Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO is a distinctive accommodation and cultural experience created through the careful renovation of the birthplace of Kenkichi Tomimoto, one of Japan’s most influential modern ceramic artists and a recipient of the prestigious title of Living National Treasure. Located in Ando Town, Nara Prefecture, near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Horyuji Temple, the property brings new life to the artist’s ancestral home. Art, everyday life, and local history come together in a peaceful setting where visitors can experience the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Yamato region through all five senses.
After Tomimoto’s death, his family home was developed into the Kenkichi Tomimoto Memorial Museum. The museum opened in 1974 and housed approximately 500 works, including his distinctive overglaze-painted porcelain. It closed in 2014 as circumstances changed, but the buildings and grounds were subsequently preserved and given a new purpose. In 2017, the property reopened as Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO.
More than simply a place to stay, the property operates as an auberge combining accommodation with dining, a ceramics workshop, and a gallery. Guests can discover Tomimoto’s artistic philosophy while experiencing the landscapes, traditions, and flavors of the Yamato region.
The buildings and gardens are designed to harmonize with their natural surroundings, reflecting Tomimoto’s belief that beauty should be an integral part of everyday life. Traditional architectural details, carefully arranged interiors, and views of the garden create an atmosphere of understated elegance. Taking time to appreciate the changing scenery between cultural activities offers a deeper understanding of the environment that shaped the artist’s work.
The Nisshin guest room is located in the main building and incorporates the traditional Japanese-style room that Tomimoto used as his living room and study. Its name comes from a calligraphic and artistic work titled “Nisshin,” created by Tomimoto with his close friend Arao Imamura, an internationally renowned medical scientist. The word conveys the aspiration to renew Japan and embrace new possibilities.
The room combines traditional Japanese architecture with subtle modern touches, creating a refined yet relaxing atmosphere. A tea room and garden preserve the character of the historic residence, while the surrounding plants change with the seasons. Guests can enjoy quiet moments while contemplating the garden and imagining the artist at work in his own home.
Chikurin Getsuya, meaning “Moonlit Night in a Bamboo Grove,” is a maisonette-style guest room created from a storehouse built during the Taisho period (1912–1926). Its spacious layout includes twin beds, semi-double beds, and a traditional Japanese-style room.
The interior reflects the cultural exchange between Tomimoto and British studio potter Bernard Leach, with Japanese design elements harmoniously combined with English-inspired styling. The result is an elegant space that feels both sophisticated and welcoming. A bamboo grove in the garden evokes the quiet beauty of a moonlit landscape, inviting guests to imagine the scenery that Tomimoto and Leach might have enjoyed together.
Both guest rooms make thoughtful use of natural light. As the day progresses, sunlight falls differently across the garden greenery and wooden surfaces, creating soft patterns of light and shadow indoors. This changing interplay between architecture and nature contributes to the property’s tranquil atmosphere.
The semi-open-air baths are also designed to take advantage of natural light. Bathing during the day allows guests to enjoy the shifting colors and brightness of the surrounding environment while unwinding after a day of sightseeing.
The main building houses Gofu Ju, a restaurant set in a spacious traditional hall. Both overnight guests and visitors dining without an overnight stay can enjoy its cuisine, with advance reservations required for restaurant-only visits. Guests remove their shoes before entering, and the deep reddish-brown finish on the pillars and beams adds a distinctive richness to the historic interior.
The restaurant’s guiding philosophy is to serve food that is gentle on the body. Its cuisine makes generous use of local ingredients, including fresh vegetables from Nara Prefecture, Yamato chicken, and Mahoroba red beef. Carefully prepared Japanese set-course meals emphasize the natural flavors of the ingredients, with broth playing an important role in creating depth and balance. The thoughtful presentation makes each dish a pleasure to appreciate with both the eyes and the palate.
Artichoke is an intimate counter restaurant decorated with motifs inspired by the designs of William Morris. It is reserved for overnight guests and accommodates only a small number of diners, creating a more personal dining experience.
Guests can watch the chef’s careful work at close range and enjoy dishes freshly prepared before them. The combination of craftsmanship, attentive service, and an intimate setting makes dining here a memorable part of a stay at Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO.
The grounds include a ceramics workshop and gallery intended to support emerging ceramic artists. Through pottery experiences and exhibitions, the property continues to carry Tomimoto’s artistic spirit into the future while encouraging new forms of creative expression.
On selected occasions, the property also opens to the public in conjunction with local events and seasonal activities. These initiatives make Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO more than a private retreat: it also serves as a cultural hub connecting the artist’s legacy with the people and traditions of Ando Town.
Kenkichi Tomimoto (1886–1963) was born in Ando Town, Nara Prefecture, and became one of the leading figures in modern Japanese ceramics. Sometimes described as a founding figure of modern Japanese ceramic art, he studied Western art and craft ideas during a period of study in London. He later became closely involved with the Mingei, or Japanese folk-craft, movement, alongside figures such as Soetsu Yanagi, while continuing to pursue a distinctive vision of Japanese craftsmanship.
Tomimoto believed that beauty belonged in objects used in everyday life. His work combined practical function with sophisticated patterns and colors, balancing naturalistic motifs with a strong sense of design. In 1955, he became the first ceramic artist to receive Japan’s Order of Culture, one of the country’s highest cultural honors. His achievements earned wide recognition both in Japan and internationally, and his work remains influential in the world of ceramics.
The former Kenkichi Tomimoto Memorial Museum introduced visitors to the artist’s work through a varied collection of ceramics, sketches, production materials, pottery fragments, and everyday objects. Its collection included overglaze-painted porcelain and blue-and-white porcelain, showcasing the refinement and individuality of Tomimoto’s artistic style.
His geometric patterns and floral designs reveal a distinctive balance of precision and warmth. Together, these works illustrate how he transformed familiar motifs into elegant designs and pursued beauty through the objects people use in their daily lives. Although the museum closed in 2014, the property’s continued use preserves an important connection to his birthplace and artistic legacy.
Flowers in the garden, the placement of garden stones, and the motifs subtly incorporated into the interiors all reflect elements of the aesthetic world Tomimoto cherished. Nothing feels overly elaborate; instead, these details quietly invite visitors to slow down and appreciate their surroundings.
A stay here offers more than a place to sleep between sightseeing excursions. It is an opportunity to reconnect with oneself, rediscover an appreciation for art and craftsmanship, and experience the history of the Yamato region at a gentler pace.
At Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO, guests can step away from everyday routines and spend time surrounded by traditional architecture, gardens, local cuisine, and the enduring spirit of one of Japan’s great ceramic artists. For travelers seeking a more personal connection with Nara’s cultural heritage, this distinctive retreat offers a memorable way to experience the region.