Experience Okayama while in the hotel

Standing on top of a hill in Higashiyama Okayama City, “Hotel Okura Okayama” is one of the most elegant hotels in Okayama City. Although the hotel is in the center of the city, it is surrounded by rich greenery, and the great location allows guests to view the castle city from above.
Views of the four seasons are pleasing, and the night view is also wonderful. One can enjoy a rich feeling by looking at the shining city for a while.
There are a wide range of accommodation plans to choose from, such as those with a set of local ”sake” and Bizen-yaki ”sake” cups, Valentine’s and “White Day” (Japanese day for returning gifts given on Valentine’s Day), hot-pot menu, and introduction to Zen meditation included in the accommodation fee. All plans are carefully thought out so that guests can fully enjoy Okayama within the hotel.

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Tsukumo Bay, consisting of large and small coves, is a scenic spot that has been selected as one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan. On top of a hill overlooking the deep bay is the Noto Tsukumo Bay Hyakurasou, a ryokan with a history of more than 90 years since its establishment. The inn offers the luxury of spending a leisurely time with a spectacular view of the sea and greenery. The inn’s motto, “One Hundred Pleasures,” will add beauty to the impression of your trip.

Tsukumo Bay with its calm coves

Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, is located near the tip of the Noto Peninsula. Following the port towns scattered along the coast to the east, you will find Kujukyuu Bay, one of Noto’s most scenic spots.

Tsukumo Bay is a rias coastline with an intricate coastline stretching 13 km in total length. The bay is up to 1,200 meters deep, and small boats float in the calm, lake-like bay. The scenery created by the numerous inlets is beautiful from season to season and never gets old.

Noto Tsukumo Bay Hyakuraso is an inn located on a hill overlooking the bay. Passing through the tasteful gate and up the mountain path, you will see the neat appearance of the inn.

Away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, spend the day in a Noto retreat.

Founded in 1934. It is a long-established ryokan that has been welcoming travelers for many years at the foot of the beautiful sea. In addition to its location overlooking Kujuku Bay, the inn’s high quality hospitality, including the creation of a space based on the concept of the extraordinary, and the comfortable service that is both intimate and intimate, have attracted many repeat guests.

The cave bath was dug by hand by a stonemason over a period of three years.

The inn’s specialty is a cave bath located 30 meters underground. From the front desk, take the elevator down to the second basement level, and you will find a cave that was dug by a stonemason about 50 years ago over a period of three years.

In the past, this area was a production area of “ogiishi,” a type of stone used for kamados and sunken hearths, and many stonemasons were active in this area until the mid-Showa period (1926-1989). When the mining of ogiishi came to an end, a craftsman known as “the last stonemason” dug this cave at the request of the inn. The pickaxe marks left on the rock surface are also a part of Noto’s history.

With the light illuminating our feet, we finally entered the cave baths. Surrounded by rocks, the bathtub is filled to the brim with deep seawater pumped up from a depth of 320 meters off the coast of Tsukumo Bay. Deep seawater that has been lying dormant in the deep sea feels good against the skin, and a relaxing soak will immediately relax the body and mind.

The cave baths were renovated in June 2024, adding an open-air bath with a view of Tsukumo Bay and a cave sauna with fantastic indirect lighting. Many visitors come for this extraordinary space.

Rooms with a serene seascape all to yourself

There are a total of 26 guest rooms, ranging from standard rooms to upper suites. Each room has its own unique style, such as those with an open-air bath or terrace, and the carefully selected furnishings and lighting create a high-quality relaxing atmosphere. Above all, the view of Tsukumo Bay from the guest rooms is the best reward for forgetting everyday life. The quiet bay changes its appearance from morning to evening, allowing you to enjoy the luxury of doing nothing at all to your heart’s content.

There are many places to spend your time in the hotel, including a game lounge where you can enjoy darts and billiards, five private baths, and a premium lounge for the exclusive use of suites. The hotel has been renovated little by little every year so that each guest can enjoy “a hundred pleasures”.

Damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the hotel was temporarily closed.

On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024, when most guests had checked in and were relaxing, the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck. The staff split up to guide guests to a safe place, but the road leading to the inn became impassable due to cracks in the ground, and the guests were isolated. They spent an anxious night. The inn staff worked hard to restore the road using blocks and other materials, and managed to see all guests off the next day.

Honomi Kumagaya, the general manager of the inn, recalls her thoughts at the time: “Our first priority was the safety of our guests. The safety of our guests was our top priority. When we received a call from a guest who had returned safely, we were deeply relieved.

The most severe damage to the inn was to its seaside facilities. The fishing pier, which had been popular for its dinner service of serving fish caught at the inn, was washed away by the tsunami. A separate dining room, which had also been built to jut out into the ocean, was washed away by the waves, along with its foundation. Although the building on the hill was not severely damaged, many facilities and equipment were destroyed, and the water supply was completely cut off. Mr. Kumagai decided that it would be difficult to operate for the time being.

