Fashion has always borrowed inspiration from travel, and some destinations make that relationship impossible to miss. Bangkok’s creative energy, Japanese craftsmanship and the easy resort style of the Mediterranean all tell their own visual stories. For travel advisors, these places offer clients another way to experience a destination, through architecture, local designers, shopping districts, art, textiles and hotels where design is part of the identity.
AZUMI SETODA
On Ikuchijima in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, style takes a quieter form. Azumi Setoda occupies a merchant estate built in 1876, restored under Kyoto-based architect Shiro Miura with an approach rooted in sukiya architecture and Japanese tea culture.
Wood, stone, earth, shoji paper and carefully framed gardens give the property a sense of restraint that feels closely connected to Japanese ideas of craftsmanship. The original Horiuchi family estate was preserved rather than reinvented, allowing its history to remain visible while opening it to a new generation of travelers. Guest rooms lead onto private gardens or balconies, and the nearby yubune public bath continues the connection with local life.
For clients drawn to fashion through material, technique and detail, Setoda offers a compelling reminder that Japanese style often begins with the hand of the maker and respect for what already exists.
