Our Concept
"Albergo Diffuso"
Our open-air bath is a luxurious space where you can enjoy taking a bath directly after enjoying sea bathing in the beautiful sea of Suo Oshima. The space that gives the feeling of a small Japanese garden and the warmth of the wooden walls create a relaxing atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy a healing time at one with nature. We look forward to your experience as a place where you can refresh your heart and mind.
※ Please make your own arrangements for temple yoga, catering, and various other experiences.
For an introduction to Suo Oshima's stores and sightseeing
Greeting from the the Owner
Tadashi Shiratori
Setouchi Jam's Garden Gardener
Confiture Creator
Fujii Hikoemon (藤井彦右衛門) introduced citrus cultivation to Suo Oshima during the Edo period.
When his mansion was demolished, a part of it was moved and built in this old private house (built in 1923).
Since then, fishermen's nets lived in this pavilion, which we have taken over.
The recycling of wood, as we know it today, was a very common idea at that time.
The wood used is even older than the relocation, so we guess that it is more than 200 years old.
Mortise holes that were made when the house was moved, and ink drawings indicating the placement of the beams are still in the minka, and they tell the story of how the house was used in those days.
When we took over this old house, the foundation, floors, and walls were so damaged that we considered dismantling the house.
However, as we make jam and lemoncello from the island's citrus fruits, we felt it was our responsibility to preserve the building, which still holds the breath of Hikoemon Fujii, the founder of citrus cultivation on the island, and to make it a "place" that can be used by many people.
The main artery of transportation at the time Hikkoemon was active was the shipping route connected by the Seto Inland Sea.
Behind the inn is Hizen Port, which indicates that "boats" were the most accessible means of transportation in those days, and that the port was the only window to the outside of the island.
It is no wonder that Hikoemon, a village headman in such a location, started citrus cultivation with his passion and energy to open up the future of the island.
We would like to once again honor and pass on to future generations the passion and energy of Hikoemon, who brought so much blessing to the island.
The adjacent citrus groves, including lemon groves, are located on the former site of the village headman's mansion. We hope you will enjoy your time on the island while reminiscing about the activities of the island's predecessors in this old private house that still retains the atmosphere of a bygone era.
Owner Shiratori
Fujii Hikoemon (1816-1896): As the village headman of Himae Village, Fujii contributed to the promotion of agriculture from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. In order to enrich the lives of the islanders, he purchased several hundred mandarin orange seedlings in Osaka (also known as Wakayama) in 1848, transported them by ship, and planted them on the island. This is said to be the beginning of the economic cultivation of citrus on Suo Oshima.