What gave strength to the staff working on restoration

The water supply was restored the month after the earthquake. However, the water supply was still cut off in the neighborhood, and many people were living in evacuation centers. While repairing guest rooms and carrying out other restoration work in preparation for the resumption of business, the staff voiced their desire to do what they could for the community, and an event was planned to provide meals and baths to the local residents.

The smiles on the faces of those who had bathed and relaxed, and the energy in the inn for a brief moment, gave the staff a great boost.

The inn received many calls of support from all over the country, including from repeat guests. Kumagai recalls with a smile, “I realized once again that we are supported by the people of the community and our guests who love Hyakurasou.

The restaurant reopened on April 19, about three and a half months after the earthquake. Although the number of customers was not expected to return, the decision was made in the belief that attracting as many people as possible to Noto would help in the recovery effort.

The torrential rain disaster brought back the number of customers that had begun to return.

When the hotel first reopened, there was a mood of self-restraint in entering the disaster area, and the number of guests was low. However, the number of repeat guests who had been waiting for the reopening of the hotel and those who stayed to support the Noto community gradually increased, and the hotel was finally busy again during the summer vacation, the high season.

However, in September of that year, disaster struck Noto again. The Noto Peninsula torrential rainfall was the second serious disaster following the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Although there was no direct damage to the inn, which is located on high ground, reservations were cancelled one after another, and the number of visitors once again dropped off. The torrential rain disaster came just as reconstruction efforts were underway. Farmers with whom the inn does business were also severely damaged, and the inn was left with a heavy burden. It was heartbreaking to think of the damage to such a large area of Noto,” Kumagai said. Even so, the staff did their best to entertain guests and were encouraged by the outpouring of support.

One year after the earthquake and three months after the torrential rains, the rooms were finally fully booked at the end and beginning of the year. Many guests said, “I came here to support Noto’s recovery,” and Mr. Kumagai was reminded of the mission of an inn rooted in the community. If we can be of even the slightest help to Noto’s recovery, I am glad that we have worked so hard over the past year to build up our business,” he said.

Aiming to be an inn that works together with Noto’s producers

One of the specialties of “Noto Tsukumo Bay Hyakuraso” is its cuisine, which incorporates the rich produce of Noto. However, many producers were affected by the earthquake, and the market and distribution functions that handle the foodstuffs were paralyzed. Producers with whom they do business on a regular basis found themselves in a difficult situation: they could not go fishing, they could not sell what they produced, and they could not ship their products.

Although he could have ordered unavailable ingredients from outside of Noto, Executive Chef Daisuke Shimada decided to “use ingredients from Noto as much as possible. He visited producers to purchase ingredients, and when he heard that someone was looking for a place to ship, he asked for an introduction. By firmly connecting the producers and the inn’s business network in this way, Mr. Shimada says, “I want to protect Noto’s producers and its bountiful bounty.

On this day, the dish featured wild yellowtail purchased at the port of Ushitsu, Noto Town, and Kanou crab freshly landed at the port of Takojima, Suzushi City. Because the ingredients are so good, we don’t add anything extra to them. I want people to fully enjoy the charm of Noto’s ingredients,” smiles Mr. Shimada.

Until the day we can truly call it “reconstruction

About a year has passed since the reopening of business, but the fishing pier and restaurant lost in the tsunami remain untouched. Efforts to restore the facilities are still ongoing.

On the other hand, Mr. Kumagai believes that “complete restoration of facilities is not the goal. While Noto as a whole is gradually making progress in rebuilding its infrastructure and livelihood, the scars are still large. The real goal, Kumagai says, is for visitors to the inn “to be able to tour Noto, which has regained its vitality, and experience new attractions and enjoyment.

When touring Noto, I often hear people say, “I want people to see Noto as it is now,” or “I want many people to visit Noto. The more people who visit Noto, the stronger the recovery effort will be. Noto Tsukumo Bay Hyakurasou” will serve as a starting point for such trips, and will continue to move forward positively toward reconstruction in the true sense of the word.

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Hotel Metropolitan Akita: the perfect base for sightseeing in Akita

Hotel Metropolitan Akita, located adjacent to JR Akita Station, the gateway to Akita City, opened in 1986 as Akita Terminal Hotel. It was later renamed the “Metropolitan Hotel Akita” in 1996, and has been widely used for business, sightseeing, and events. In May 2021, a new annex, the “North Wing,” opened. The number of guest rooms has doubled to 247 with the addition of the 132 rooms in North Wing to the 115 rooms in main building.
The annex was designed based on the concept of “Remnant of Akita” while maintaining the relaxed atmosphere that is unique to Hotel Metropolitan Akita. Akita cedar was used for the walls and ceiling, and the lobby on the first floor, which welcomes guests, is covered with a coved ceiling that resembles a butterbur-leaf umbrella, a reference to the lyrics of the folk song “Akita Ondo.” It is a special space where one can experience the new Akita as well as the heartwarming Akita.
In addition, the elevator halls on the third through ninth guest room floors display delicate kumiko-zaiku (braided craftsmanship) with Omagari fireworks as a motif. In addition, guest rooms are decorated with tissue boxes made of Akita cedar, Naraoka-yaki mugs, and artwork of Honjo Gotenmari and Itaya horses, allowing guests to feel Akita while relaxing.

