In celebration of the launch of our collaboration Room Spray with Akitsu Ryokan, we chatted to Nikita, who built and created this beautiful space in Shiga, Japan.  Nikita's story is truly inspiring. After you read this, you will want to quit your job and follow your wildest dreams. 

You have a very interesting back story. Can you tell us a little more about that and what you did in Australia and why you fell in love with Japan?

I worked as a fashion designer for 8 years in Australia - for some large corporate brands as well as smaller labels including Bonds, Champion and most recently as the senior designer at Zulu & Zephyr. I had achieved some external measures of success, but not my own. That is when I decided I had to go back to basics - remember why I started, get back to that little kid who just loved getting her hands dirty and making things. And moving to Japan was an opportunity to do that.

It was while studying fashion design in Sydney in 2014-2016 that I felt drawn to traditional Japanese aesthetics, and concepts of design — both its functionality and simplicity as well as prevalent use of natural materials. This inspired me to book a trip to Japan in 2018 to experience it for myself and it was during this trip I became hooked; walking the quiet back streets of Tokyo at 10am, watching people slowly emerge from their homes and shopfronts, sweeping the front path to open up for the day, I thought to myself ‘I could live here’.

The architecture, the pace, and a sense that I could be anything in Japan, all culminated into the dream I began chasing. To not only design ‘things’, but the life I wanted. Back home in Australia I felt like there was only one path to follow and I could see exactly how it would play out - it was predictable. Whereas, in Japan it felt like the world opened up to me and anything could happen. The unknown excited me.

You studied Japanese as well as getting an apprentice carpentry job, what drew you to these studies?

When I first moved to Japan I came over on a student visa and spent the first 6 months studying Japanese, during this time I also got a part time job as a cabinet makers apprentice. Learning Japanese was a necessary first step, especially living in the countryside - you really can't get by without it since I was on my own, moving without any support system or friends and family in Japan to rely on.

Cabinetry and furniture making has always been something I’ve been interested in, ever since high school. This was a chance to explore design and creativity in a new medium, and apply what I had learnt as a fashion designer into a new field.

How was your experience of doing an apprenticeship in another language? What did you enjoy the most and what did you learn through this process?

Starting a new trade in foreign country, and in a different language at 29 years old was insanely hard, but also the best thing I’ve ever done. I learnt to slow down, to enjoy the quiet and to endure. There have been moments I’ve wanted to quit, I’ve missed home, I’ve been lonely. But I also know this is where I am meant to be, and I have so much more to learn from this place. I finally feel like I am becoming my true self - someone my younger self would be proud of. This place is raw and honest - and it asks that of you too. It is a place that invites you to strip back the facade which can be both scary and exhilarating.

You found a beautiful spot in Japan to buy a house, how long did it take to find it and purchase it?

After that first trip to Japan in 2018, I came home and started researching property in Japan, I searched for about 5 years until I found this house that I ended up buying at the end of 2023, and moved in April 2024.

The property has two dwellings, one main house and one smaller annex. The main house is a traditional Kominka farmhouse with steep thatched roof, approximately 150years old. And the annex house is a small two story built later in 1927 (99 years old), called an 隠居 (inkyo) meaning ‘retired life’ which refers to a small separate house where parents (usually the older generation) live after handing over the main house to their children. They are both very traditional wooden structures, with clay mud walls, intricate latticed shoji screens, and lots of charm. I live in the main house, and the Inkyo is where Akitsu operates from. The Akitsu Shop is on the first floor, and the single room guesthouse “Akitsu Ryokan”is on the second floor.

What made you fall in love with Shiga?

Shiga crept up on me - initially I was looking for houses in Kyoto and Nara prefectures, however, during my research I came across an article describing Shiga as ‘the hidden gem in the heart of Japan’ or something like that. So I changed my search criteria when looking for houses to Shiga and I found this house. It ticked all my boxes, the most important being, a beautiful old house in the countryside, and its accessibility with Maibara being on the Shinkansen line and easily accessible to big cities like Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo - it was the best of both worlds.

