A new retreat in Japan is offering a quieter, more considered version of luxury travel. Azuma Farm Koiwai, set in the rural prefecture of Iwate, is wrapped in cedar and red pine and marked by the scent of hinoki wood that runs through its airy main building and compact cabins. The property feels far removed from the crowded tourist circuits that dominate much of Japan’s travel conversation, even though it is only a couple of hours north of Tokyo by bullet train.
The resort is located on the grounds of Koiwai Farm, a century-old private farm known as the largest in Japan and widely recognized for its dairy products. While the setting is agricultural, Azuma itself is intentionally removed from the sounds and smells of a working farm, and there are no animals on the property. The land is described as an idyllic stretch of countryside, with plans to eventually grow vegetables, but for now the emphasis is on landscape, calm, and space.
According to the report, the project was inspired by Adrian Zecha, the hotelier behind Aman, who saw potential in the area’s peaceful atmosphere. Zecha worked with Fumitomo Hayase and the Eastern Japan Railway Company to bring the retreat to life, with the aim of preserving the natural environment while introducing a slower style of hospitality to an underexplored part of the country. The location also reflects a broader effort to draw more visitors to Tohoku, a region that still attracts only a small share of Japan’s tourists.
What gives Azuma Farm a distinctive edge is its connection to local culture. Guests can go horse riding through pastoral landscapes, hike Mount Hachimantai to see the Dragon Eye phenomenon, or take trips to the Sanriku coast, temples, and historic towns. The resort also offers a rare look at Iwate’s Nanbu ironware tradition, including visits to the workshop of 11th-generation ironsmith Koizumi Nizaemon, who demonstrates the centuries-old process and helps guests decorate their own kettle with an original emblem. With Mount Iwate rising above the cabins and the weather shifting dramatically across the seasons, the retreat is designed to showcase a more intimate side of Japan’s countryside.
Source: vogue.com
