CONCEPT

A Retreat from Convenience, A Return to Connection

What will today bring?
Here in Yamazoe Village, nestled in the Okuyamato region of Nara, life moves at its own quiet rhythm.

Life here may not offer the same conveniences
as the city and perhaps that’s exactly how it’s meant to be.

At "ume," we invite you to simply see, taste, and feel the countryside as it is.
What you’ll find here is the ordinary beauty of everyday mountain life,
the scent of the seasons, the shifting colors of nature,
and meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients that nourish both body and soul.

Elders from the village often stop by to share stories,
choosing conversation over screens, and presence over pace.

There is nothing extravagant or unusual here.
Yet in this simplicity, you may rediscover a deeper connection to your thoughts and feelings,
to the past and the future, and to the world quietly surrounding you.

Here, happiness isn’t found in what we possess, but in recognizing all that we already have,
the unseen, the intangible, and the quietly precious.

We hope your soul finds a sense of awakening and connection
as you live in harmony with the mountain’s gentle rhythm, even for a short while, as one of the village residents.

We await you at the top of a long mountain road
at "ume," a place of new beginnings, quiet awakenings, and gentle connections.

What will our time together today bring for tomorrow?

ABOUT

Limited to just three groups per day,
"ume," offers an experience where guests can feel the harmony between people, place, and nature through food and stay. A moment that exists only here and now.

Learn more ➤

FOOD

Abundant, seasonal ingredients grown right
here in the region at their peak of flavor.
Through washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine),
enjoy the moment of calm and harmony through food.

Learn more ➤

STAY

A private mountain retreat reserved
for just three groups a day.
Experience the calm, the seasons,
and a moment that exists only here and now.

Learn more ➤

SAUNA

Here, you can leave behind titles, roles, and even clothing and simply be yourself.
ume,sauna is one of the few outdoor Finnish-style saunas in Japan.

Learn more ➤

EXPARIENCE

A private mountain retreat reserved
for just three groups a day.
Experience the calm, the seasons,
and a moment that exists only here and now.

Learn more ➤

GALLERY