Kami, Kochi (高知県香美市) – Kohanyu (湖畔遊) Western Suite (ウェスタン) tour 2026 Mar. 20
A walkthrough of the 100m² Western Suite (ウェスタン), the largest accommodation at Kohanyu (湖畔遊), a 4-room luxury ryokan that overlooks the scenic Monobe River (物部川) in Kami, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, Japan (高知県香美市).
It is a Villa-type suite that features an open-air onsen (hot spring bath) with a view over the river. The onsen is an isotonic thermal hot spring that flows from a private source on premises.
The audiophile-quality sound system in each room of Kohanyu shows an uncommon devotion by the owner to music and the art of acoustics. In addition to a 1970 Western Electric 300B vacuum tube (hence the name of the room, Western Suite) and a UESUGI amplifier, the room is fitted with Italian Sonus Faber speakers that are positioned to overlap with the horizon of the Monobe River. In addition, we were told that considerable thought was put into the materials that make up the space, as well as the angle of the ceiling and the placement of the walls to improve sound reverberation and sound absorption.