Azumi Setoda: The Spiritual Practice (Per Night)

Start Location: Ikuchijima, Japan; End Location: Ikuchijima, Japan

Duration: 2 nights

Travel Season: March to May and October to November (Best: April)

Rooms: Azumi Setoda

Situated within a restored merchant estate along the shimmering Seto Inland Sea, Azumi Setoda redefines coastal island living through contemporary Japanese design. Visitors stay here to slow down, trade urban velocity for bicycle rides past citrus groves, and experience a revival of the historic communal bathhouse culture.

Highlights at a Glance

• The house: A 140-year-old salt merchant's residence, restored by Adrian Zecha, the founder of Aman.

• Yubune: The hotel runs the public bathhouse across the street for the town as well as its guests - a working sento, not a hotel facility.

• Cycling: The Shimanami Kaidō runs past the door - a 70km cycling route across six islands on suspension bridges, consistently rated among the best rides.

Location

Location map

Rooms

• NIWA (50 sqm) - A ground-floor room where sliding the yukimi shoji brings the private garden indoors, with a hinoki cypress bathtub and a temperature-regulated stone floor; nine rooms, for two guests.

• SUZUMI (50 sqm) - A second-floor room opening onto a balcony that catches the wind off the Setouchi, with a hinoki cypress bathtub; nine rooms, for two guests.

• NIWA SUZUMI (70 sqm) - A two-storey maisonette combining garden access below with an upstairs balcony and horigotatsu sunken table; two rooms, sleeping up to three.

• SORA SUZUMI (70 sqm) - A two-storey maisonette with an upstairs horigotatsu and a wide daybed on the balcony, closer to a private villa than a hotel room; two rooms, sleeping up to three.

Included

• Accommodation in the room category booked, per night

• Daily breakfast - a Japanese spread of grilled local fish, rice, nori, pickles, egg and miso soup, with a Western alternative on request

• Unlimited use of the yubune bathhouse across the street, 7am to 10pm - jet bath, sauna and cold bath, with towels and bath products

• Use of the yuagari post-bath lounge for drinks and snacks

• Citrus welcome drink made from the island's own fruit

• Complimentary bicycle hire for the Shimanami Kaido, and umbrellas to borrow

• In-room hinoki cypress bathtub, minibar, pour-over coffee, Bluetooth speaker, room wear and sandals

• Complimentary WiFi and 24-hour access to the lounge, library and shop

Not Included

• Flights and transfers to Setoda, including the ferry or car from Onomichi or Hiroshima

• Dinner at the main dining room or the private dining rooms, and all beverages

• Japanese consumption tax, accommodation tax and service charge

• Massages and facials at yubune, which are booked and charged separately

• Lunch and any guided island excursions