Perched atop the untouched cliffs of southern Izu

Inspired by raw nature and elegant Japanese architecture.

At Cliff Cabin, you have this beautiful, rugged coast entirely to yourself.

Set within a national park preserve on the southern tip of Izu Peninsula, this once rustic cabin — built half a century ago as a fisherman's hideaway — has been redesigned and reimagined by Studio Cochi Architects. The surrounding coastline is protected land: a rare setting where nothing man-made is visible as far as the eye can see. One wonders how many untouched places like this still exist in contemporary Japan.

Discover a side of Izu few have seen. Truly off the beaten path.

An unrivaled feeling of seclusion, a natural, faraway land — but just three hours from Tokyo.

Seasoned travelers tell us it calls to mind southern New Zealand, Big Sur, or Kauai. It lies in Minamiizu, the nearest wild, untouched landscape to Tokyo.

Even for the Japanese, South and West Izu are the unseen sides of the peninsula. So much of the land here is protected that it can't be overdeveloped — there are no large hotels, no tourist complexes. Having escaped the rapid development of Japan's bubble era, its natural abundance remains unaltered.

A primeval coastline, forests, hidden valleys, hot springs, fine sandy beaches, and a few traditional fishing villages — raw beauty and a sense of geologic time.

GETTING HERE:

By train: The nearest station is Izukyu-Shimoda, with an additional 30-minute taxi ride to Cliff Cabin. From Tokyo, we recommend catching the Saphir Odoriko train, which features a dining car and comfortable private compartments.

By car: A car is ideal for exploring the wilds of Minamiizu. The drive along the West Izu coast is Japan's own Great Ocean Road — Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay is exceptionally beautiful. For those renting, we recommend catching the train to Izukyu-Shimoda and picking up your car at the rental shops beside the station (book in advance).

Cliff Cabin is located just a five-minute drive from its sister property, Izu Cliff House. Peaceful days spent overlooking an unspoiled coastline await you. Enjoy an unforgettable stay, cradled by sea and forest.

A half-century-old fisherman's cabin — converted and reimagined

We first spotted the former fisherman's shack that would become Cliff Cabin in 2017 while boating on the sea below. A fisherman friend from the nearby village of Ihama had taken us out snorkeling around one of the coast's uninhabited islands. Standing amidst scenery so picturesque it felt unreal, the little cabin up on the cliff gave us that childhood sense of excitement of discovering a secret hideout.

The cabin's current owner, it turned out, was a retired designer who had bought the rundown cabin years ago from the original fisherman who built it — and his dream was to do just that: renovate the shack into a private hideaway. But having grown comfortable in retirement, he was ready to pass on the property and entrusted us with carrying out this dream.

By then, the cabin had fallen into deep disrepair. It needed to be rebuilt from the foundation up, retaining little more than its footprint, key pillars and roof. It proved an exceedingly challenging renovation, complicated by the cabin's dilapidated state and the strict building regulations associated with its location in a national park area. We were supported in this endeavor by Toshiyasu Igarashi of Studio Cochi Architects — a reliable partner and an artist with the spirit for adventure. Below is the reborn Cliff Cabin.

Built to Frame a Spectacular View

Cliff Cabin sits at the end of a small dead-end road. Nothing beside it, nothing beyond. Positioned to shield the deck and outdoor bath from the road, the house creates a completely private space that frames the magnificent views.

A Tunnel and Ramp that Lead to a Wow Moment

A ramp laid with black slate guides you down into the heart of the home, the wall a continuous sheet of rusted iron running through its center (a humble echo of the great Richard Serra).

Inside the tunnel-like space lies a fully equipped kitchen featuring a charming bay window. A three-burner induction cooktop, refrigerator, rice cooker, and carefully selected designer cookware and tableware enclosed below.

Emerging from the tunnel, you meet the view at last. The windows retract fully into the walls, creating open contact with the natural vista. The sunken floor, meanwhile, creates the feeling of a sleek cave, or floating sky deck, high above the sea below — but snug and secure, too.

The wall surrounding the window is thick enough to serve as a bench and is level with the deck; lean against the wall and you become part of the surroundings. Although only two chairs are shown in the photo above, four dining chairs are provided.

Beyond the dining room, the deck wraps the entire sea-facing side of the building. From it, everything connects with the mountains and ocean — the living space, the bedroom, the shower room, the open-air bath.

Adventures from the living room

This small living space is perhaps our favorite room. From the sofa, you can see all the way to the seabed around the uninhabited islands — loveliest on clear mornings. Watch the seabirds and the breaking waves through the binoculars we provide.

As in the dining room, the thick walls here form benches. Sit by the window with a book, return to the sofa to lie back, or step straight out onto the deck — the simplicity of this space never tires you.

An open-air bath, with the Pacific Ocean all to yourself.

In complete privacy, enjoy an open-air bath overlooking the ocean. The home's shower room opens directly onto the stone patio and bath area.

The Open Ocean — Wrapped in French Linen

The bedroom, too, has an oversized window. From your pillow, experience the feeling of floating between sea and forest. Wake to the sound of waves and the singing of birds. By night, starlight and the moonlit sea.

The beds at Cliff Cabin feature "Silky Pocket" mattresses from Nihon Bed, topped with plush mattress toppers and dressed in French linen. We provide the same high-quality linen sheets at Izu Cliff House, located just a five-minute drive away. The cool feeling of crisp, substantial linen — simply a must.

The oversized bed frame, in solid timber, was made to order: two semi-double beds form one massive, cozy bed, totaling 2.4 meters across (or nearly 8 feet). Small children can very comfortably sleep side by side with their parents. Two duvets, in the Scandinavian style. Rest, and rest deeply.

The best sunset in Japan?

Though Cliff Cabin and Izu Cliff House lie in the Minamiizu region, they face the western coast of the peninsula. The colors shimmer over Izu's distinctive volcanic rock formations and scattered islands — local villagers proudly insist these are the best sunset views in all of Japan.

The experience of dining as you watch the sunset and the lights of boats drifting on the water is, we think, reason enough to come to Cliff Cabin. A private-chef dinner plan is also available upon advance request.

The custom bathtub is finished by hand in arai-dashi, a traditional Japanese method of washed-aggregate plasterwork. The distinctive rockwork flooring around the bath is locally salvaged Izu stone, hand-quarried during the Meiji era.

A Place to Slow Down and Rekindle Your Wonder

A sublime encounter with clean design and rugged nature — that feeling of being overwhelmed and calmed at the same time. Being brought closer to the people by your side. This was the simple wish from which we built Cliff Cabin. Please come to our hidden corner of Izu to see how it all hits you.