On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the private sauna villa "Kanshukuen Tsudoi" (歓宿縁 聚 TSUDOI, pronounced "tsudoi") held its grand opening at Kanshukuen ESHIKOTO (歓宿縁 ESHIKOTO), an onsen auberge in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture. The villa was designed by Studio Puisto (スタジオ・プイスト), an architecture firm from Finland.
The villa is produced by Ishidaya Nizaemon (石田屋二左衛門株式会社), the Eiheiji-based company behind the sake Kokuryu (黒龍). Created with the cooperation of the Embassy of Finland, it draws on Finnish sauna culture and architectural thinking.
This article introduces the details of the villa, including its architecture, interior, and saunas that incorporate Fukui materials.
Finnish Architectural Thinking That Frames Nature Like a Single Picture
Kanshukuen Tsudoi was designed by Studio Puisto, an architecture firm based in Helsinki, Finland. The firm places importance on harmony with the natural environment and has designed hotels, resorts, saunas, and more around the world.
This villa is the firm's first accommodation facility in Japan.
Heikki Riitahuhta (ヘイッキ・リータフフタ), the architect in charge of the design, focused on creating a space that becomes one with the surrounding nature rather than a building that asserts itself.
The living room is an open space where views of the Kuzuryu River (九頭竜川) and the mountains can be enjoyed through a large single-pane window. The orientation of the windows, the angle of the roof, and the height of the building were also carefully considered, so that the light changing from sunrise to sunset and the nature that shows a different face with each season can be felt up close.
Guests can listen to the sound of the river, gaze at the mountain ridgelines, and enjoy the scenery as it changes with time. The stay feels like being in the midst of nature while inside the building.
Two Saunas Combining Finnish Thinking and Fukui Materials
The villa has two Finnish saunas, each with a different character. Planning and design supervision of the saunas were handled by Daisuke Shimada (島田大輔), a first-class registered architect (一級建築士) and the representative of Sauna Idea (サウナイデア株式会社). Not only the temperature and materials but also the air circulation inside the sauna rooms were considered in pursuit of a comfortable sauna experience.
Kuohu: A Sauna for Enjoying Conversation
"Kuohu" (クオフ) means the murmur of a river and the flow of water. At a gentle temperature of about 70–75°C, it is a sauna for relaxing while chatting with someone special.
The wall stone is Kanagaso stone (観音下石, kanagaso-ishi) from Ishikawa Prefecture, which is porous and stores heat. Guests can spend a moment to unwind while feeling the scenery and the sound of the water of the Kuzuryu River.
Rauha: A Sauna for Facing Quiet
"Rauha" (ラウハ) means peace and quiet. In a sauna room of about 80–85°C, guests can spend time alone, quietly facing themselves.
The wall stone is Shakudani stone (笏谷石, shakudani-ishi), a traditional stone of Fukui. Taking advantage of its dense structure and its tendency to retain heat easily, the sauna links local materials with Finnish sauna culture.
Moving between the two saunas, which differ in temperature and character, guests can spend their time in a way that suits their mood of the day.
A Shigaraki-Ware Bath and a Terrace to Relax in Nature
After the sauna, guests can head to the Shigaraki-ware (信楽焼) bathtub and cold-water bath on the outdoor deck. They are characterized by the texture unique to ceramics and an appearance that blends into nature.
The terrace with the bathtub is furnished with chairs and tables facing the Kuzuryu River, where guests can bask in the afterglow of the sauna while feeling the wind and light.
Finnish sauna culture is rooted in a connection with nature and in time when people talk with one another without barriers. The villa was designed to let guests experience this idea together with Fukui's climate and scenery.
The Living Room of "Tsudoi," Colored by Design and Art
The name "Tsudoi" (聚) carries the wish to be a place where people gather and share precious time.
The living room is furnished with a custom-made sofa by IDÉE and other furniture that adds to relaxing time. With a large window overlooking the Kuzuryu River, the space is made for chatting with family and friends or simply spending a leisurely time.
The facility also displays works by MAGO (長坂真護), an artist from Fukui Prefecture. MAGO creates works from waste materials and supports people in Ghana through the proceeds from their sales. A work evoking the sun is placed in the lobby and one evoking the moon in the bedroom, expressing the flow of natural time from sunrise to sunset and then to the passing of the moon.
Facility Overview
- Facility: Kanshukuen ESHIKOTO (歓宿縁 ESHIKOTO)
- Room: Kanshukuen Tsudoi (歓宿縁 聚 TSUDOI), limited to one room (https://kanshukuen.com/sauna/)
- Opening date: Saturday, October 31, 2026 (grand opening)
- Capacity: 1 to 6 guests
- Room-only rate: from ¥160,000 (for 1 to 4 guests)
- Size: 332.97 m²
- Reservations: Now accepting reservations (official reservation page)
- Inquiries: 0776-50-1323 (9:00 AM to 9:00 PM)
- Notes:
- The outdoor bath is not a hot spring (onsen).
- Swimwear is required when using the outdoor bath.
- For safety management, the sauna cannot be used from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM.
- For the details and conditions of plans that include meals, please check the reservation site.