Experience the charm of Akita in every corner

For lunch or dinner, go to Dining Manyo on the 3rd floor of the main building. Enjoy a course menu of creative dishes blending Japanese and Western flavors, using seasonal Akita ingredients. The dining room offers fresh seafood landed from the Sea of Japan and Japanese beef produced in the prefecture in an elegant and relaxing atmosphere.
Breakfast is served at Restaurant Quare, located on the same floor as Dining Manyo. The restaurant is well known for its buffet-style breakfast buffet featuring Akita’s local cuisine. The buffet offers a wide variety of Akita’s unique dishes and specialties, such as kiritanpo nabe, damako nabe, tonburi, and iburigakko (pickled ginger). Vegetables and rice are all grown in Akita, of course, so you can enjoy the taste of Akita to the fullest from the morning.

A little sightseeing around the hotel

Another attraction of Hotel Metropolitan Akita, which is well located, is that you can enjoy petit sightseeing in front of Akita Station. A five-minute walk from the hotel is Chiaki Park, which is located on the site of the former castle of the Satake clan of the Akita Domain. The cherry blossoms in the spring, lotus in the summer, and autumn leaves in the fall are spectacular. Near the park is the Akita Museum of Art, which houses and exhibits the works of Tsuguharu Fujita, who was active in Paris and was widely recognized in Western art circles for his “milky white skin” nudes and other works, and has friendship with Picasso. One of Mr. Fujita’s representative works, “The Events of Akita,” is exhibited only at this museum. The large mural painting, measuring 3.65 meters in height and 20.5 meters in width, will overwhelm the viewer. The Akita Shimin Ichiba, located about a 5-minute walk from the park, is another must-see spot. Visitors can purchase Akita vegetables, seasonal fish, and local specialties at market prices, and the market is also lined with restaurants serving local food. Hotel Metropolitan Akita is the perfect location for sightseeing to the attractive spots around Akita Station. It will be a memorable page of your trip to Akita that will never fade away.

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The Ise-Shima Summit was held in 2016. The Shima Kanko Hotel in Kashikojima, Mie Prefecture, which became known not only in Japan but around the world as a result of the summit, is a long-established hotel that overlooks Ago Bay, famous for its pearls. How has it managed to continue to attract visitors even now, some 70 years after it first opened?

A space of the highest quality that has hosted world leaders

The Shima Kanko Hotel is a resort hotel made up of three buildings: The Classic, designed by the famous architect Togo Murano, who also designed the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Cathedral; The Bay Suite, a high-end hotel with all rooms as suites; and The Club, which has no guest rooms but retains the appearance it had when it first opened, and is the heart of the hotel. All three buildings have a wonderful individuality that attracts visitors.

The hotel is located on the island of Kashikojima, which is situated in Ago Bay in Shima City, Mie Prefecture. It is a small island of about 68 hectares, where around 100 people live. It is about the same size as Tokyo Disneyland, and you can walk around the island in an hour.

In ancient times, it was called “Kachikoejima” (Island that can be crossed on foot) because it was possible to walk from the mainland to the island when the tide went out. It is said that this gradually became corrupted into “Kashikojima. The location, with Ago Bay in front of you, is very beautiful, and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised it as ‘an area where you can enjoy the scenery of Japan’s hometown, with its natural beauty of large and small islands and beautiful coves, which could be called the original scenery of Japan’.

The Ise-Shima Hotel has been standing in such a place as Kenkōjima, and has been communicating its beauty to Japan and the world in the form of “Omotenashi” (hospitality). When the G7 Ise-Shima Summit was held in 2016, the hotel served as the venue for the summit, and US President Barack Obama stayed at “The Classic”, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and and British Prime Minister David Cameron stayed in The Baysuite.

The hotel loved by Emperor Showa and novelist Toyoko Yamazaki

The Classic is the main building of the Shima Kanko Hotel. Since it opened, it has been visited by many famous people, and the stories of those visits have become the core of the hotel. In 1951, Emperor Showa visited Ise-Shima to inspect the state of post-war reconstruction, and stayed at the hotel. He wrote a poem about the beauty of Kenkōjima, “The view of Ago Bay is beautiful, like the red berries of the Sarutoriibara bush that have turned red”. After that, the Showa Emperor was very fond of this facility and stayed there five times in his life. With anecdotes like this, the hotel, which has been used by many people related to the Imperial Family and foreign dignitaries, has become a facility that represents Mie Prefecture. Novelist Toyoko Yamazaki also used the hotel frequently between 1955 and 2007. The scene in the opening sentence of her masterpiece, “The Glorious Family,” “As the sun begins to set and the tide begins to rise, a glorious twilight descends on Ago Bay on the Shima Peninsula,” is probably this place. The desk and chair that Toyoko Yamazaki used to write at the time are currently on display at “The Club”. You can reflect on the traces left by the literary figures and feel the depth of the history of this hotel.

