"The new Azumi Setoda invites visitors to a corner of Japan unknown even to many domestic travelers. Part of an archipelago in the Seto Inland Sea, Ikuchijima is a quiet island with a population of 10,000. There, Kyoto based architect Shiro Miura was entrusted to transform a 146-year-old private residence into 22 guest rooms. The accommodations offer a contemporary take on the traditional ryokan, with rooms featuring rice paper screens, cypress wood bathtubs, and gardens that face a landscaped courtyard. Meals feature seasonal ingredients such as octopus and Omishima wild boar, all served on antique plates from the original owners of the estate. With an eye toward improving the property’s sustainability, Azumi is working to ensure it will use only renewable energy sources by 2023." - Jennifer Flowers