I also found in my research that many Japanese people travel to visit Shiga for its natural beauty; mountains, Lake Biwa, beautiful shrines and gardens, and pottery in Shigaraki. The fact that locals wanted to travel here seemed like a good sign - they must know something I don’t. So I trusted that instinct. I bought the house without ever having visited Shiga or the property. After the deposit was paid I booked a short trip to see it and confirm everything was as it seemed from the internet. Which it was. So I went home and saved for another six months, applied for a Japanese visa, quit my job and made the move on 4th April 2024 by myself.

A lot of the house renovation you did on your own, which is such an impressive feat. What were some of the challenges you faced and what were the biggest rewards of the renovation?

I had never done anything like this before, but I was excited by the challenge and definitely a little naive. I called my dad pretty early into moving to Japan at the beginning of the renovations and said “I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew” and he said “hmm, maybe you have. But you know what you do, you chew and chew and chew.” So I did. I tackled one thing at a time, researched extensively, collaborated with professionals when I needed to and pushed myself to my limits creatively and physically. I am extremely proud of the result, and the relationships I have built in the process.

Let’s talk about the guest house, the bathroom is a beautiful green and was inspired by a Jacquemus campaign. Can you tell us a bit more about this design choice and the colour?

I spent approximately 18 months renovating the Inkyo building myself. I took a thoughtful approach to designing the space upstairs, I wanted to incorporate as many Japan made materials as I could and consider all of the small details. Even the ‘Japan Made’ light switches were specifically chosen for their tactility and feeling when switching them on/off.

Green is a favourite colour of mine, and I kept being drawn to this specific shade of green in my research. I love the depth of colour that micro cement gives, and handmade textural quality. I also love how it reflects the colour of the mountains as we are nestled in the valley here. It is extremely calming to bathe in the Hinoki tub, as the natural essential oils from the wood infuse into the bathwater and feel as though you are transported to the forest.

What do you want people to feel when they stay at Akitsu?

Staying at Akitsu is an opportunity to experience a different pace, a chance to escape and unwind from the busyness of life. To breathe fresh mountain air, put your feet in an ice-cold stream. To wake up late, to the smell of fresh coffee. To take it slow.

It’s a reminder that being efficient isn’t always best, sometimes the slow path is the better path. Well-made, lasting, imperfect.

During the renovations I considered the pace of my guests, supplying a stool to sit on when showering or soaking in the deep hinoki ofuro tub (inspired by traditional Japanese ritual of bathing), as well as intentionally not hanging the vanity mirror above the sink, but rather at a seating position on the opposite wall so guests were forced to sit and slow down when they performed their morning rituals.

The space is open, homey and full of natural materials which give off a beautiful earthy smell of tatami mixed with hinoki cypress and pine forest from the surrounding mountains. The room fills with sunlight streaming in through a diffused glow of the frosted shoji window screens, and creating a warmth when reflected off the timber ceiling. The Hinoki cypress bath is placed in the darkest corner of the room so that you can truly relax in the dim light, and fully quiet the mind and body.

You’ve also opened a cafe downstairs that brings Japanese and Australian design to life. What was the process and inspiration for opening this space?

The shop was always a core part of the business concept, providing an opportunity to collaborate with local artisans, bring some of my Australian heritage to my Japanese guests, and provide a place where travellers can take a small souvenir of their time here home, and support local industry.

I love sourcing products that are considered, handmade, and lasting with a focus on functionality and sustainability.

Akitsu means dragonfly. Can you tell us about the serendipity moment around this?

My sister suggested I call the business “The dragon fly inn” after our favourite TV show, when I researched this in Japanese I discovered the old word for dragonfly which is ‘Akitsu’. In Japanese history, the dragonfly is a symbol of perseverance and always moving forward. Samurai were said to wear dragonfly motifs on their armour to represent courage, victory, and never retreating.The meaning resonated with me. The very next day I had my first virtual showing of this property over FaceTime via a buyers agent, and when he answered the phone, the first thing he said to me was “there are so many dragonflies here” and showed me a dragonfly sitting on the wall of the house. And I knew in that moment that this was the house for me.

Follow Akitsu Ryokab on instagram at @akitsuryokan or even better book a stay and experience the tranquility for yourself. 

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