup brewed from freshly ground coffee beans offers an exceptional aroma. Guests can savor the process of brewing it with extra care, then enjoy their coffee on the terrace while admiring the stunning views.

Listening to the gentle sound of the Seto Inland Sea's waves, one might find themselves losing track of time. This provides a luxurious opportunity to soothe the fatigue of daily life. Guests can also look forward to the sunset views and the night sky.

In the room's closet, guests will find loungewear and a hotel bag, reminiscent of a keirin racer's uniform. The loungewear is so comfortable and well-designed that there are many requests for it to be sold. The number "10" is a playful accent, designed to make guests feel like the "tenth racer" with its fun design.

The hangers are designed to look like a section of a bicycle wheel. Unique items that are sure to elicit a delighted "How cute!" are found throughout the room.

Of course, even the room's card key has such a charming design that guests might be tempted to take it home.

Guests will also discover unique items in the convenient double-sink vanity area. Amenities are stored in a pristine white toolbox. A denim bag holds the hairdryer and tissues. This highlights that denim is a specialty product of Okayama.

While there is a large public bath within the hotel, a distinctive feature of the suite rooms is their semi-open-air baths with large windows. Guests can enjoy a relaxing bath at any time, even late at night or early in the morning, by opening the window without worrying about the time. This unique bathing experience, overlooking both the bank and the Seto Inland Sea, is a precious experience that can only be enjoyed at this hotel.

The upper floors, from the 5th to 8th, feature double and twin rooms ranging from 12 to 25 square meters (129 to 269 square feet), all equipped with terraces. These floors offer stunning views of the bank and the Seto Inland Sea through large windows, and their terraces are furnished with chairs and tables.

The interior design, which has a somewhat sporty feel, is said to be inspired by a racer's locker room. Its compact design is optimized for usability, ensuring that the rooms do not feel minimal despite their size.

Rooms on the higher floors also come equipped with an original bag, convenient for moving around the hotel and going to the public bath, as well as unique coffee featuring an original illustration of a character wearing a helmet.

The rental bicycles available here are truly high-performance. This is because the hotel rents bicycles that professional keirin athletes use as a side business. You can ride bicycles imported from France, which are quite rare to find in Japan.

Since there's still time before dinner, why not immediately set off on a rental bicycle to explore the nearby area?

If you look closely at the circular and square patterns drawn on the hotel's slope, you'll notice a cyclist hidden within! Discovering such unique designs is sure to spark lively conversations.

As soon as you exit the hotel and cross the road, the Seto Inland Sea appears right before your eyes! Cycling while feeling the sea breeze is an incredibly refreshing activity.

Hinode Park, located about a three- to five-minute walk from the hotel, features the art object S.F. (Seaside Friction) by Teppei Kaneuji, which was exhibited at the Setouchi Triennale. Here, chairs and equipment no longer used at the former keirin track have been reborn as art objects.

The Uno no Chinu sculpture, located near the station, is about a 10-minute bicycle ride from here. We recommend exploring Uno Town by bicycle while consulting a map of the Uno area that you can obtain at the station.

You won't want to miss the gallery corner located inside the hotel. This gallery was created to introduce the appeal of keirin to those unfamiliar with it and to promote the sport.

You'll find quizzes about keirin athletes' secrets and even jump challenge corners, where you'll be amazed by the incredible physical abilities of the athletes. It's a fun way to learn about the history and highlights of keirin that you might not have known before.

As you start to feel hungry, head to Restaurant FORQ for dinner. We had the dinner course (7,000 JPY), which requires a reservation at least three days prior to your stay. This French-inspired creative cuisine is meticulously crafted using seasonal local ingredients.

Starting with an amuse-bouche, the meal progresses to a mushroom galette and oyster okonomiyaki, a helmet crab gateau, grilled seasonal local vegetables, seasonal seafood and peach pork, and finally, crème brûlée for dessert. Each dish is a masterpiece, meticulously prepared by the chef, who pays close attention to every detail—from the cutting of ingredients to the cooking temperature—to maximize their natural flavors.

The Okayama Vegetable Specialty: Fragrant Roasted Vegetables (1,400 JPY), which can also be ordered à la carte, is prepared to bring out its peak flavor, with the thickness and cooking temperature adjusted for each type of seasonal vegetable. To enhance the vegetables' umami, the chef uses 99.8% pure salt from the local Naikai Salt Industries, which has been operating since the Edo period and is free of bittern.

