Visit Nara

This luxury inn is the birthplace of celebrated potter Kenkichi Tomimoto (1886 – 1963), who was honored as a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government in 1955. In 2017, the house was renovated and opened as an inn. There are just two spacious suites, each with views over the beautifully designed gardens, and large baths enclosed by their own private gardens.

From the inn, you can walk to Horyuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with one of the world’s oldest wooden structures. Ubusuna No Sato TOMIMOTO offers occasional pottery classes in honor of Kenkichi Tomimoto, in the onsite studio. The garden, which inspired his pottery designs, can be enjoyed in all seasons, with quiet spots to sit and relax, and moats teeming with goldfish. There are two restaurants onsite: a large salon which is open to the public for lunch and dinner, and a more intimate dining counter with an open kitchen exclusively for guests, in a renovated traditional storehouse. You can enjoy dishes using local ingredients and Japanese sake in the evening, before strolling through the garden, back to your spacious room.