A vessel catching the breeze and light of a historic pine grove
Numazu Club is situated within the historic Senbon-Matsubara, a grove of 1,000 pine trees, near Numazu Port and facing Numazu Bay. Behind it, Mount Fuji can be seen nearby, and when the wind blows, the sound of the breeze in the pines can be heard from your pillow. Numazu Club, originally constructed as a large sukiya-style teahouse during the late Meiji and early Taisho eras to showcase the surrounding majestic scenic beauty, was restored, protected, and utilized as a restaurant. In 2008, a new large villa structure was erected on the premises, and the establishment was reopened as an inn. The personage behind its refurbishment is businessman Masashi Kitayama, and the architect is Akira Watanabe.
The architectural structure is similar to Niki Club Nasu, commissioned to Watanabe in 1986 by Hitomi Kitayama (Mr. Kitayama’s former partner), and the guest rooms, facing a tranquil body of water, bear a strong resemblance to the celebration of Nasu’s peaceful surroundings achieved by the design of Niki Club Nasu. However, in contrast to that facility’s six single-story guest rooms, Numazu Club has a two-story building with eight guest rooms. In both structures, legacies of the architect, the traditional sukiya style buildings and elegant modern furniture resonate within contemporary architecture.
In 2022, management was transferred from Masashi Kitayama to a new project team.
As might be expected, the light shining on the surface of the tranquil water is beautiful, and guests can spend a calm, relaxing time quietly observing the tremors of the water. Those who enjoyed the atmosphere of Niki Club Nasu will most likely feel a slight sense of relief that this kind of space, designed by the same architect, is still in operation. It is a comfortable vessel for catching the clear light of the seaside and the breeze that travels through the pines.
In 2015, the teahouse was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan and today is operated as a restaurant offering modern Chinese cuisine. Considering its location near Numazu Port, one would expect this restaurant to serve plenty of fresh seafood. However, nothing beats the wild taste of grilled seafood that guests can enjoy on their own, at a hamayaki-style beach barbecue, for example. For guests staying for several nights, it makes more sense to recommend local restaurants in Numazu Port, just a few minutes’ walk away.
The walls of the large villa were built using rammed earth construction, in which a formwork is built on top of the foundation stones and filled with sand and soil; the walls are made of layers tamped down with sticks. Resembling the strata of sand and soil from the Fuji River, these seemed the perfect materials for creating a spatial representation of the natural features of the area. As it is exposed to rain and sunlight, the texture will reveal even more charm. Comfortable Western-style furniture is provided in this space, and the lobby overlooking the shallow pool is truly refreshing.
The teahouse, completed in 1913, was built as a villa for Zenbei Miwa, the second-generation proprietor of Mitsuwa Soap. The structure, reflecting the tastes of the owner, who was well known as a master of the tea ceremony, features exquisite details of the sukiya craftsman’s finesse everywhere. In addition to the nijiriguchi (the small entrance forcing guests to bow in order to enter) the teahouse also includes a kininguchi (nobles’ entrance, through which one may enter without bowing). There is also a space known as the Showa Room, with the ornamentation of the window frames and the wickerwork of the ceiling, which is attended by an air of historical drama; it’s difficult to imagine who used it and for what purpose.
The water drawn from the well on the premises, which shares a source with Kakitagawa Springs, stemming from the copious subterranean water coming from Mount Fuji, is said to be gentle on the skin. The spa is an artificial hot spring using this water, and the stone sauna and bath tiles are made with a special Austrian ore, which emits special far-infrared rays said to have a long-lasting warming effect. The bath backrest is tilted at an angle of approximately 50 degrees, allowing guests to bathe in a comfortable position, providing a level of pleasure and relaxation not available in rocky baths.
2024.1.1