Flânons

Kuwana · Japan · To stay

Maruyo Hotel

Location & practical

A Timber Merchant’s House, with an Art Collector’s Eye

  • A timber merchant’s home, thoughtfully reimagined
  • Japanese art meets European antiques
  • An open-air hinoki bath, entirely your own
  • €625–1,250 / night
  • 1 room
  • Sembacho, near Shichiri no Watashi

In Kuwana, a former river port on the road to Ise, the Sato family once made its living in timber. Their original home was lost in the wartime bombing; the house that stands here today was built afterwards, when materials were scarce and rebuilding was an act of determination. Now it has another life, as MARUYO HOTEL. And what a remarkable family home it has become.

Descendant Takeshi Sato has opened the house to just one group at a time, with gallery director Nao Masaki overseeing an assured mix of contemporary art, Japanese craftsmanship and European antiques. The two bedrooms have quite different personalities. One takes inspiration from the Western-style architecture of Josiah Conder, whose Rokkaen residence stands nearby. The other is resolutely Japanese, with dark plaster, snow-viewing shoji screens and a mossy courtyard beyond. Its open-air hinoki bath is an excellent argument for cancelling any ambitious evening plans.

The best room may be the one nobody sleeps in. Upstairs, the dining room retains rough earthen walls from the postwar rebuilding and looks towards the Ibi River and Sumiyoshi Shrine. A separate library, added in 2021, offers another excuse to linger among objects chosen for their craftsmanship rather than their ability to match.

Guests are welcomed with tea, then left to enjoy the house privately. Breakfast is provided, while dinner can be arranged through Kuwana’s own restaurants, from local clam specialities to Kakiyasu’s celebrated beef. There is no conventional hotel restaurant or permanently staffed lobby. The pleasure is having an unusually beautiful house to yourselves, with the town’s history just outside the gate.

  • Former residential building Historic setting
  • Private garden
  • Restaurant Off-site partner

Rooms.

The Flânons choice

Which room would we choose?

Room 1, the Japanese-style twin bedroom, for the snow-viewing shoji, dark plaster and direct connection to the open-air hinoki bath. Both bedrooms come with every whole-house booking.

All 3 room types

Entire MARUYO House

4 adults

170 m²

Two bedrooms · Private open air bath · Courtyard · River view · Library · Dining room · Air conditioning

The only bookable accommodation: a 170 m² private house with two twin bedrooms, approximately 40 m² of courtyard, a lounge, dining room, library, and two full bathrooms plus a guest toilet. The bedrooms cannot be reserved separately.

Room 0 — Western-influenced twin

2 adults

Twin beds · Ensuite bathroom · Garden view · Plaster walls

Part of the whole-house booking only. Inspired by the Western-style architecture of nearby Rokkaen by Josiah Conder; white plaster and antique glazed doors look out onto the private garden.

Room 1 — Japanese-style twin

2 adults

Twin beds · Ensuite bathroom · Shoji screens · Garden view · Open air bath

Part of the whole-house booking only. Dark plaster alcove, snow-viewing shoji overlooking the moss garden, and access to the private outdoor hinoki bath.

Choose MARUYO for the entire house rather than a specific category. **Room 0** offers a more Western-influenced atmosphere inspired by Josiah Conder; the upstairs river-facing dining room and library are shared by your party. Plan dinner before arrival, especially if you want a local restaurant experience.

Good to know.

Location
Japan, 〒511-0011 三重県桑名市船馬町２３
Open map & directions
Check-in & check-out
Check-in from 15:00, until 18:00, check-out by 11:00
Parking
Complimentary guest parking is available on the north side of the property; the hotel lists seven spaces.
Getting around
Reach Kuwana Station by rail from Nagoya, then take a short taxi ride to the house. The central riverside sights and several dinner partners are walkable once you arrive.
Arriving
Check-in is hosted in person during the stated arrival window. The team leaves after check-in and remains reachable by phone. For reservations close to arrival, contact the hotel by telephone; dinner arrangements should be discussed in advance.
Pets
Pets are not accepted.
Accessibility
The dining room and library are upstairs, and accessibility adaptations have not been independently confirmed. Ask the property about entrances, stairs and bathroom access before booking if step-free access is essential.
Travelling with children
Children of all ages are welcome, subject to the house’s maximum occupancy and sleeping arrangements. Adult rates generally apply from age ten. Children’s toiletries and sleepwear are not supplied. Tell the hotel in advance so delicate objects can be moved safely.

Worth knowing

  • The property is booked as one entire house for a single party, rather than as individual bedrooms.
  • The two twin bedrooms sleep up to four guests in total; the bedroom layouts are different but both are included in the same booking.
  • The outdoor cypress bath is a private bath, not a natural hot spring or onsen.
  • Breakfast is part of the published accommodation plan; dinner is arranged separately through partner restaurants or in-house service.
  • The library and river-facing dining room are on the upper floor; step-free access is not confirmed.
  • Artworks and antique objects are part of the house. Families with children should discuss arrangements with the hotel.
  • Published English-language packages and the Japanese-language overnight plan use different pricing structures; reconfirm the current package before booking.
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