Not a hotel - Rooted in earth

The tour begins in the parking area and leads, along the promenade, to the Living and Dining Pavilion. Conceived as a lantern suspended over the existing artificial lake, this volume floats on slender piles, enhancing the reflections of the water and the trees. The geometries that make up the design interact with one another and with the landscape elements, adopting the most appropriate proportions at every turn.

While the perimeter is made of transparent glass to invite the forest inside, the core is anchored by a solid volume of compacted earth that houses the kitchen. The roof, clad in local vernacular tiles, emulates a traditional Japanese canopy, blending seamlessly with the treetops.

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As the path ascends deeper into the forest, the architecture transforms from light to heavy. The bedrooms are designed as three semi-buried volumes of massive rammed earth, crowned with green roofs that disappear into the mountain section. Access is via a dramatic subterranean rear corridor, illuminated only by a continuous skylight slit that bathes the retaining wall in texture and light.

These sleeping "boxes" are slightly rotated relative to each other to frame unique and private views through the interstitial spaces. The rooms are flexible, capable of being divided to accommodate multiple guests while maintaining complete privacy.

At the highest point of the site, adjacent to the natural stream, stands the Wellness Pavilion. Following the contours of the mountain, this massive, semi-subterranean structure is dedicated to the ritual of bathing. It houses the sauna and cold plunge pool, opening directly onto a spacious terrace and swimming pool. Here, the contrast is striking: protected by heavy earthen walls, the user is simultaneously exposed to the natural elements, open to the sky, the water, and the ancient Yakushima forest.

Floor Plan

Site Plan

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