The Japanese have always felt a strong connection with nature , whose spirit gave rise to their traditional culture.   Sadly , recent generation have forgotten the value and wisdom of traditional ways , relying on a more convenient and modern lifestyle.   Right in the heart of Tokyo , Yoshimizu Inn is providing an environment where you can experience a way of living that is both natural and traditionally Japanese.   At Yoshimizu Inn , we hope you will get a feel of how we can all change to areate an environmentally responsible society.   The inn is the perfect place to experience a full day of sustainable living.

   Although the exterior of the building is modest , great attention has been paid to the planning and construction of the interior of Yoshimizu.   In order to gain the most effective use of the small 103 square meters floor plan and still achieve our intended goal , a building with 9 floors was created.   Even with the limited space and budget , Yoshimizu grants what the Japanese have always valued - a truly relaxing style of living , through the use of recycled , re-useable , and natural materials.   A sustainable society can only be attained through responsible interaction of people with their surroundings.   Special attention has been paid to the requirements and small details needed for natural living , in order to follow this philosophy.   The idea arose from the need to provide a cultural and natural awareness to as many people as possible.

   After passing newly planted bamboo around the inn's perimeter , true Japanese living awaits inside.   Enter through a lattice door and take off your shoes.   You can then wash your feet in a ceramic sink basin(shigaraki ceramic) to cleanse off outside dirt and enter the inn fresh and clean.   Taking off one's shoes when entering a house , is a traditional Japanese custom.   It is done in order to keep the house clean and to prevent harming the inside of the house.   Slippers have been avoided because they can become filthy if used for a long time and they cannot be washed repeatedly.   Furthermore , disposal slippers cause trash.   Therefore Yoshimizu came up with old cloth knitted sandals , completely washable with minimal waste.

   All items used in the construction have been extensively considered.   The exterior walls of the 1st and 2nd floors are made with plaster and 3rd to 9th floors made with matte tiles.   The flooring is constructed from natural thick-stemmed bamboo and then dyed using natural products, such as indigo(ai).   All the interior walls are plastered with high quality diatomite mixed with charcoal.   This allows natural temperatured adjustment according to season, becoming cooler in summer and warmer in winter.   The charcoal mixed in the wall has a positive ionic effect on the body.   The basement has been made soundproof and an abundancy of wood is used on the wall, maximizing full natural sound.

   The 1st floor includes the entrance, guest check in , and a cafe-lounge.   The 2nd floor is the area for preparing and eating meals.   It has diatomaceous earth walls and ceiling to help minimize cooking odor, allowing for pure enjoyment of meals.   The tatami used in the guest rooms, located on the 4th to 8th floor, is all 100% locally and organically grown.   The tatami makers commented that because this year's weather was especially cooperative, they were, for the first time, able to make local organic tatami.   The components of the rest rooms have been carefully considered.   The avatories and sink counters are made from cedar and cypress found in the deep and hidden hills of Wakamiya Shrine in Oomiya city, Tango district of Kyoto.   All floors have ceramic sink basins(shigaraki ceramic) for hand washing.   The 9th floorhouses the bathing area, which contains one stone bath and one cypress(hinoki) bath.   The framed sliding doors(shoji) are made from handmade(washi) affixed between bamboo.

   Lighting plays a strong role in the inn's atmosphere, so natural light from the sun is employed where possible.   In the common areas, no fluorescent lights have been used.   Instead, there are lights with hanging fixtures, in order to avoid electromagnetic waves.   The lamps found at various locations around the inn, use handmade paper(washi) and the light switch plates are made from wood.   All the interior furniture is wooden.   The tables are collapsible and height adjustment, which permit room functionality.   In this way, meals can be enjoyed while seated on the floor, eaten from short wooden trays.

   Some of the material usage and inn layout must be in accordance with Fire Service Act regulations.   For example, wooden windowsills could not be authorized and therefore, aluminium window sills have been the compromise. A 15cm space between the shoji and window has also been required, making the rooms slightly smaller.

   The Japanese have a reasonable and modest way of living, altering their rooms according to season or occasion.   Because of the special limitations of small homes, Japanese people try to make the best possible use of space.   For example, a dining area can be used as a bedroom once the dining table is collapsed or pushed to a corner.   Unlike Western style hotels where sleeping is the main purpose of the room, Yoshimizu Inn's functionality allows guests to use the rooms however they like, right up until the moment the futon is placed on the floor.

   Yoshimizu Inn offers a few ways to live in harmony with nature, while still located in an urban center.   First, the food is prepared using fresh, organic, local produce.   Simple cookingmathods and minimal spices are used to keep the true texture and taste of the food.   Special care has been paid to minimizing waste from food and produce.   Second, the dishes and lacquerware used at Yoshimizu, are completely natural and chemical-free.   Thirdly, the organic cotton futons are natural and free of formaldehyde and fluorocarbons, allowing safe, sound sleep on organic fibers that ventilate body heat and moisture.   Yoshimizu would like you to feel the difference for yourself.   Finally, Yoshimizu has intentionally omitted TV's from the inn to preserve tranquility and peace of mind.

   Interacting with nature is a requisite to life, therefore how much of it could be included in a Tokyo-centered inn, was much of concern.   The designer of the building, Miho Yamamoto, completely turned the concept and philosophy into a reality, in all respects.   The inn could not have been completed without the strong enthusiasm of the various material builders, technicians and architects.

   Developing a sustainable society requires a lifestyle that utilizes recycled and re-usable materials and for people to actually feel better about those changes.   Yoshimizu has provided part of the equation in hopes that our guests will complete it.   Natural and traditional living can be fully experienced here.   We hope that guests visiting Yoshimizu will understand our philosophy, enjoy their stay, leave with newfound energy, and energy, and return again.   Moreover, we hope our guests will eventually incorporate sustainability their own lives.