A group of villas where materials resonate with each other
This resort, designed and curated by ceramicist and sculptor Koichi Uchida, is situated in Yunoyama Onsen (Hot Springs area) at the foot of the Suzuka Mountains on the Ise Bay side. The facility consists of 12 villas, and four freestanding public buildings: reception and three restaurants. Each villa features distinct architecture and interior design themed around a single material or combination of two materials, including stone, earth, wood, paper, iron, plaster, glass, and lacquer, with different layouts, furnishings, lighting, baths, and art.
In the stone-themed villa, Sekiro, the massive native Komono stones* that emerged when the land was developed, are showcased in their natural form in the entrance, living room, and bedroom. These stones, taller than a person, rest so naturally on the wooden floor that they initially send a shudder through the visitor, afraid they might topple. However, one soon becomes accustomed to the stones resting there as one might encounter them in their natural environment. This familiarity brings an extraordinary and gratifying pleasure of simply having the stones’ presence and materiality grace the living room and bedroom.
The earth-themed villa, Inotsuchi, features curved walls with rounded edges and a plump raised mound by the window. The beige sofa in the center of the living room harmonizes perfectly with the soft texture of the wall clay, a result of exquisite plastering work. A wooden African bed sits on the window-side mound, its silhouette distinctly contrasted against the earthen background. The clay walls, with their elegantly cracked texture, are also beautiful.
Bathed in soft light filtered through washi (Japanese paper) is the villa known as Shiki, or “season of paper.” In the entranceway, there is a shoji door papered in the taiko-bari* method. The lattice design features both traditional vertical and horizontal laths, complemented by diagonal accents. The room, adorned with washi on the ceiling and walls, serves as a tranquil space where light gently filters through the paper, a distinctive feature of these doors. The ceiling light fixtures, also made of paper, permit light to shine through. Paper cord sofas create a sense of delicate lightness, while blond wood towel hangers contribute to the comforting ambiance of this illuminated space.
The open air baths of each villa mirror their distinct material themes. The bath space of one of the stone-themed villas, Choseki, has a fine washed gravel floor graced by an organically shaped Komono stone. There is a gentle swell to the rim of the round tub. Inotsuchi’s tub features a tidy and polished earthen structure finish. The edge and overflow designs of the bath at Shiki are exquisitely delicate and intricate, resembling paper molding. The quality of the springs in every villa is excellent, and the warm water is gentle on the skin.
The art in each room is similarly themed, adding to the depth of the entire resort’s appeal, and the bookshelves are graced with a small selection of classics related to each material, inspiring you to reach for them without hesitation. These books, selected by professional book advisor Masataka Haba, subtly add to the enjoyment of staying in these spaces. In this collection of villas, noteworthy details are innumerable, among them the bookshelves; in one villa, a cross-shaped bookshelf features ingeniously tapered edges, adding a nice sense of tension to the wall, and in another, a stone bookshelf juts out from a stone wall.
Food is the main focus of an auberge. At the restaurant Hinomori, they grill specially selected aged meat in a wood-fired kamado (traditional oven). Graphically, Hinomori, which means “fire forest”, is creatively represented using three instances of the character for “fire” (火), arranged in a triangular pattern to resemble the character for “forest” (森). Mie Prefecture is known for the rich bounty of Ise Bay, so they serve healthy abalone or spiny lobster as sashimi or perfectly grilled, depending on the season. There is a comfortable contrast between the thick wooden worktop and the compact dining table, making it easy to become absorbed in food, drink, and conversation.
*Komono stones are a type of granite native to Mie Prefecture prized for its light color and often used in stepping stones in Japanese gardens.
**Taiko-bari: A method of papering shoji on both sides. Covering the frame makes the cleat shadows less visible, and light is diffused evenly, while the pocket of air between the paper sheets enhances insulation.
2025.4.7