The Spare Ribs ~Setouchi Lemon Honey Mustard~ (1,400 JPY) is also a popular menu item. The tender spare ribs, which fall apart with a touch of a knife, are perfectly complemented by a honey mustard sauce made with Setouchi lemons. It's not greasy, so you can easily enjoy a whole portion by yourself.

This visually stunning and colorful FORQ Deli Plate with Okayama Vegetables (1,500 JPY) is a true delight. The chef raves that Okayama-grown vegetables, known for their long hours of sunshine nationwide, are incredibly sweet and delicious! When you savor them with the homemade onion dressing, they are so delicious that you might find yourself in an endless loop of eating salad, feeling that this alone is enough for dinner.

After dinner, once you've had a moment to relax, pack your room towels into the original bag and head to the public bath on the second floor. A silhouette panel of Guts Tamachan, the official mascot character of Tamano Velodrome, marks the entrance to the public bath. Here too, original illustrations of the helmet-wearing character are printed on the noren (traditional Japanese fabric dividers) and signs, guiding you to the separate baths for men and women.

The public baths come in two sizes, large and small, with men's and women's baths alternating on odd and even days. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, lotion, toner, and facial cleanser are all provided in the public baths.

Both baths are fully equipped with a dry sauna and a refreshingly cold water bath, perfect for sauna enthusiasts. Next to the changing rooms, you'll also find a laundry corner.

In the evening, we also recommend the bar at Restaurant FORQ. Sit at the bar counter and ask the chef for their recommended drinks.

Our top recommendation is the Craft Gin Setouchi Lemon, served as a gin and tonic or with soda (880 JPY each). It offers a perfect balance of refreshing lemon and a subtle bitterness, with a light, smooth finish that makes it easy to enjoy multiple glasses. Be careful not to overindulge, as it has an alcohol content of 47%. Another recommendation is Astoria 9.5 Cold Wine (990 JPY), an Italian sparkling wine.

If you're a beer lover, we recommend savoring the local flavors with Okayama Mimasaka craft beer (starting from 1,300 JPY). They stock limited-edition brews made each season, so you can enjoy comparing different varieties.

After hearing from the staff that the sunrise visible from the windows is a highlight for the hotel, we decided to wake up early the next morning to watch the sunrise from our room. The orange sun emerged from beyond the morning sky and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, its reflection shimmering on the sea's surface like a painting. It was a beauty that will remain in our hearts forever.

For breakfast, you can choose between Japanese and Western styles. A highlight of the Japanese breakfast is the freshly laid Maruyama eggs from chickens raised at a poultry farm in Okayama. Their plump, round yolks shine, stimulating your appetite. When you taste them, you'll discover an exquisite balance of sweetness and richness. The star of the Western breakfast is the French toast, made with a melt-in-your-mouth lemon sauce sourced from the Seto Inland Sea. Both breakfast options also include steamed vegetables from Okayama.

You can enjoy fresh vegetables from the self-serve salad bar, taking as much of your favorite kinds as you like. The drink corner offers orange juice, milk, cold tea, and seasonal smoothies.

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, it's time to check out. Your room is equipped with a QR code for self-checkout, allowing you to easily check out with a credit card (front desk checkout is also available). After returning your card key to the front desk, be sure to check out the selection of original goods in the lobby as a memento of your stay!

Popular items include T-shirts with a striking back print of the original character (S, M, L: 4,620 JPY each). Also, be sure to check out the stylish sheer tote bags (3,850 JPY each).

After checking out, taking a day trip to a nearby island for sightseeing is also an option. Naoshima Island, known as an island of art, is 15 to 25 minutes by ferry or passenger boat from Uno Port. Teshima Island, famous for the Teshima Art Museum, is about 25 minutes from Uno Port. Both are popular sightseeing spots where you can enjoy the nature and art of the Setouchi region.

The velodrome was an experience we have not had before. The power of the cyclists racing through the wind and the beautiful scenery of the Setouchi region will leave you in awe on a one-night, two-day trip. The hotel is full of features designed to delight guests, and your smartphone album will be filled with Instagram-worthy photos. For your next vacation, why not seek a different kind of travel experience and visit Keirin Hotel 10 by Onko Chishin with your friends, partner, or entire family?

Photos by Eri Tanabe; Reporting and writing by Miwa Yamamoto

*This article is a translation of an article originally published in Japanese on 2023-06-09 and has been translated with the assistance of AI.