Takyo Abeke

'Takyo Abeke' at the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, is a truly special inn. It is an accommodation facility carefully regenerated over 10 years by the owner, Tomi Matsuba, while living in the 230-year-old samurai residence.

The name 'Takyo' holds deep meaning derived from the Chinese phrase 'Takyo gukochi,' signifying 'the joy of being welcomed in a foreign land as if it were one's own hometown, the preciousness of connection.'

Inside, historical folk tools stand with the dignity of current use, conveying the beauty of traditional Japanese life. Ingenuity in preserving old items is wonderful, such as a large dining table repurposed from the wainscoting of a closed elementary school's staircase and furniture using trolley rails for legs.

Meals are home-style cooking utilizing fresh seasonal ingredients harvested locally. You can savor the region's rich ingredients like locally grown rice balls, nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), Shimane wagyu beef, and rock oysters from the Oki Islands. Thoughtful touches, like flowers picked from the garden in the morning adorning the chopstick rests, are delightful.

Experiences integrating with nature are also appealing, such as opening all the fixtures in summer to bathe while listening to the river's murmur. It's also interesting that each room, like the Western-style room converted from an earth storehouse, has a different character.

It is a special inn where you can deeply experience traditional Japanese life and culture. I think it's perfect for those who want to truly relax and feel the slow passage of time.