All rooms are suites of at least 100 square meters.

The Bay Suite, on the other hand, was newly opened in 2008. As you enter the building, you are greeted by a large object decorated with pearls, a local specialty. As you walk further in, you will see pearls not only in the lobby, but also on the walls, information boards, and even the elevator railings, making it look like a scene from a storybook. There is also a refined fragrance in the air. The scent is a combination of garden roses, jasmine and musk, and it is a refined, fresh scent that exudes a sense of luxury, soothing the hearts of visitors and creating a high-quality, adult space.

The shared spaces are wonderful, of course, but what is particularly worth mentioning are the all-suite rooms. There are a variety of room types, including the “Royal Suite”, “Corner Suite” and “Superior Suite”, as well as the “Spa Suite”, where you can receive spa treatments from expert staff, and the “FUTON Suite”, where you can relax as if you were in a private residence. All of these types of rooms have a spacious area of over 100m2, with a separate living room, bedroom and bathroom. You can enjoy a superb stay in this spacious and luxurious atmosphere.

Togo Murano, an architect who thought about the feelings of the people who would use the place

The architect of the Shima Kanko Hotel (now The Classic and The Club) was Togo Murano, who is highly regarded as an architect and is known for his work on the Nissay Theatre (Tokyo), the main building of the State Guest House (formerly the Akasaka Imperial Villa), the Osaka Shinkabuki-za (Osaka Prefecture), and the World Peace Memorial Cathedral (Hiroshima Prefecture). He is widely known in the field of architecture as a builder of buildings of historical value. The Shima Kanko Hotel is a building that harmonizes Japanese, Western and modernist styles, while also retaining its own originality. Mr. Murano was not only involved in the building itself, but also in the design of the furniture inside the hotel, and he paid attention to even the smallest details. This attention to detail was not limited to the pursuit of stylistic beauty, but also included the pursuit of ease of use and comfort.

For example, on the stairs leading up to the second floor of the old building, there is a landing before you reach the top, and Mr. Murano thought that this would allow people to take a breather when descending the stairs, and also make it easier to start walking again once they had reached the top. In addition, Murano’s expression of modernism is to create a “connection” within the building and give the space continuity by making the banisters of the stairs curved rather than ending in right angles or straight lines, and by deliberately making some of them protrude forward, and you can sense that the design takes into account the feelings of the people who will use the space.

The paintings, which evoke traditional crafts and stories, can be felt everywhere.

The props that decorate each room are also remarkable. The Royal Suite where President Hollande stayed during the Ise-Shima Summit was decorated with a hanging scroll of calligraphy by calligrapher Hota Shisen, and ikebana. The room where President Obama stayed was furnished with furniture designed by Togo Murano, including chairs, tables and chandeliers, just as it was when the hotel first opened. Of course, the room is also available for use by ordinary guests, and there are also accommodation plans available that allow you to experience the same space and scenery as the great men who stayed there.

Also, the summit table used during the Ise-Shima Summit is still in the hotel, and you can actually sit at it, so it’s interesting to be able to feel the atmosphere of the summit.

La Mer” is a French seafood dinner that is full of the thoughts of the executive chef.

The executive chef of the Shima Kanko Hotel is Hiroe Higuchi, who was also in charge of the working dinner for the Ise-Shima Summit. She entertained the leaders of each country with the desire to “deliver the deliciousness that is unique to the food country of Ise-Shima with a sense of surprise”. The working dinner featured lobster, abalone, Matsusaka beef and other local Mie ingredients, and the chefs even sliced the abalone into bite-sized pieces so that it would be easier to eat during the meeting.

The menu from the summit was called the “Ise-Shima Summit Commemorative Dinner”, and you can still eat it when you stay at the hotel.

Chef Hiroe Higuchi’s cuisine, which is known as “French cuisine with seafood”, has delighted the palates of gourmets all over the world. The hotel’s signature dishes, such as the lobster cream soup and abalone steak, which have been passed down since the time of the previous executive chef, represent the Shima Kanko Hotel’s traditional menu, and the many dishes that make the most of the nature and seasonal produce of Ise-Shima are the hotel’s famous dishes, where you can fully enjoy the fusion of traditional flavors and the ingredients, culture and thoughts of the producers of Ise-Shima. Chef Higuchi actually goes to fishing ports and other places to meet with the producers. The inspiration he feels through these interactions is the source of the dishes he comes up with, which include local culture and historical background.

