What comes to mind when you think of Japan? Is it the fashion of Harajuku or the electric chaos of Akihabara? Maybe the quiet of a mountain retreat in the shadow of Mt. Fuji?
If the thought of that solitude intrigues you, wait until you see the pictures from just such a place. It's called Jikka and it was designed by architect Issei Suma. The project, which is a cluster of buildings with cone-shaped roofs, is located in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan.
Jikka is not just a home. It is also a restaurant that is open to the public. There are even overnight accommodations with on-site care for the elderly and the disabled.
Suma designed Jikka for two women, both in their 60s, who call the site home, but are also stewards of its many facets. One of the women is a social worker. The other is a cook. Together, they are dedicated to providing services to the community, including a meal service that delivers to the local town.
Take a deep, cleansing breath and prepare to be enchanted.
The separate structures are joined together in a cluster. The architect, Issei Suma, says they were designed to be something as "unembellished as a primitive hut" but also as "holy as a chapel."
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
From this distance, Jikka looks like it should house gnomes or maybe some sort of Tolkien elf or hobbit.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
Suma says that the mountaintop was cleared and flattened by a previous owner. His design is meant to recreate the peaks of that forgotten hillside.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
Yes, this might be the most relaxing bathroom of all time. But if you look closely, you'll notice that the swirl of the tub is actually an access ramp that is wheelchair-friendly.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
Check out the height of those ceilings.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
The small café uses local ingredients. Fun fact: Shizuoka Prefecture, according to the local government, produces 40% of the country's green tea and has the highest volume of spring water in Asia.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
Simplicity never has to mean simple in thought or feeling.
Photo: Courtesy of Takuma Ota.
Jikka is no less magical from above.
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