The idea of stillness at Beniya Mukayu

The idea of stillness at Beniya Mukayu

Komatsu, Japan

A hot spring inn set quietly on the hillside of Yakushiyama, Healing Buddha’s Mountain, Beniya Mukayu is designed around the idea of stillness.

The name Mukayu translates as “richness in emptiness,” a concept drawn from the teachings of Zhuangzi. The philosophy suggests that space, rather than abundance, allows things to reveal their true value.

At Mukayu, that idea is expressed through restrained architecture, expansive gardens and the quiet ritual of bathing.

The Rooms

The inn has sixteen rooms, each oriented toward a forest garden. Interiors combine traditional Japanese materials with understated modern comfort: tatami floors, natural wood and simple furnishings.

Some of the junior suites are located on the ground floor, positioned closest to the garden. These rooms include a wooden terrace and bamboo veranda, a tatami sitting room with sofa, a bedroom and a private open-air hot spring bath equipped with a jacuzzi.

The design is intentionally calm. Rather than filling the space with objects, the rooms leave space for light, views and the changing seasons.

Bathing

Bathing is central to the rhythm of Mukayu.

The inn draws its mineral-rich water from Yamashiro Onsen, a hot spring with a history of more than 1,300 years. The water is known for improving circulation, easing fatigue and supporting skin health.

In addition to the private baths in each room, the inn offers two communal baths.

Gensei is designed for quiet meditation and features a distinctive rounded backrest within the bath. Usuko is made from pale cypress wood, traditionally associated with purification. Both baths include indoor and outdoor pools as well as a sauna.

Spa

Spa Entei continues the region’s long tradition of healing through hot spring water and medicinal herbs.

Treatments include reflexology, massage and signature Yakushiyama therapies that use warm herbal compresses applied to key points of the body. The spa also offers its own Yakushiyama skincare line, created specifically for the property.

At Beniya Mukayu, the experience is intentionally simple: a place to rest, observe and enjoy the quiet richness of having nothing particular to do.

Cuisine

The kitchen at Mukayu serves traditional kaiseki cuisine built around seasonal ingredients from the surrounding Kaga region.

Fresh seafood arrives daily from the nearby Sea of Japan, alongside vegetables and produce sourced from local farms. Meals are served in the Horin dining hall, which opens onto a terrace overlooking the garden.

Each course is presented on regional tableware including Kutani porcelain and Yamanaka lacquerware, accompanied by local sake and carefully selected wines.

The Garden

The garden at Mukayu is expansive and serene, with moss-covered paths weaving through mature red pines, camellias and maples.

At its centre stands an old Yamazakura mountain cherry tree that scatters pale petals across the ground in spring. In autumn the garden turns vivid shades of red and gold, while winter often brings quiet snowfall.

Throughout the day the garden is alive with natural sound from birds, frogs and insects creating a subtle rhythm that becomes part of the experience of staying here.

What to Do

Guests can explore the surrounding mountains through a guided hike to Ozuchi village, a small settlement known for its traditional clay houses and quiet natural landscape. The experience includes a stop at a cold spring and a picnic in the forest.

Another option is the Kinrande workshop at the Kinzangama kiln, where visitors learn to apply gold leaf to Kutani porcelain before creating their own piece.

A stay at Mukayu is less about activity and more about atmosphere — warm mineral baths, seasonal cuisine and long, quiet moments overlooking the garden.

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