Setoda
Luxury minimalist ryokan. The mood is quiet, considered, and deeply rooted in place. Natural materials age in front of you. Staff are attentive but never fussy. Guests wander to dinner in hotel-provided haori jackets and cotton pyjama trousers. No pool, no spa tower — the bathhouse is literally across the street.
The bathhouse (yubune) is free for hotel guests and open 7am–10pm — go early morning or late evening to avoid the public rush
Why It Matters
Adrian Zecha's first property under his post-Aman Azumi brand. The team didn't just restore an old building — they also renovated the community bathhouse across the street and revived the old salt-merchant shopping street (Shiomachi Shotengai), bringing in Soil Setoda and Overview Coffee as anchor tenants.
Azumi Setoda is a 22-room luxury ryokan that opened in March 2021 inside a 140-year-old merchant estate on Ikuchijima — a small island in the Seto Inland Sea best known for lemons and cycling. The property is the first from the Azumi brand, co-founded by Aman Resorts creator Adrian Zecha and Naru Developments. Kyoto architect Shiro Miura led the renovation in the sukiya style, preserving original columns, beams, and dark-tiled rooflines while introducing clean, contemporary interiors built from cypress, cedar, washi paper, local granite, and shikkui plaster.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Niwa
Ground-floor room with its own small private garden. Yukimi shoji screens open vertically so you can watch the garden from anywhere in the room — a design originally meant for snow-gazing. The sofa at the foot of the bed substitutes the traditional engawa (veranda). Granite floors stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Every room has a cypress bathtub.
Double (twins that join to a king)
Niwa-suzumi
The most generous room type: two-story duplex combining the private garden of the Niwa rooms with the two-floor layout of the Sora-suzumi. Garden and twin beds on the ground floor; tatami room with horigotatsu and a balcony daybed on the second floor. Up to 3 guests can sleep comfortably, making it the best choice for families or small groups. Bedding for the tatami room is available on request.
2 Twin beds (ground floor) + futon on tatami (2nd floor)
Sora-suzumi
Two-story duplex with two twin beds on the ground floor and a tatami room on the second floor. The tatami room has a horigotatsu (recessed floor under a center table) and a spacious daybed on the second-floor balcony. Perfect for reading, cooling off after a bath, or catching the sea breeze off the Seto Inland Sea. Can accommodate up to 3 guests.
2 Twin beds (ground floor) + futon on tatami (2nd floor)
Suzumi
Second-floor room with a private balcony positioned so you can bathe in the cypress tub with the balcony open — a semi-outdoor soaking experience. The sea breeze makes long baths very comfortable. Same natural material palette as all rooms: granite floors, cedar walls, washi paper. Sofa at foot of bed as a wind-down spot.
Double (twins that join to a king)The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
For experienced cyclists. This course covers the second half of the Shimanami Kaido from Ikuchijima to Imabari — a substantial distance with rewarding bridge crossings and coastal views.
Fishing at the breakwater on Innoshima Island — aimed at casual anglers or those new to boat fishing. Good for all ages.
Low-altitude trek up Mt. Shirataki on Innoshima Island (226 m elevation), a mountain historically used as a training ground for Buddhist ascetics.
Guided cycling from Onomichi to Setoda, covering roughly half of the 60 km Shimanami Kaido route at a leisurely pace. Ideal for first-timers or those who want the experience without doing the full distance.
Private boat excursion into the Seto Inland Sea at sunset. The calm, clear waters of this part of the sea make for a remarkable evening on the water.
A special private tour of Daisho-in, the oldest Esoteric Buddhism temple in Miyajima. Limited to one group per day.
Cycling tour to visit an organic lemon farm on Koune Island. The farmer has grown lemons for over 30 years without preservatives, waxes, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers.
Guided walk through Onomichi's narrow lanes, stone stairways, and spots not found in standard guidebooks. Steps outside the famous shopping arcade into a slower version of the city.
Cycling route to Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima Island, climbing the Lemon Valley and crossing the Tatara Bridge (longest cable-stayed bridge in Japan). Hilly route recommended for physically fit guests.
Walking tour covering Setoda's history as a port town, the Irihama-style salt industry unique to Setouchi, and the formation of the town. Touches on the legacy of the Horiuchi family and the island's role in Edo-period maritime trade.
Hands-on confectionery class creating jonamagashi — seasonal sweets that express the beauty of flowers, birds, and the moon using traditional Japanese techniques.
Private early-morning Ashtanga yoga lesson in the garden pavilion. Covers breathing techniques, gazes, and asanas in a set sequence. Limited availability.
Traditional seated Zen meditation session, typically arranged at a nearby temple. One of the more popular cultural experiences for guests.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
All rooms have complimentary stocked minibars.
Cedar-framed landscaped courtyard visible from dining room and most guest rooms.
Bike hire available at or near the property for cycling the Shimanami Kaido.
Electric vehicle charging available on-site.
Full access to the yubune community bathhouse across the street. Includes indoor hot bath, sauna, cold plunge, and seasonal lemon baths. Open 7am–10pm.
Garden pavilion used for morning yoga, private tea ceremony, and meditation. Available by reservation.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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