Yuyado Sakamoto: Discovering the Beauty of Japan’s “Ordinary”
Hidden deep in the mountains of Noto, Yuyado Sakamoto is not a luxurious resort.
In fact, it’s the opposite — a place where nothing unnecessary exists, and everything essential remains.
“We have nothing here. I’m sorry,” says the innkeeper, Shinichiro Sakamoto, with a gentle smile.
But that “nothing” is exactly what makes this place extraordinary.
Water, Air, and Silence
The water used here comes from a natural spring within the property, bubbling up pure and cold at 17°C.
Just beyond the open-air washbasin lies a peaceful grove of maple trees.
A separate guest house stands about 50 meters from the main building.
Guests are encouraged to bring a book or some music, enjoy a cup of tea, and simply let time pass.
There are no time limits — guests may rest here even before check-in or after check-out.
It’s a space meant for unhurried living.
The bathhouse sits in a quiet bamboo grove.
At sunset, when the light filters through the bamboo, the silhouettes turn golden.
At night, turn off the lights, open the windows wide, and let the sound of the wind and the scent of autumn leaves surround you.
The Art of Everyday Flavor
In Oku-Noto, the local fishing ports are small — and unpredictable.
Each morning, no one knows whether fish will be caught or not.
So the menu changes daily, depending on what nature provides.
The weather, the season, the sea — all shape the meal you will enjoy that evening.
“Most of the time,” says Sakamoto,
“the day’s menu is decided at the morning fish market.”
This uncertainty has become part of the inn’s quiet rhythm.
Rather than striving for extravagance, Yuyado Sakamoto celebrates the fleeting beauty of everyday life —
a bowl of freshly cooked rice, miso soup made from local vegetables, and fish that tells the story of the sea that day.
Why Travelers Fall in Love with This Place
For travelers seeking something beyond sightseeing, this inn offers a deeper experience.
There are no televisions, no phones, no distractions — just wind, wood, and the quiet company of nature.
A place where the world slows down, and you finally remember what it feels like to breathe.
A Return to What Truly Matters
Yuyado Sakamoto is not simply a ryokan — it is a philosophy of living.
It asks you to pause, to listen, and to rediscover the beauty in simplicity.
Here, ordinary is the new extraordinary.
