A work by light artist James Turrell. Conceived as a guesthouse for meditation, it was modeled after the “Hoshina Residence,” a traditional local dwelling designated as an Important Cultural Property. Turrell drew inspiration for this concept from Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s *In Praise of Shadows*, blending the intimate light of a traditional Japanese house with the light-based artworks he himself has created.

The roof slides open to reveal the ceiling, allowing visitors to gaze at the light of the sky as it gradually changes after sunset. The square window in the ceiling frames the sky as it shifts from pale blue to ultramarine and finally to pitch black, making us keenly aware of the subtle changes in light that we usually overlook. Optical fibers are embedded throughout the space—in the Bath, the tokonoma, and the bedroom—so that when you soak in the Bath, your body is enveloped in a magical glow.

Light Program

Indirect lighting strategically placed throughout the space by Tarell creates a serene atmosphere. The 12.5-tatami-mat Japanese-style room “Outside in” features a retractable roof; when opened, the sky becomes visible from inside the room. At sunset, the changing colors of the sky are made even more striking through the synergistic effect of a lighting program that adjusts the intensity of the light.The “Light Bath” bathroom features fiber-optic lighting. The light on the water’s surface shimmers, and objects submerged in the water appear to glow, evoking a fantastical atmosphere.