In addition to this, the hotel also has a range of restaurants where you can enjoy the blessings of Ise-Shima, such as Hamamoyou, where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine that makes the most of the seasonal ingredients of Ise-Shima, and Yamabuki, a teppanyaki restaurant where you can watch the seafood, produce from the countryside and produce from the mountains of Mie Prefecture being grilled in front of you.

Enjoying the time in Shima, both from inside and outside, while feeling the atmosphere of the Ise-Shima Summit

If you walk a little further from the hotel, you will find a number of tourist attractions in the surrounding area, such as Ise Jingu Shrine, Yokoyama Observatory, Shima Spain Village, Daiozaki Lighthouse, and Anorozaki Lighthouse.

However, the Shima Kanko Hotel is no less than these tourist attractions, with its own history and stories to tell. The beautiful spaces, with their attention to detail, and the experience of staying there, with the superb hospitality nurtured by its long history, is called “Shima Time” and even captivates important people and cultural figures.

The thousands of ways to spend your time and enjoy the culture and history that have been spun together by fine cuisine and culture cannot be experienced in a single stay. That is why you will want to visit again, and each time you visit you will be able to experience a new Shima time. It is no exaggeration to say that the wonderful accommodation experience is the reason why it has been affectionately nicknamed “Shima-kan” for so long. From now on, the appeal of the Shima Kanko Hotel will only increase, and it will provide many people with a wonderful Shima time.

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“Resort Hotel Moana Coast” with an overseas resort atmosphere

In the city of Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, which is rich in nature and abundant in foodstuffs, floats a small resort island called Ogejima. Located between Shikoku and Awaji Island, the island is the gateway to Shikoku, where the whirlpools of the Naruto Straits can be seen. There, surrounded by the sea and mountains, is the Moana Coast Resort Hotel, a secluded hideaway for adults. As the name of the hotel means “beautiful coast” in Hawaiian, the contrast between the blue ocean and the white sandy beach seen from the guest rooms and lounge creates an atmosphere as if one were visiting an exotic resort.
The hotel has only 14 guest rooms on its vast grounds of approximately 3,000 tsubo. All rooms are maisonette type with an open-air bath, a luxury that is rare in Japan and the world. The main building, “Moana Coast,” is a three-story structure with a jet bath on the rooftop overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The rooftop bathtub has a view of the Seto Inland Sea, and the open-air rooftop is the perfect place to spend a special moment while feeling the ocean breeze and admiring the spectacular view. Villa Beltramonto” means ‘villa with a beautiful sunset’ in Italian. All rooms are suites, and from the open-air bath you can watch the beautiful sunset over the Naruto satoyama through the courtyard. The amber-colored light of the sunset and the view of the sky will give you a different experience from the one in the main building. The concepts of the main building and the detached house are different, so you can choose the one that best suits your mood and the season you visit.

Unusual feeling of relaxing and spending time together

The meals at Moana Coast are creative Italian courses that focus on locally produced, locally consumed food, with an emphasis on seasonal seafood and fresh vegetables from our own vegetable garden in Naruto, Tokushima, a treasure trove of culinary delights. This is exactly the restaurant’s concept of “once-in-a-lifetime Italian cuisine that can only be enjoyed here and now. In particular, the “Sauteed Tokushima Live Abalone with Bourguignon Sauce” and “Grilled Natural Naruto Sea Bream in Saltine Sauce” are must-try dishes.
A short distance from the hotel are the Otsuka Museum of Art, the German Pavilion, and the Naruto Straits, famous for Naruto’s whirlpools. However, we recommend that you do not make too many plans and spend your time relaxing in the hotel, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Enjoy a cup of Moana’s original blend coffee in the free lounge, take a walk in the large lawn garden on the grounds, or go straight to the beach and walk along the sandy beach. You will be able to reset your mind and body, and enjoy an extraordinary experience of the highest quality.

NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

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NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

滞在することで新しい視点をもてる「HOTEL WHY」／徳島県上勝町 – NIHONMONO ごみを「ゼロ」ではなく「出さない」という視点 2020年5月、人口1511人（2021年1月1日現在）と四

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River Retreat Garaku Club

Do you know that there is a beautiful valley created by the Jinzu River in the south of Toyama City, near the border with Gifu Prefecture? The valley is one of the most scenic spots in Toyama Prefecture, and is designated as a Toyama Prefectural Park for its clear river flow and mountain ranges. River Retreat Garaku Club” is quietly located on the banks of the river, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of this rich natural environment from every corner.
It was originally opened in May 2000 with the concept of a “healing inn by the river. The main lobby was renovated in 2005 with the aim of creating a place where one can enjoy art, baths, and meals. The hotel was designed by architect Hiroshi Naito, who also designed the famous Japanese confectionery store Toraya Café in the Tokyo Station City Hotel and the Takata Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park, which was partially completed in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture in 2019. In March 2021, a new “Garden Terrace” will be built along the shoreline, providing a relaxing space where guests can enjoy the seasonal scenery while feeling the flow of the river more closely. The new terrace is a relaxing space where visitors can enjoy the seasonal scenery while feeling the flow of the river more up close. Furthermore, it is the only ryokan in Toyama Prefecture to be featured in the “Michelin Guide Hokuriku 2021” as a 4 Red Pavilion ryokan.

