— Could you tell us about the origin of the name MUKUten and how the brand got started?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> MUKUten is the name of our live edge solid wood furniture brand. Master carpenters have long used the term mukuten<\/em> to refer to solid wood slab tabletops. We founded the brand out of a desire to bring the natural beauty of these slabs, formed naturally over decades or even centuries, into everyday living spaces and interior design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n— What is the main difference between standard timber and solid wood slabs?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> The charm of a solid wood slab lies in its unique, one of a kind character. Every piece of wood has its own distinct features, like natural cracks, knots, or subtle curves, that you will never find in mass produced furniture. Our specialty and expertise lie in preserving those natural traits to the fullest. We design spaces where the innate character of the wood takes center stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Expansive Wooden Spaces Steeped in the Romance of Two-Thousand-Year-Old Jindaimoku Timber<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n— Entering the inn, the presence of the natural wood and the vast open space are overwhelming. We heard that the timber used for the tables holds an incredible history.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> The material that surprises our guests most is what we call Jindaimoku<\/em>\u2014ancient preserved timber. This refers to rare wood that fell and lay buried in the earth for hundreds or thousands of years without decaying, only to be uncovered through modern excavations. We do not use any artificial stains or dyes, allowing guests to enjoy the deep, distinctive tones that developed naturally underground over millennia. The dining table features ancient preserved zelkova (Jindai Keyaki<\/em>), giving visitors the chance to feel a deep sense of connection to history while touching wood from two thousand years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n— The architecture itself is quite distinctive, creating a wide, open space completely free of internal pillars.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> The property consists of two separate structures, the main house and the detached cottage, both designed with exterior lines inspired by the summit and ridge of Mt. Fuji. Working closely with structural engineering experts in Tokyo, we achieved these vast open spaces using specialized timber construction techniques that eliminate the need for load bearing pillars. Unlike standard residential builds, nothing here was mass produced, so local craftsmen built every single detail by hand using traditional techniques right on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n— We also understand that the name and character for sha<\/em> in MUKUten-sha carry a special meaning.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> The kanji character for sha<\/em> (\u820e) resembles the shape of a roof and the sweeping ridgeline of Mt. Fuji. Furthermore, embedded within the character sha<\/em> is the kanji for kichi<\/em> (\u5409), which signifies good fortune and blessings. We chose this name with the heartfelt wish that good things come to every guest who stays with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Experiencing Nature in the Heart of the City: How to Enjoy a Fujinomiya Retreat<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n— Could you tell us more about the concept of creating a retreat in the heart of the city?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> Fujinomiya is a historic town blessed with abundant spring water from Mt. Fuji and home to Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, the head shrine of all Sengen shrines. Although we do not burn any special essential oils, stepping inside surrounds you with the rich, natural aroma of wood. Our goal was to create a space where visitors can reset mind and body while staying right in town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n— So the entire town benefits from the blessings of Mt. Fuji?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> Exactly. Pure spring water bubbles up all across the area, giving rise to local sake breweries that craft their brews with spring water, as well as delicacies like Mt. Fuji Salmon raised in these clear streams. Furthermore, with Mt. Fuji towering nearby, guests can take their time enjoying the quiet, beautiful streetscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>The Main House: An Exclusive Haven for One Group per Day, and the Detached Cottage for Enhanced Privacy<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n— How do guests usually react, and what defines the stay here?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> The main house hosts only one party per day on an exclusive rental basis, and guests are always delighted by that sense of privacy and luxury. Another highlights is the location itself, which offers a private, front row view of the illuminated Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n— What sets the newly opened detached cottage apart?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> For the detached cottage, we carefully adjusted the building’s angle so that Mt. Fuji is visible directly ahead from inside, while the loft offers a view of the grand torii gate of Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha. Equipped with a kitchenette, washing machine, outdoor sauna, and cold plunge pool, it is designed to accommodate private stays for two to three people as well as extended visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>A Five-Senses Showroom Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n— In closing, what kind of experience do you hope guests take away from their stay at MUKUten-sha?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMs. Ogushi:<\/strong> We originally envisioned this inn as a living showroom where people could truly feel what it is like to live surrounded by solid wood. We hope our guests fully experience the comfort that resonates through all five senses, from the natural scent of the timber to its smooth feel underfoot and by hand. For breakfast, we offer local delights such as Mt. Fuji Salmon. Nothing would make us happier than if the time spent here becomes a lasting memory that enriches our guests’ daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSurrounded by solid wood slabs that carry the passage of ancient time and encircled by the majestic views of Mt. Fuji, MUKUten-sha offers an extraordinary escape. Filled with the scent of natural timber and the warmth of hand craftsmanship, the space gently soothes both body and mind. Why not embark on a trip to this special downtown retreat, where you can connect with Fujinomiya’s rich history and pristine spring waters while creating memories that touch every sense?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interviewer: Yohei Osaki<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture is a quiet town steeped in history and rich spring waters. Situated right next to Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, the head shrine of all Sengen shrines across Japan, sits MUKUten-sha, a unique inn filled with expansive wooden spaces and a sense of ancient history. Conceived by the solid wood furniture brand MUKUten, the property offers more than a simple overnight stay; it is a living space where guests can experience the distinct character and craftsmanship of natural wood with all five senses. We spoke with Ms. Ogushi, who played a key role in the launch and public relations for the project, about the passion behind these solid wood slabs, the architectural details of the building, and the exceptional stay brought to life by Fujinomiya’s pristine spring water. Kaho Ogushi of MUKUten-sha. Originally in charge of model homes, Ms. Ogushi has worked across a wide variety of areas, including public relations and r<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":910576,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"blog_author_id":4887},"area":[170],"r-journal-category":[137],"r-journal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-910573","r-journal","type-r-journal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-fuji","r-journal-category-interview"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal\/910573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/r-journal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/910576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=910573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area?post=910573"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-category?post=910573"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-tag?post=910573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Ayaka](\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8343-scaled.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n