Moritosha
Minimalist, culturally immersive, contemplative. This is a place for people who find meaning in a hand-thrown ceramic bowl or a hand-planed wooden floor. Think quiet mornings, temple bells, and breakfast eaten on century-old folk-craft tableware.
The ground-floor cafe (open 11:00–17:00, closed Wednesday and Thursday) serves local lunch on Mingei tableware and is open to non-guests — worth a drop-in even if you're not staying
Why It Matters
One of Japan's only hotels explicitly dedicated to the Mingei folk craft movement, housed inside a working 550-year-old Buddhist temple compound. The building itself is historically significant — it served as the basis for the Matsumoto Mingei Museum. Soetsu Yanagi wrote his defining philosophical treatise here, and artists Shiko Munakata, Shoji Hamada, and Kawai Kanjiro all frequented this ground. It's a place with serious cultural weight, not manufactured charm.
Moritosha is a six-room hotel set inside the grounds of Johana Betsuin Zentokuji, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple with 550 years of history in Nanto, Toyama. The building was originally a training hall designed by Keiichi Yasukawa — a woodworker, architect, and beloved disciple of Soetsu Yanagi, the founder of the Mingei (folk craft) movement. Opened in March 2024, it bills itself as a 'Mingei museum where you can stay,' and that's exactly what it is: Mingei objects from Yasukawa's own collection fill every room, the architecture does the heavy lifting aesthetically, and the whole ethos is about slowing down and paying attention to everyday beauty. No pool. No spa. No gym. But the silence, the temple grounds, and the craftsmanship are the point.
Where You'll Stay
2 room types available
Triple
From JPY15,000 / nightThe only triple at Moritosha and its most distinctive room. Features a full Hinoki cypress bathtub — the whole tub, not just accents — and contains Keiichi Yasukawa's own leather chair, the man who designed the building. Mingei objects are displayed throughout. Maximum three guests.
Western beds · 29.4 sqm
Twin
From JPY15,000 / nightFive twin rooms, each with a slightly different floor plan — no two are quite the same. All have a private shower and a tokonoma (traditional alcove) displaying Mingei items. Simple, almost austere, but the objects and architecture carry the room. Maximum two guests.
Twin beds (Western) · 18 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Transcribe the Jodo Shinshu scripture Shoshinge by calligraphy brush or pen in a serene space. A meditative, quiet activity. Touches on the teachings of Saint Shinran. Available all year round, for one or more people.
Join morning worship services at the active Johana Betsuin Zentokuji Temple, just steps from the hotel. An opportunity to experience living Jodo Shinshu Buddhist practice in a temple that hosts ceremonies 365 days a year.
Make your own wrist mala using natural stones including soapberry fruit at Johana Betsuin Zentokuji Temple, guided by a resident monk. Followed by tea and a Buddhist talk. A calm, hands-on way to engage with the temple's living religious tradition — not a tourist performance.
Tandem paragliding from 1,000-meter Tsukubane Mountain down to Harayama Ranch (400m lower elevation). Views take in the Tonami Plain's sankyoson scattered villages, the Nawa-no-Ike pond, Mount Iozen, and Toyama Bay. Beginners welcome — an experienced pilot controls the glider. Available Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Golden Week to around November 20th.
Authentic tea ceremony inside a 250-year-old tea room within Zentokuji Temple, whose garden was designed by Komazo — the same official gardener of the Kaga Domain who created Kanazawa's famous Kenrokuen Garden. A tea master from the Yabunouchi or Urasenke school prepares matcha. Local Johana sweets included. Rare tea utensils from the temple's collection on view. Suitable for beginners and international visitors.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Dedicated coworking space housed in the northern study (shoin) of Zentokuji Temple. Reservation required. Open 9:00–17:00.
Toothbrush, razor, room wear, towels, soap, face lotion, body milk, facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash provided.
Curated Mingei ceramics including Okinawan Yachimun, antique painted plates, local fermented foods, and artisan noodles. Open to public 11:00–17:00, closed Wed/Thu.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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