There are 23 guest rooms in total. Each room has a different concept. The rooms are decorated with works by contemporary artists, making guests feel as if they are at an art exhibition. The suites with private saunas are also very attractive. The rooms are decorated with artwork that can only be seen in that particular room, so you can enjoy staying in a different room during each stay to find the one you like the best. The hotel also pays special attention to bedding. Horsehair bed pads and mattresses, which are considered the highest quality bedding material, are used in all guest rooms. A good night’s sleep in an art space and waking up refreshed the next morning will be a special experience that can only be had here.

A healing moment even at mealtime

Another attraction of River Retreat Garaku Club is the food, which can be enjoyed at two restaurants. At “Wasai Zensho Rakuumi,” the chef’s carefully selected local vegetables and seafood from Toyama, including firefly squid and white shrimp, are popular in kaiseki cuisine. Just the thought of having these dishes with Toyama’s locally brewed sake is enough to make one’s cheeks loose a little weight. The other is the French restaurant “Trezonier. The chef himself goes to the mountains and fishing ports to select the best seasonal ingredients. Both restaurants also use carefully selected contemporary artisanal tableware, allowing diners to enjoy the dishes while appreciating the tableware.

The baths are also a pleasure, and River Retreat Garaku Club has two large baths. The view of the Jinzu Gorge while soaking in the baths will be one of the most memorable parts of your trip. After soaking, it is recommended to further refresh yourself at the spa. Treatments using Chinese herbal oils and 100% natural essential oils are tailored to your physical condition and mood, and are a welcome treat that only Toyama, also known as the “Medicine Capital,” can offer. An inn like a museum in the midst of nature. The combination of art and nature creates an exquisite experience that can only be experienced here.

NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

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NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

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Mino City is located in the center of Gifu Prefecture, roughly in the center of Japan. The city still retains the udatsu-lined streets built between the Edo and Meiji periods in the castle town of Ogurayama Castle, which flourished as a commercial center from the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This area is where merchants made their fortunes through the trade of “Mino washi,” a traditional craft with a history of more than 1,300 years that has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as “Japanese handmade washi paper technology. The area is lined with the ruins of mansions with magnificent “udatsu” (roofed overhangs), and visitors can enjoy an atmosphere as if they have stepped back in time to that era.
The town itself was located on top of a hill and had poor water access, making it vulnerable to fire. However, since it cost a considerable amount of money to install the udatsu, it was considered a symbol of wealth to have a magnificent udatsu on the roof of a house, which is the origin of the idiom “udatsu ga nagarenai,” which is still used today. The town is also known as “Udatsu” in the Japanese language.

Mino merchant town, a town built on washi paper, offers hospitality that is unique to the town.

NIPPONIA Mino Shokecho” is a machiya hotel that opened in 2019, renovating an old house built over 100 years ago based on the concept of ” meeting in a town built by washi paper. The base of the hotel is the residence and warehouse of Matsuhisa, a wholesaler of raw materials for Mino washi paper, built between the late Meiji and early Taisho eras. Matsuhisa, a wealthy merchant and a man of culture who loved tea, spent five years completing the wooden house in the sukiya style, which he was particular about at the time of construction.

The guest rooms, named “YAMAJOU building,” consist of two types, the “main building” and the “warehouse,” with a total of six rooms: “Zangetsu,” “Mangetsu,” “Aya Nishiki,” “Yomeiden,” “Daigokuden,” and “Kongo. The impressive guest rooms are named after shoji paper brands. Mino washi is used throughout the guest rooms, including on the wallpaper and shoji screens. The rooms are arranged around a courtyard so that visitors can see a different garden in each room, and enjoy Matsuhisa’s unique design. The space is modern and comfortable, but at the same time, it offers a taste of Japanese style. In 2020, a five-minute walk from the “YAMAJOU” building, the “YAMASITI” building will open, renovated from the residence of Mr. Suda, who became a landowner as a Japanese paper wholesaler. The YAMAJOU building has a café attached to it, and guests can use the ticket they receive upon check-in. As a “decentralized hotel” with guest rooms scattered throughout the town, the hotel aims to develop the entire surrounding area, and has prepared a lot of recommended information on the surrounding area so that guests can enjoy the entire area.

Experience the climate and culture of Mino

NIPPONIA Mino Shokamachi” proposes a form of travel that ” allows visitors to get to know the area. At the Washi nary, a washi specialty store located on the hotel grounds, a “washi sommelier” invites visitors into the profound world of washi, just as if he or she were telling them about the history of wine and its charms. If visitors inquire in advance, they can try their hand at “letterpress printing” as part of their activity plan. In 2021, the “Gallery Collage,” a gallery introducing contemporary art, will open adjacent to the “Wasi-nary. A space where visitors can enjoy various artworks related to Mino will also be added.

