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Yawning,
staying in a yard
YAWN YARD.
A completely new blend of light,
greenery, and water, and of local culture,
creating a yard where people can stay.
Perhaps there is a place to just do nothing,
that nobody has ever discovered.
Yawn Yard is a place to stay. Our dialogue with the land and the local people led to the idea of creating a yard where we could slow down and take things easy in the way that we had discovered here. It all begun with the curious wonders. Say like, what kind of living room would be best for connecting with nature? Or, what would it be like to encapsulate the aesthetics of daily life in a single chair? Would it be possible to prepare meals with ingredients that are delivered from the yard? We tried out our ideas by putting together a farsighted and satisfying way of life, while attempting to be adaptable to the evolving environment. It's a pleasure meeting you here. Welcome to the Yawn Yard.
LocationKouri Island, Okinawa.
Arrive before the sun goes down for the best experience.
Kouri, home to just four hundred people, is a small island that you can drive all the way around in about fifteen minutes. There are three beaches each on the north and south of the island. Just across the Kouri Bridge, the site is located near the forests of the Yanbaru region, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, which has a highly unique ecosystem.
Any of the narrow lanes will take you to places where you can experience the life and culture of Okinawa. As you relax and look out onto the ocean, you might occasionally spot a whale spraying water into the air. If you happen to glance under the bridge, you find a sea turtle enjoying seaweed. All the yards at Yawn Yard face west. So make sure to arrive and not miss the sun before it goes down.
FoodCook with food from the surrounding scenery, sourced within 70 km.
In spring, island vegetables come straight out of the soil. Summer bursts with energy from fruits. The seasons continue with tuna and prawns from the beautiful sea for autumn and winter. Although produced in limited quantities, we are fortunate to appreciate heirloom and island vegetables from producers we know well. Our meals are modeled after home cooking once found throughout Okinawa. The heart of this approach is eating together and understanding that the food will eventually become a part of us (kusuimun). With semi-outdoor dining, the meal is ready to be enjoyed.
ArchitectureA yard for getting to know the sky, the sea, and the right amount of sun
Say you eat, sleep and swim in this generous space that extends partially outside. You come into contact with the sky, the sea, and just the right amount of sun. Featuring the wild unique vegetation of this island, you see a boundless scenery of the Yambaru. Each of the eight yards tells its story, shaped by the original scenery of this place. There is no need to worry about making a lot of noise or children screaming as their mood strikes. After all, it's simply a yard.
Access
Yawn Yard has two areas, (sea) and (hill), about 90 minutes drive from Naha Airport.
Check in directly at the yard you reserved. See below for more details.
- YAWN YARD (sea)
1837 Kouri, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture - YAWN YARD (hill)
1792-1 Kouri, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Check-In(15:00-) Check-Out(-11:00)
Tel. 0980-56-1128
*For media inquiries or business inquiries, use the Contact page to get in touch.
Reserve the Yard
Member
Architect | Jo Nagasaka
schemata.jp
/ Photo: Yuriko Takagi
Food Designer | Takashi Ueta
Art Director | Yoshiaki Irobe
Project Director | Junya Akeyama
Project Management |
Kashiwabara Hands
News Letter
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Staff Wanted
YAWN YARD Kouri Islandis now recruiting. Details.