SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU

Welcome to SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU｜Stay in a Museum

SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU is a small private hotel in the heart of Yufuin, designed around the concept of "Stay in a Museum." Built in the former Sawada Museum and a sister structure beside it, the four villas — Reflections, Rising Sun, Daydream, and Lucid — hold original works by Japan's leading contemporary artists, including Kohei Nawa and Hiroshi Sugimoto, alongside a younger generation of voices.

Each villa is fully private. Each has a natural onsen flowing twenty-four hours a day. The hotel takes only two parties at a time. What was once a museum is now a home — yours alone, for as long as you stay.

What Defines a Stay at SHIKI

Three things shape every stay at SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU. They are the reason guests choose us, the reason they return, and the thread that runs through all four villas — the natural onsen flowing in your own garden, the architecture of a building once dedicated to art, and the works themselves still on the walls. Each villa carries them forward in its own way.

Natural Onsen — Yours Alone, 24 Hours

Every villa at SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU has a private natural onsen, source-fed and flowing twenty-four hours a day. There are no shared baths. There are no scheduled hours. Sit in the warm water as the morning mist crosses the garden, or soak under the open sky in the evening with the Yufu mountains framing the view. The onsen is yours for the full duration of your stay.

Architectural Design — A Museum, Refined into a Home

Reflections and Rising Sun were once the Sawada Museum. The building's wide proportions, considered light, and quiet circulation — all designed to hold art — have been carried forward into the suites. Daydream and Lucid, a sister pair built in the same considered vocabulary, complete the four-villa hotel. Designer furniture by Cassina, Magis, and Knoll. Tatami corners. Walls treated as canvases for daylight as much as for the artworks themselves.

Arts & Culture — A Private Gallery You Can Stay In

The villas hold original works by Kohei Nawa, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and other leading Japanese contemporary artists, alongside emerging voices from the next generation. Each suite carries its own theme — "Flow Lines of Wa" in Reflections, "Dreams of New Kids" in Rising Sun. Photography is welcome. The art is part of the stay, not behind glass.

The Two Suites — Once the Sawada Museum

Reflections and Rising Sun sit inside the original Sawada Museum building, a refined former gallery in the heart of Yufuin. The wide proportions, considered light, and quiet circulation that once held public exhibitions have been carried into private suites. Each holds its own theme, its own artists, and its own private natural onsen.

Reflections · 110㎡ · Up to 6 Guests — Flow Lines of Wa. The largest suite in the hotel, set in the original museum gallery. Two semi-double beds plus four futons, a private in-room natural onsen, a fully equipped island kitchen, and works by Japan's leading contemporary artists in considered hang. Limited to one party at a time. The expression of harmony — between Eastern and Western aesthetics — that defines the SHIKI vocabulary.

Rising Sun · 78㎡ · Up to 5 Guests — Dreams of New Kids. A refined suite in the same museum building, themed around Japan's leading young contemporary artists. Two semi-double beds plus three futons. A private open-air natural onsen with Yufu mountain views from every window. The space feels intimate, almost residential, with the calm of the former gallery still in the air.

The Two Private Villas

Daydream and Lucid are a sister pair of fully private villas adjacent to the museum building, designed in the same considered vocabulary. Two stories each, gate-locked, completely private — built for families, friends, and slow Yufuin stays where the villa belongs to your party alone.

Daydream · 80㎡ · Up to 7 Guests — Bright Family Mornings. A two-story private villa designed around natural light and family rhythm. Two double beds plus one queen bed across two bedrooms. A private 24-hour natural onsen in your own Japanese garden of pine trees and Iyo blue stones. Original works by Kohei Nawa. Fully equipped kitchen with wine cellar, 4K projector, and a Nintendo Switch — designed for the small daily rituals of family travel.

Lucid · 70㎡ · Up to 6 Guests — Cool, Considered, Slow. A two-story private villa in a striking black palette with cool, sophisticated interiors. Original works by Hiroshi Sugimoto and other leading Japanese artists. Two double beds plus one queen bed. Designer furniture by Cassina and Knoll. A villa for those who want to arrive slowly and stay quiet.

A Day at SHIKI

15:00 · Check-in. Self check-in into your private villa.

16:30 · Welcome sweets. Matcha and traditional sweets in the private lounge.

17:00 · Private art tour. Walk the suite with the artwork. Photography welcome.

18:00 · Dinner planning. Our online butler arranges restaurant recommendations and taxi.

21:00 · Onsen retreat. Your private natural onsen, fresh towels and amenities provided.

22:00 · Cinema time. 4K projector with Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video.

A Recent Guest Story

Silke and Kieran are full-time travel filmmakers from Belgium and Scotland, documenting their journeys around the world for the past five years. They discovered SHIKI on their search for the perfect place to base themselves in Yufuin — drawn by the hot springs and the mountains — and spent three days with us at SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU.

"Feels like an exhibition. Like you're living in a museum."

They came home each evening to a private natural onsen flowing twenty-four hours, theirs alone. To rooms thoughtfully curated with contemporary art on every wall — a former museum you can actually stay in. Set in the heart of Yufuin, with "every view just mountains, which is our favorite thing," and a community that welcomes them from the moment they arrived.

By their last morning, all they could say:

"I don't want to leave."

— Silke & Kieran, Belgium / Scotland · @silkyrontheroad · stayed at SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU

The Location

SHIKI ART HOTEL YUFU sits in the heart of central Yufuin, with the town's slow pleasures all reachable on foot.

Yunotsubo Kaido: approximately 1 minute on foot

Lake Kinrin: approximately 6 minutes on foot

7-Eleven Yufuin Yunotsubo: approximately 5 minutes on foot

Yunotsubo Public Onsen: approximately 4 minutes on foot

From Yufuin Station: 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi

From Fukuoka: 2h 30min via JR Yufuin no Mori limited express

From Oita Airport: 1h 45min via airport bus

Why Book Direct

Best available rate. Booking through this page is the lowest price for SHIKI — no aggregator commissions, no third-party booking fees.

Only two parties per night. Booking direct gives the best chance of securing the dates you want across our four villas.

A direct line to us. Message us at any time during your stay — for restaurant reservations, taxi pickups, anything that comes up.

Flexible arrival. Reach out in advance for early check-in or late check-out — we will do everything we can to accommodate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the villas really private?
Yes. Each villa is yours alone for the full duration of your stay — no shared spaces, no neighbours. The hotel takes only two parties per night across all four villas.

What's the difference between the four villas?
Reflections (110㎡) and Rising Sun (78㎡) are suites inside the former Sawada Museum building. Daydream (80㎡) and Lucid (70㎡) are sister private villas. Each has a different palette, art focus, and capacity. See each villa's page for details.

Is breakfast included?
Breakfast is not included. We offer a more independent, local stay experience with curated recommendations for breakfast spots nearby. In-room tea, coffee, and traditional sweets are complimentary.

Family-friendly? Kids welcome?
Yes. The villas accommodate families across two bedrooms with futon space. Note that several villas are two-story with stairs.

Are tattoos allowed in the onsen?
Yes — all onsens are private to your villa, so tattoos are completely welcome.

How do I get to Yufuin?
JR Yufuin no Mori limited express from Hakata Station (2h 30min) is the most scenic route. Oita Airport is the nearest airport (1h 45min by bus).

What is the cancellation policy?
Please see the cancellation policy at the time of booking. We do everything we can to be flexible — please message us if your plans change.

Can I book multiple villas at once?
Yes. For larger groups or events, please contact us directly and we will arrange the full property where possible.