Dinner is not served at “NIPPONIA Mino Shokamachi. Therefore, when the lights go on in the “udatsu-lined streets,” local staff will guide guests to recommended restaurants according to their preferences so that they can enjoy the atmosphere of the town and its food. After enjoying the nostalgic townscape to the fullest, you can relax and fall asleep in the quiet space. When you wake up, you will enjoy breakfast brought to your room. The breakfast is a beautifully prepared Japanese breakfast that uses local ingredients, and includes a variety of Japanese-style dishes, such as boiled and seasoned vegetables, and rice cooked in an earthenware pot. Staying in a building with a sense of history, walking around the town, and directly experiencing the local climate and culture. The real experience in this town will deepen your knowledge, nurture your mind, and show you a more colorful landscape.

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A perspective of “no” rather than “zero” waste

HOTEL WHY, a zero-waste action hotel, opened in May 2020 in Kamikatsu-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, which has the smallest population of any town in Shikoku at 1,511 (as of January 1, 2021). Zero-waste” means “zero waste. In 2003, Kamikatsu Town became the first municipality in Japan to declare “Zero-Waste,” aiming for a society that produces no waste, rather than zero waste, which is defined by how waste is disposed of. The town does not collect garbage by the municipality, and each household composts food scraps, etc., and each resident brings bottles, cans, and other “resource garbage” to the “garbage station” to sort into more than 45 types for recycling.

HOTEL WHY is located in a corner of the Kamikatsu Zero-Waste Center, which has a garbage station and a research and educational function for consumers, sellers, and producers, and is a lodging facility where visitors can actually experience the 45 types of sorting. The unique architecture of the building is shaped like a “? The “HOTEL WHY” is located at the “.” part of the unique architecture, which is shaped like a “?

The “HOTEL WHY” is located at the “.” of the unique building, which is shaped like a “? But Kamikatsu Town, which is also the source of water, decided that this was not the way to go, so this waste treatment facility was built,” says Momona Otsuka, owner of HOTEL WHY.

The facility is made of scrap wood, window frames, and other materials brought in by the townspeople. Kamikatsu Town does not have a garbage collection system, but by having everyone bring their garbage and unused items here, it has become a place for communication and learning,” says Otsuka.

About 80% of the garbage brought here is recycled. Generally, about 20% is recycled, which is a fairly high figure, but the town of Kamikatsu is making further efforts to achieve the goal of zero-waste.

Why? from daily life

The design was led by the hot young architect Takushi Nakamura. Why are you buying it?” The interior has a calm atmosphere in contrast to the unique exterior, which is based on the theme of questioning consumers and producers about whether to make, sell, or dispose of products. The room windows overlook the rich nature of Kamikatsu-cho and are very cozy.

At the hotel check-in, guests are given an explanation of Kamikatsu Town’s zero-waste efforts, and drinks and soap are weighed out for their needs during their stay. At check-out, guests actually sort garbage into 45 categories, giving them a chance to experience life in Kamikatsu Town and review their daily garbage The hotel also provides an opportunity for guests to experience the lifestyle of Kamikatsu Town and review their daily garbage by actually sorting garbage into 45 categories when checking out.

We hope that by creating this hotel, we can provide an opportunity for people outside of Kamikatsu to learn more about zero-waste and the SDGs,” said Otsuka.

The hotel does not have a starred restaurant, nor does it have a large outdoor bath. The lack of disposable amenities is also not surprising considering the hotel’s concept. After dusk, there are almost no cars on the road, and even the nearest convenience store is a 30-minute drive away. However, this inconvenience is refreshing and pleasant. This is by no means a luxurious hotel. It is just a place with beautiful nature and starry sky in a small town in the mountains, but I felt as if I could see the shape of a hotel for a new era.

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Smart luxury hotel “Conrad Osaka”

Conrad Osaka is the latest in smart luxury hotels located in one of the landmarks of Osaka, Nakanoshima Festival Tower West. Targeting travelers who make the most of both work and play, the hotel boasts a fusion of contemporary and Japanese design. Located 200 meters above ground level, the hotel offers panoramic views of the city with spacious guest rooms and 4 restaurants, a bar and lounge that live up to Osaka’s reputation for being the “Kitchen of the Nation”. The world renowned Conrad quality is also apparent in the spa, pool, fitness club and wedding chapel.

Nakanoshima is abundant with clear waters and greenery, and has a history of being the center of political, financial, and cultural development. A narrow piece of land between Dojima River and Tosabori River, many warehouses served as temporary storage for rice and other grains during the Edo period before they were shipped out around the nation. During the Meiji era, cultural buildings such as the Osaka City Central Public Hall and Osaka City Nakanoshima Library were added, making it a center of cultural activity. The functionality of the area was further enhanced with the opening of Osaka University’s Nakanoshima Center (currently closed) and the opening of the new Nakanoshima train line.

