The town of Nagi in northeastern Okayama Prefecture is a place of beautiful, natural Japanese landscapes. It is also the hometown of Masashi Kishimoto, creator of famed ninja manga “Naruto,” and the real-life inspiration for the manga world it depicts. Guests at the luxurious VILLA Bito Nagi can immerse themselves in both the world of Naruto and an impressive array of artworks.
Nagi itself is a town of art, with an innovative and unique art museum, the Nagi-cho Museum of Contemporary Art. Also known as Nagi MOCA, this institution was built to showcase and “integrate” three enormous works commissioned by three artists and was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Arata Isozaki. The three featured artists are Shusaku Arakawa, together with his partner and wife, poet Madeline Gins, sculptor Kazuo Okazaki, and sculptor Aiko Miyawaki. The art museum comprises three buildings, sun, moon, and earth, which are enormous artworks built to form the art museum itself.
VILLA Bito Nagi was inspired by the Nagi-cho Museum of Contemporary Art and was conceived as “an art museum where guests can stay overnight.” The innovative exterior evokes the famous shuriken (throwing star) from Naruto and was designed by architect Noritsugu Sasamori. The building’s exterior features work by roller-painter Takeshi Sato. Inside the villa, works from sculptor Taro Kitagawa are displayed along with replicas of paintings by Le Corbusier, who is considered one of history’s three greatest architects. Also on hand is every volume of the Naruto manga series (in Japanese), as well as a book introducing the complete works of Le Corbusier.
The villa can accommodate up to nine people and is the perfect place for family and friends to unwind and relax. Guests can even bring their own ingredients to prepare meals in the villa’s kitchen. A nearby cafe serves delicious breakfasts, while a nearby store has been in business for over a century.
Nagi boasts 1,300 years of history and culture and is home to direct descendants of the famed scholar Sugawara no Michizane, revered as Japan’s deity of learning. It is also a sacred place where Honen, the priest and founder of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan, first studied Buddhism.
Located at the foot of Mt. Nagi, the highest peak in Okayama Prefecture, VILLA Bito Nagi is surrounded by nature–and by night the stars above glitter like scattered gemstones. It’s a unique destination where guests can experience the incredible landscapes depicted in the famous ninja-themed manga Naruto.
Address
367-2, Gyoho, Nagi-machi, Katsuta-gun, OKAYAMA Pref.
Telephone Number
+81-868-20-1781 *Phone connect to “Bito Tsuyama-an Honkan”
Official site
https://bitotsuyama.com/nagi
Reservation
https://airhost.airhost.co/en/houses/510845
Room rate: From ¥76,000/ 2 persons per night, no meal
*From 3 persons, additional charge ¥10,000/ 1 person, up to 9 persons
*There are also special plans to visit art and architectural facilities.
Address
8-1 Nakano-cho, Tsuyama city, OKAYAMA Pref.
Telephone Number
+81-868-20-1781 *Phone number is common
Official site
https://www.bitotsuyama.com