Azumi Setoda

Japan has no shortage of charming ryokans, or traditional inns. But people pay extra attention when Adrian Zecha, the founder of Aman Resorts, puts his name behind one. Azumi Setoda, located on the remote island of Ikuchijima in the Japanese Inland Sea, is the first property in the Indonesian hotelier’s Azumi line. Zecha lived in Tokyo for a time, and his fondness for Japanese aesthetics is obvious here. So is his respect for the place, once an important port on an island known for its citrus fruits — instead of designing something new, Zecha chose to revitalize a 140-year-old estate long owned by a prominent merchant family.

The Kyoto-based architect Shiro Miura handled the restoration with an eye to creating calm, light-filled guest rooms as well as appealing shared spaces. The result is a boutique ryokan with many perfectly executed elements — minimalist interiors, exposed beams, clean lines, low-rise furniture, pale wood and washi paper, huge glass panes revealing views of a peaceful courtyard garden — and a few exclusive features, like an open-plan restaurant where local and seasonal ingredients are prepared with French techniques. The atmosphere is low-key but socially oriented; unless otherwise requested, meals are served communally, and the traditional bathhouse across the street hosts both locals and hotel guests.

For private soaking, each room comes with a cypress tub. All are sleek and sanctuary-like, with granite floors, bespoke blonde-wood furnishings, and sliding screens opening to private stone-lined gardens. Some have balconies, and a few feature two floors with tatami rooms and private patios with daybeds. Azumi Setoda emphasizes community, and there’s an island to explore just outside, but the rooms alone are reason enough to choose this hotel for a peaceful retreat.