Zenbo Seinei

The only awkward part was having to share the shower rooms, but they were very clean, so it was OK. The room was unique, the staff were nice, and the natural food was carefully made, delicious, and special in its Japanese vegetarian style. Yoga and meditation helped me relax. It was an amazing experience, and I'm very happy.

As someone who admires architecture, especially Shigeru Ban’s work, I was excited to see Zenbo Seinei. The design is beautiful, but the space is closed to visitors unless they pay at least ¥11,000 (about $75) just to enter. There are no short tours or student access, so appreciation seems to require buying into the luxury wellness experience. It's disappointing that such a striking example of sustainable, modern Japanese architecture is essentially paywalled. Architecture should be accessible to students and enthusiasts who want to learn, not only to people there to sip tea. A place intended for peace and reflection feels wrapped in elitism, like another expensive Instagram backdrop.

The architecture is stunning, and Ban-san’s design alone makes the place worth a visit. I joined the light meditation and zen afternoon tea. The package suited someone impatient like me, though construction noise nearby meant it wasn't as quiet as I'd hoped. If meditation is a serious interest, consider staying for a day package or joining their extensive course.

I meant to book a hotel and accidentally reserved this place expecting to stay overnight. I was stranded alone on Awaji at the last minute, but the Zenbo staff treated me like family and found me somewhere very luxurious to stay, at no expense, despite my mixup. The next day I joined a wellness retreat, which was fantastic, and the food was even better. I came to see the architecture and ended up having an incredible time. It may be the best customer service I've ever had. I'd give more stars if I could!