[Hyogo, Sumoto] <Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property> The elegant Japanese-style building "Shunyoso" is imbued with the power of Feng Shui. Immerse yourself in the tasteful and precious historical and cultural space.

Surrounded by nature at the foot of a small hill, Shunyoso shows off the graceful expressions of the four seasons that are unique to Japanese-style architecture. The owner, who is also a certified old house appraiser, will guide you through the house and explain the traditional techniques that are difficult to reproduce today, the design that highlights the playfulness of the craftsmen, and the immeasurable historical and cultural value. After the tour, Shunyoso will quickly transform into a sweets shop. Enjoy an elegant moment with tea and Japanese sweets in an elegant space. Shunyoso is a masterpiece of modern Japanese architecture that was designed in 1941 by architect Toyoen Yamamoto, an authority on the study of home orientation, based on the ideas of feng shui, and was completed over a period of seven years by local carpenter Sankichi Saito and others. Further on, in 1983, the walls, gateposts, doors and gardens were renovated by architect Izue Hiroshi, who was even called a "master" by the famous architect Kurokawa Kisho, and they now harmonize beautifully to create a magnificent architectural landscape. The vast grounds of 1320m2 (approximately 1,400m2) contain eight buildings, including the guest house, storehouse, reception hall, sleeping hall and permanent residence, and in 2004 it was designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and in 2017 it was designated as an important structure for the formation of the Hyogo Prefectural Landscape. However, with the aging of the population and a social trend in recent years that only pursues efficiency, it became difficult for the previous owner to maintain and manage the buildings, and they gradually deteriorated, leading to a long period of time when the gates were closed. The turning point came in 2015. In order to preserve this precious cultural asset for future generations, the fourth-generation owner purchased it and began repairs and renovations. Finally, in October 2016, Shunyo-so was revived and reborn as a new international tourist resource for Awaji Island. In this experience program, the owner himself will guide you through the house, explaining the charms of the house, such as the traditional techniques that are difficult to reproduce today, the building materials that are also difficult to obtain today, the designs that highlight the playfulness of the craftsmen scattered throughout, and the elegant furnishings, based on the historical background of Shunyo-so. Please enjoy this space, which is filled with history and culture and represents the best of traditional techniques, to the fullest. After the tour, you will be served tea and Japanese sweets in the tea room or one of your choice. Please enjoy not only as a precious cultural asset, but also as a sweet shop. *Guides in English are also available, so we can accommodate customers from overseas. *A five-minute walk from Shunyoso is the historic and prestigious "Takenoguchi Hachiman Shrine," which celebrated its 1,100th anniversary in 2021. Why not visit the shrine as well? You can also enjoy a stroll through the historical and atmospheric streets of the Takenoguchi area. Experience schedule (The schedule below starts at 10:00, but please read the time differently if starting at 13:00) 10:00 Meet on site 10:05 Check-in and briefing Guided tour of Shunyoso 11:00 Enjoy tea and Japanese sweets in the teahouse. 11:30 End

Shunyoso not only welcomes guests for a tour, but also serves as a guesthouse, a sweets shop, special exhibitions, Awaji puppet theater, rakugo, plum blossom viewing, photo sessions in traditional Japanese clothing, tea ceremonies, weddings, and other venues for the preservation of Japanese culture. While the site is used in accordance with Japanese traditions, it is also open to foreign visitors and interns, and is a place for inbound tourism, such as inspections, meetings, and training, and is also participating in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' project to digitalize virtual reality. In addition, the site is working to reduce environmental impact and contribute to a low-carbon, recycling-oriented society, while also taking on various initiatives to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. We hope that the newly reborn Shunyoso will be loved by not only visitors, but also locals, as a place to convey the island's proud traditional culture and customs to generations on and off the island.