In Japan, a floating ryokan that lets guests enjoy stunning views and island-hop
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Remarkable Living
In Nihon, a floating ryokan that lets guests savour stunning views and island-hop
Guntu, a five-star floating hotel that's a cantankerous betwixt a traditional ryokan and a luxury yacht, offers guests the chance to unwind amid the ever-irresolute landscape of the Seto Inland Sea.
Guntu was named 1 of the World's Greatest Places in 2022 by Time Magazine. (Photo: Threesixzero Productions)
29 Jan 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 16 Aug 2022 03:03PM)
From world-class art to scenic landscapes, the allure of Japan'south Setouchi Region became more interesting with the inflow of this iii-storied floating hotel that leisurely cruises around the Seto Inland Sea.
Guntu, pronounced Gan-tsu, is no ordinary cruise transport. In fact, there's nothing ship-like nearly its physical structure, which looks more similar an exquisitely crafted boat house with a gabled roof and reflective grey-silver exterior to blend seamlessly with the surrounding scenery.
With only room for a maximum of 38 guests, a stay on this 82m luxury craft is as exclusive as it gets, giving whatsoever upscale bazaar hotel a run for its money. It'south no surprise that this mobile ryokan was named i of the World's Greatest Places in 2022 by Time Magazine.
Comprised of 19 ocean-view cabins with Japanese inn-way accommodations, featuring smooth wood panelling and clutter-complimentary interiors, this architectural wonder conveys a sense of serenity and detachment from urban life.
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"A lot of people say that it'due south similar a house, not a ship," shared director of sales, marketing & PR, Taoko Shimizu.
The man behind Guntu is accolade-winning builder, Yasushi Horibe, a professor of compages at the Graduate School of the Kyoto University of Art and Design, and a recipient of the 2022 Architectural Institute of Japan Prize (Architectural Design Segmentation) for his pattern of Charnel House in Chikurin-ji.
Known for his utilise of natural materials and clean lines, Horibe incorporated a variety of wood in a number of places on the send, equally he believes the colour brings about a certain warmth to people'due south skin tone, and gives them a sense of at-home and relaxation.
He shared that using wood for a passenger vessel was a very difficult task. "You will see a lot of wood everywhere which is very unusual and very hard to maintain. It was quite a miracle that this was done."
Each motel has a individual balustrade for you to savour the forever-changing views outside, while majestic floor-to-ceiling windows flood the rooms with natural light. The luxury gene comes in smaller details like crisp cotton kimonos neatly folded in the closet and cold ginger juice in the mini fridge.
There are four types of suites, some offering open-air baths, of which the Guntu Suite is the largest. Situated to a higher place the bow, this 90sqm dwelling is the only room that offers both forward-facing and side-views of the sea. Staying in the most premium suite volition set up you back US$9,000 (S$xi,980) for two nights per person, reported Shimizu. All the other rooms kickoff from US$iii,000 per dark for two guests.
Departing from Onomichi metropolis, east of Hiroshima, Guntu offers two- to 3-night voyages that transport passengers along different routes of the Seto Inland Sea, habitation to thousands of tiny islands, including some well-known destinations like Naoshima art island.
Depending on the weather condition condition, guests can disembark and accept on-shore excursions to selected islands and partake in activities like soy sauce sampling at a local brewery, guided hikes, cycling trips, or visits to ancient temple ruins or a fishing village.
"We actually want guests to savour and comprehend the culture of the Setouchi region. Some of these islands are then beautiful, just many people accept never heard of them. Guntu is the only gunkhole that can take y'all there," said Shimizu.
As the ship anchors for the evening, guests tin revel in Guntu'southward range of onboard facilities such as the spa, sauna, gym, tea room and indoor lounge serving freshly-made Japanese confectionery.
The centre and soul of the hotel is the main dining room where both Western and Japanese culinary creations are crafted using freshly-caught seafood. Chief chefs Kenzo Sato from Shigeyoshi, and Nobuo Sakamoto of Nobu, lend their expertise to the well-curated wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and sushi menus.
To fully immerse yourself in this zen-filled domicile-abroad-from-home, and feel similar one with the elements, head to the engawa terrace (Japanese-mode verandah) or rooftop observation deck, where you lot'll see nothing but azure skies reflecting off cerulean waters.
"If you lot sit down at the engawa, I believe you lot can experience the feeling as if a picture ringlet is slowly moving," enthused Yasushi.
"Usually our guests frequent many well-known places such every bit Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. But here information technology is very, very serenity. You lot volition not see a lot of people. We desire people to be relaxed and recollect their time here when they did nothing," ended Shimizu.
Adapted from the serial Remarkable Living (Flavor 3). Watch full episodes on CNA, every Sun at 8.30pm.
Disclaimer: This video was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/remarkableliving/japan-floating-ryokan-luxury-cruise-guntu-246691
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