Rakudo-An
Mingei museum
Settled in Sankyo-son
Sandwiched between belts of green rice-paddies, Japanese coastal hideaway Rakudo-An gives time-honoured tradition a craft-inspired makeover with its curated collection of local mingei(folk art), Tang and Yi Dynasty antiques, and specially commissioned contemporary pieces. This 120-year-old farmhouse – built to face the east as per the local Buddhist custom – comprises three elegant guest rooms, each inspired by natural materials (paper, silk and soil), a arty boutique and super-seasonal Italian restaurant. But the real feather in Rakudo-An’s rural cap is its ongoing commitment to the local community, both environmentally and culturally, so you can soak up Toyama’s spiritual climate with a clean, green conscience.
Facilities
客室
Three.
Checkout
11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
詳細
Rates include breakfast and a walking tour of the local village.
Also
In the hotel’s small boutique, you’ll find folk crafts, artworks and Toyama delicacies all produced by local makers.
Hotel Closed
The hotel is closed every Tuesday, except for national holidays.
インターネット接続（無料）
ホテル内にレストランあり
At the Hotel
Boutique, reinterpreted ‘hijiri’ (sacred space), free WiFi throughout. In rooms: free bottled water, Toyama-made bath products, tea (black, Japanese and herbal) and coffee, Bluetooth speaker, and humidifier.
Our Favourite Rooms
The hotel's three rooms have their own unique character, though each is filled with folk crafts, antiques and contemporary art, and has a terrace with views over the paddy-peppered landscape of the Sankyo-son settlement. Serious art-buffs should opt for the Soil room for an exclusive peek of the – literally – earthy work by Yuko Hayashi.
Packing Tips
You’ll want sensible shoes for ambling around the local village, and a camera, too; there’s enough interior-design inspiration here to warrant its own Pinterest board.
Also
There’s no spa, but in-room aromatherapy treatments (with oils extracted from Toyama's forest) can be arranged for approximately US$75 a person.
子供
Over-13s are welcome, but leave the little ones at home.
ギャラリー
Food & Drink
Top Table
In line with the retreat’s Buddhist philosophy, all tables are equal, lined up with satisfying symmetry in front of paddy-framing windows.
ドレスコード
Consider yourself a part of the art with origami-crisp folds and silken robes.
Hotel Restaurant
While Rakudo-An’s restaurant, Il Clima, may be Italian in name and concept, dishes are unique to the region thanks to chef Yudai Ito’s use of hyper-local, seasonal ingredients (think fish straight off village fishermen’s boats, and meat and veggies farmed in the surrounding mountains) to craft seasonal dishes unique to the region. Depending on your rate, dinner here will consist of the regular tasting menu’s nine dishes or special menu’s 11 – consisting of multiple appetisers, pasta, risotto, meat or fish mains, dessert and coffee, all showcasing the best of the Toyama and Hokuriku regions. Our choice is the sake-rice risotto, a dish so special that you won’t be able to get it anywhere else in the world; pair it with sake made from the same Oyama-Nishiki-style grains.
Hotel Bar
Not a bar as such, but in the corner of the lounge you’ll find a small spot dishing out local craft beers, sake and whiskey as well as fruit juices and light snacks.
Last Orders
Lunch at Il Clima runs from 11.30am to 1pm, while dinner is served from 6pm to 8pm.
Planes
Toyama Airport is the closest to the hotel, just half-an-hour’s drive away, while Komatsu Airport is 50 minutes away. Both are domestic, so those coming from abroad should fly into Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and take a short connecting flight (one hour) to either. From here, Rakudo-An can arrange transfers for a fee.
Trains
Takagi Station is a 12-minute walk from Rakudo-An, which serves the Toyama Prefecture from north to south. Transfers from here can be organised for an additional charge.
Automobiles
riving can be convenient in the more rural parts of the country, but if you do go exploring, opt for toll roads and avoid driving into the cities as the traffic can make for a rather slow and stressful experience. There’s parking at the hotel, free for guests – just let them know how many spots you’ll need in advance.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Being outside of the city is all part of Rakudo-An’s rural draw, and makes it a perfect spot for all things Zen. Find a meditation perch out in the garden or roll out your mat for a stretching session among the rice-paddies. A walking tour of the surrounding Sankyo-son village is included in the rate, but the hotel can also arrange a Bon-Temae tea ceremony, and a sound-healing Suzugami workshop, where participants will learn to make a Buddhism bell from small paper-like tin plates; or attend a make-your-own-body-oil class, which uses locally-sourced essential oils that draw on the power of the forest. Musicians will love the Japanese drum performance, Etchu Isami Taiko – an ancient tradition which dates back over 900 years. The hotel can organise trips to the Kuwano Shrine(the birthplace of this percussive art), where guests can learn how to play from the locals. And, if all that rat-a-tat-tatting has left you with an appetite, have the hotel’s concierge book you onto a noodle-making experience followed by lunch at a local farmhouse restaurant.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
