As travelers grow weary of checking off landmarks and rushing between cities, a quieter shift is reshaping travel in Japan, that of where you stay mattering just as much as where you go. Toyama is redefining the soulful Japanese experience with a selection of exclusive retreats that go far beyond a typical hotel stay to deliver true immersion in local life, landscape, and cuisine. In this land of mountains, rice fields, and deep-rooted traditions, two intimate properties are drawing U.S. travelers seeking something increasingly rare: the feeling of truly being somewhere, not just passing through.
Though different in form—one a refined auberge-style ryokan, the other a private villa, Rakudo-An and Nonoie are united by a shared philosophy. Both invite guests to slow down, to live within Toyama’s rhythms, and to experience Japan not as spectacle, but as daily life shaped by land, craft, and season.
Set amid expansive rice paddies, Rakudo-An is a lovingly restored 200-year-old farmhouse transformed into an auberge with just three uniquely designed guest rooms. From the moment guests arrive, it feels less like a hotel and more like being welcomed into a quietly preserved way of life—one shaped by seasonal rhythms, traditional architecture, and materials such as washi paper, silk, and soil. The chance to “live like a local” is at the heart of Toyama’s appeal, and Rakudo-An embodies this spirit more than anywhere else, offering travelers an invitation to inhabit the land’s beauty rather than simply observe it.
Here traditional architecture is purposely blended with curated crafts and artwork that reflect the region’s heritage of “Dotoku (virtue of the earth),” a concept rooted in living harmoniously with the land. This philosophy—passed down for generations—celebrates the deep connection between people and nature. Rakudo-An’s experiences enrich both body and spirit through activities that preserve the environment and engage the senses, from meetings with local artisans and farmers to meals highlighting Toyama’s rich produce, fresh seafood, and exceptional rice.
Meals are a central part of the stay. Breakfast and dinner celebrate Toyama’s agricultural and coastal abundance, prepared simply to honor each ingredient’s origin. Dining here is unhurried, reinforcing the idea that food, like travel, is meant to be savored. What resonates most with U.S. travelers is Rakudo-An’s sense of continuity—this is not a recreation of tradition, but a living one, where guests feel how old structures, regional cuisine, and hospitality still shape modern rural life in Japan.
Where Rakudo-An offers a shared yet intimate ryokan experience, Nonoie offers something even more personal. More than a private villa, it is an invitation to inhabit Toyama as residents might. The house has been carefully renovated using traditional carpentry methods, preserving its original bones while introducing subtle modern comforts. Large windows frame views of trees, moss, and sky and Tatami rooms open onto verandas for quiet reflection and peace.
Here, there is no formal program and that is the point, allowing guests to create their own relationship with nature and community rather than a structured itinerary. It’s a space surrounded by nature and crafted to emphasize simple pleasures: morning walks through moss gardens, a bicycle ride through green fields, time on the veranda sipping locally roasted coffee, and the sound of wind rustling nearby trees. The villa’s serene environment and connection to the landscape speak to a broader shift among U.S. travelers who want to live like a local, not merely visit as tourists.
Toyama’s intimate retreats answer a growing desire to disconnect without crowds, excess, or distraction. Instead, an opportunity to dive into a deeper layer of discovery.