A whole-house rental inn, "Sumu" (スム), opened on October 1, 2026 on Naoshima in Kagawa Prefecture. Stays begin on October 8, 2026.
Sumu is run by Uca (株式会社Uca), a company that has worked on flower gifts and the staging of proposals and anniversaries, and it draws on that experience to offer stays that enrich the time spent with loved ones. On Naoshima, where the calm scenery of the Seto Inland Sea coexists with contemporary art, a 50-year-old traditional house has been renovated into lodging under the concept "島に、住まうように。" (as if living on the island). It is meant for trips with family or close friends, and also for special occasions such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
A Home Inherited From Grandparents, Reborn as an Inn
Sumu was born from a house left by the grandparents of Uca's representative. It was once a place where the grandmother gathered with people from the neighborhood to make gloves, and where handwork connected people. The house now begins a new chapter as an inn for making memories with loved ones.
The name "Sumu" layers several meanings: 住む (to live), 澄む (to become clear), and 研ぎ澄ませる (to sharpen). The inn invites guests to relax as if returning to their hometown, and to spend time with loved ones away from the rush of daily life, rather than only sightseeing.
A Comfortable Space Shaped by Craftspeople's Handwork
The inn values its ties with makers connected to the local area and the island, and pays attention to materials and finishes. The features include plaster walls finished expressively by a plasterer, walnut floors that bring out the grain of the wood, and a dining table made from a single board of sen wood (栓の木). Each piece of handwork adds warmth to the space.
At the entrance hangs an indigo-dyed noren curtain made for Sumu by the textile artists 加納容子 and 一穂. It expresses the waves of the Seto Inland Sea and the wind crossing the island, and greets visitors as they arrive.
Five Bedrooms and Whole-House Use for Up to 15 Guests
The house has five bedrooms, including Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, and a tea room that can also be used for sleeping, and it accommodates up to 15 guests.
The whole house is reserved for one group, including the living and dining room with a large dining table, a kitchen that guests can use freely, and the engawa veranda overlooking the garden. It suits family trips, three-generation stays, and trips with friends, as well as celebrations of birthdays and wedding anniversaries, proposals, and honeymoons. Guests can talk and share happy moments with loved ones without worrying about others around them.
The inn can also be used for corporate training and retreats as a place to deepen exchange among colleagues.
A Hinoki Sauna and Tea Room to Regain Your Own Pace
The garden has a hinoki (Japanese cypress) sauna with a cold plunge bath and a space for outdoor air bathing. Guests can spend time in their own way, such as relaxing while feeling the island breeze or passing a quiet moment in the tea room.
Experiences such as yoga, ikebana, and tea are also available on request in advance. Together with art viewing, the inn proposes a holiday on the island for resting both mind and body.
Art Close to Daily Life
Works by three artists are displayed in the corridors, bedrooms, and hall. Guests can stay comfortably while feeling art that blends into the scenery of daily life.
Guests who like a work can purchase it, an option available only to people staying at the inn. This lets them enjoy the art they met on their trip in their everyday lives as well.
A Japanese-Style Garden for Time With Loved Ones
Stylish garden sofas have been set up in the garden, which is decorated with moss and stones. The private outdoor space, available because the whole house is rented, combines a Japanese atmosphere with comfortable relaxation.
Guests can relax on the sofas while feeling the island breeze, or gather around a barbecue. Enjoying the open atmosphere and talking freely with loved ones deepens the memories of the trip.
*Barbecue ingredients are prepared with advance reservation.
Facility Overview
- Facility name: Sumu (スム)
- Opening: October 1, 2026
- Stays begin: October 8, 2026
- Address: 4780-3 積浦, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa Prefecture (香川県香川郡直島町積浦4780-3)
- Accommodation type: whole-house rental
- Bedrooms: 5
- Maximum capacity: 15 guests
- Main facilities: hinoki sauna, cold plunge bath, tea room, kitchen, living and dining room, engawa veranda, garden, Wi-Fi
- Environmental efforts: uses natural energy with solar power generation and a storage battery (ZEH-certified)
- Check-in: 3:00 PM
- Check-out: 10:00 AM
- Parking: 2 spaces
- Rental bicycles: 2 (free of charge)
- Official website: https://sumu-naoshima.com/
- Booking: Airbnb https://www.airbnb.jp/rooms/1769413582423549956 and Booking.com https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/sumu.ja.html
Opening Campaign
To celebrate the opening, a 20% discount on the accommodation fee is offered for the first three reservations made on each of the Airbnb and Booking.com booking sites after sales begin.
Please check the official website for room rates, availability, and reservations.
