Itomachi Hotel 0
Minimalist Japanese eco-design. Stark, cool interiors in Iyo blue-stone tones, urethane mattresses instead of metal-spring beds, recycled PVC flooring, jeans-scrap tabletops. Feels more like a forward-thinking civic project than a hotel — community market and artisan restaurants are all part of the same block.
Bring your own toothbrush, razor, face wash, and cleansing products — none are provided as a deliberate environmental choice.
Why It Matters
Japan's first and — at time of writing — only ZEB-certified hotel, designed by Kengo Kuma. The project is part of a serious regional revitalization effort, not a marketing concept. Rated by Michelin Guide, featured in Casa BRUTUS and Nikkei Architecture. Villa rooms have private rotenburo (outdoor hot spring baths). The hotel doubles as a disaster-resilient microgrid that can provide power, water, and food for 800 people for three days in an emergency.
Japan's first zero-energy hotel, opened May 2023 in Saijo's 'City of Water' district. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, it sits within the larger Itomachi urban development project — three low-rise buildings (2,999 m² total, 57 rooms) topped by sweeping angular roofs that mirror the silhouette of sacred Mt. Ishizuchi. The reception wing faces the community and opens onto a garden courtyard where pure 'Uchinuki' artesian spring water bubbles up from the ground. Guest rooms are split between a minimalist Hotel type and a Villa type with private open-air hot spring baths. It holds full ZEB (Zero Energy Building) certification and runs on solar and other renewables. Award-winner: Good Design Award 2024, iF Design Award 2025, A' Design Award Interior Design Award 2025.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Hotel Type — Deluxe Room
Larger Hotel-type room with living area featuring sleek modular furniture. Café lounge service (tea time 3pm–5:30pm, cocktail time 5:30pm–8:30pm) is complimentary for Deluxe guests. Same minimalist Iyo blue stone interior and sustainable material palette throughout.
Hotel Type — Family Room
Family-friendly Hotel-type room with option for sofa beds to accommodate larger groups. Café lounge service is complimentary. Same clean, Iyo blue stone-inspired design with sustainable materials throughout.
Hotel Type — Standard Room
Compact rooms styled around the delicate blue-grey tones of Iyo blue stone (Iyoseki). Blonde wood flooring, pale green tilework, simple writing desk, luxurious bed on an elevated platform with a European-spec non-coil urethane mattress. Bidet toilet, free toiletries (NEMOHAMO organic brand), hairdryer, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator. Eco bag and tumbler provided for Uchinuki water walks. Note: no toothbrush, razor, or face wash supplied. Café lounge service available at 2,420 JPY per person per night.
Hotel Type — Superior Room
Slightly upgraded Hotel-type accommodation in the same minimalist Iyo blue stone palette. Access to the shared coworking kitchen with BALMUDA appliances. Café lounge service available at 2,420 JPY per person per night. Some rooms have balconies. Some rooms permit bicycles to be brought inside — ideal for Shimanami Kaido cyclists.
Villa Type — Open-Air Bath Villa
The premium accommodation option. Detached-style rooms — all with private open-air hot spring baths (rotenburo) fed by local spring water. A modern reinterpretation of the traditional Japanese ryokan experience in a sleek, contemporary form. Private, high-quality space with nature-filled outdoor bathing. Café lounge service complimentary. Note: Villa building underwent renovation January 16 – March 2026.
The Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Open 6am–midnight. Kitchen equipped with BALMUDA appliances including ovens, toasters, and kettles. Ideal for long-term stays or business travelers. Guests can cook ingredients purchased from the adjacent Itomachi Marche.
The on-site fresh market adjacent to the hotel stocks local Ehime vegetables, citrus-based seasonings, regional sweets, and crafts. Open daily (closed year-end/New Year). A great way to stock the shared hotel kitchen.
The highest peak in western Japan (1,982 m), Ishizuchi is accessible from Saijo. The mountain is sacred in Shinto tradition and features rock faces with chains for hand-over-hand climbing to the summit. Autumn foliage (October) and summer hiking are the peak seasons.
One of Japan's most celebrated regional festivals, held every October in Saijo since the Edo period. The city fills with danjiri (decorated festival floats) carried through the streets. Book the hotel well in advance during October.
The famous island-hopping cycling route across the Seto Inland Sea starts nearby. The hotel accommodates cyclists with on-site bicycle parking for 5 bikes and some rooms that permit bringing bicycles indoors. A popular base for riders doing the route.
Use the hotel's provided eco-tumbler to fill up at one of Saijo's famous Uchinuki artesian wells — natural underground pressure pushes spring water to the surface all over the city. A genuinely unusual experience and free.
The hotel itself is an immersive experience in sustainable architecture. Guests can observe the ZEB-certified energy systems, solar installations, and sustainable materials up close. The broader Itomachi project concept is explained through the design of the space.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Modern coworking space adjacent to the shared kitchen. Open 6:00am–midnight. Suitable for remote workers and long-term stays.
High-speed Wi-Fi available throughout all areas of the hotel.
Multipurpose studio space for events and activities.
Japanese organic cosmetics brand that uses the vitality of whole plants (roots, leaves, and stems). Provided in all rooms. Note: no toothbrush, razor, face wash, or cleansing products are provided as a deliberate environmental policy — guests must bring their own.
A large central garden separating the reception wing from the lodging wing, featuring a pure Uchinuki artesian spring water feature. Functions as an outdoor living room and performance space for community events.
On-site laundry facilities available for guests.
Luggage storage space available for guests.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool.
Fully equipped shared kitchen with BALMUDA brand appliances. Open 6:00am–midnight. Guests can cook produce purchased from the adjacent Itomachi Marche.
Dedicated bicycle parking for 5 bikes on site. Some Hotel-type rooms permit bringing bicycles inside.
2 EV charging stations available on site.
On-site private parking available at no charge. No reservation required.
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