Sanyo-so
A Garden to Reflect the Moon, a Night to Embrace the Elegance -- Meet the Calm Beauty of Sanyo-so
Sanyo-so is located in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, a region that is nestled in a rich natural beauty and has long been known as a resting retreat. This is an elegant onsen ryokan (Japanese inn with hot spring baths) established on the premises of the villa that used to be owned by the famed entrepreneur Hisaya Iwasaki.
The dignified appearance of the main building tells the tradition of Japanese architectural art and is registered as a Japanese Tangible Cultural Property. The new building is in a modern tea-ceremony house style designed by Togo Murano, featuring a space where Japanese esthetics and modern beauty reside in harmony. In the premises, there is a vast Japanese garden designed by Jihei Ogawa, who was based in Kyoto and known as a pioneer of modern Japanese garden design.
In May 2026, Sanyo-so started to offer an original experience to watch the moon with a background of the changing seasons woven into a Japanese garden and the chance to appreciate the esthetics of Japanese culture. For this experience, a Tsukimi-dai (moon watching stage) born from the moon watching culture with a long history in Japan was reconstructed in the new building.
The moon-watching culture was brought to Japan in the 9-10th century from China, and later enjoyed by palatines and aristocrats. In Japan, the moon is regarded as a symbol of natural beauty in parallel with flowers and snow, and moon watching has been an important event to experience the effect of the four seasons. While watching the moon, the aristocrats would compose poems and enjoy music and feasts. Eventually, such customs spread to become folklore events to hope for a good harvest, and are still enjoyed by people throughout Japan.
In 1947, when Sanyo-so was opened, the Tsukimi-dai was made in front of the Japanese garden. However, it was lost in the transition of generations. So, we reconstructed the new Tsukimi-dai based on the original shape and the philosophy behind it, as a space to revive the esthetics of the old days and to offer a moment to enjoy the tranquil beauty composed of the moon and the garden.
At Sanyo-so, we will offer experiences to fully enjoy the four seasons in Japan, including a spring tea party to listen to the sounds of mother nature, a summer music evening to feel the moonlight atmosphere, a rooftop bar and other seasonal events at Tsukimi-dai.
When the moonlight gently highlights the garden, the tranquility and esthetics unique to this area dance together and invite you to a special evening to fill your heart with joy. Staying at Sanyo-so will be a precious experience for you to encounter the nature and culture of Izu and the esthetics of Japan.