Like a museum, a hotel where you can experience art

The main feature of Conrad Osaka is undoubtedly the dynamic panoramic view. In the lounge on the 38th floor, there is a winding staircase and wide open stairwell. Floor to ceiling windows offer a view of the city as well as the ocean and even the mountains in the background. You can enjoy the expansive view from almost anywhere in the hotel, from the guest rooms, restaurants, banquet rooms, spa & fitness, indoor pool and even the meeting rooms, allowing you to get away from the daily routine. Enjoy a relaxing moment with a view of the night skies and city at the “40 Sky Bar and Lounge”.

A distinguishing feature of the hotel are the displays of art pieces by artists from around the world with a focus on local artists. 《Fu / Rai》 is a large piece measuring about 5 meters by sculptor Kohei Nawa. Using micro beads to express the gods of wind and thunder, the pieces change with the light and can be enjoyed over and over again. Each guest room, chapel, atrium and banquet rooms also boast its own artwork, making Conrad Osaka a delight for art lovers.

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Hotels with a deep sense of local charm「THE TOWER HOTEL NAGOYA」

Chubu Electric Power Company’s MIRAI TOWER (former Nagoya TV Tower) towers over the downtown area of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.Nagoya City approached Tatachu Naito, the “father of earthquake-resistant structures,” to design the tower as a symbol of its postwar reconstruction plan.Naito went through a series of trials and errors under strict conditions, such as the future construction of a subway line directly under the tower and the durability of the antennae that concentrated the TV signals.Finally, in 1954, the tower was born, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as a TV tower that combines function and beauty.In recognition of this achievement, Naito went on to design other famous towers around Japan, including Tokyo Tower and Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, earning him the nickname “Doctor of Towers.After the 2011 termination of terrestrial analog TV broadcasting and the end of its role as a radio tower, the tower continued to be a symbol of the city, but it had become a problem due to its aging.

Stimulated by the artistic culture of the Tokai region

The plan to solve this problem was to renovate the tower into a hotel facility with seismic isolation.After various simulations and seismic reinforcement work, “THE TOWER HOTEL NAGOYA” opened in October 2020 on the first to fifth floors of the Nagoya TV Tower.The hotel has also attracted attention for being the first hotel in Aichi Prefecture to be certified as a “SLH” (Small Luxury Hotels of the World) hotel, which only hotels that are recognized as small-scale and world-class luxury hotels can join.The hotel has a total of 15 guest rooms, 13 of which are individually designed and full of character on the 4th floor, and two spacious 80m2 suites on the 5th floor.The spacious terraces of the suites offer a panoramic view of Sakae, Nagoya’s most prestigious downtown area.A banquet hall overlooking Central Park is located on the second floor and can be used for weddings and other events.The observation deck is a salon open only to hotel guests from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. the following day, providing a special space where only guests can enjoy the night view.The theme of the “TV tower where you can stay overnight,” a rarity in the world, is “ART × CRAFT × LOCAL.Artworks created by artists associated with the three Tokai prefectures will be exhibited at the front desk, lobby, guest rooms, and other locations, making the hotel a center of culture and art with the ability to accommodate guests.

The hospitality of a luxury hotel and the feeling of visiting a museum at the same time will pique the curiosity of art lovers.In addition, the space, which makes use of the steel frame of the TV tower and has the atmosphere of a registered tangible cultural property, is filled with arts and crafts unique to this region, including Nagoya yuzen, Arimatsu shibori, and other traditional crafts from the Tokai region centering on Nagoya.

Enjoy the ingredients of the Tokai region

The restaurant on the 4th floor of the tower is “glycine,” a French restaurant in Yagoto, one of the most exclusive residential areas in Nagoya, where reservations are not taken.The restaurant offers dishes beautifully presented on tableware made by local artists and using local ingredients in abundance.Lunch and dinner are open to the public, but breakfast is a Japanese breakfast available only to guests.Of particular note is the “Ryu no Hitomi” brand rice served, which is well known among rice lovers for its large grain size (1.5 times larger than Koshihikari rice) and excellent taste.The food is cooked using a vermiculator and served freshly cooked at mealtime.Each dish is so elaborate that it may seem too luxurious for a breakfast, and the number of dishes is enough to fill one’s heart from morning.The cafe “lily” on the second floor offers a wide variety of dishes, including a variety of freshly cooked dishes,Enjoy dishes made with abundant local ingredients, beautifully presented on tableware made by local artists.

Just as in the past, four stations and five waves of television signals were transmitted from this location, delivering entertainment that brightened people’s daily lives, it is still a place that transmits culture, even though its form has changed.Overlooking the center of Nagoya, this place is sure to be a special place for the seasoned traveler to take a breather while still being able to feel the breath of the city and its history.

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