In Sou Fujimoto’s far-flung Not A Hotel villa, solitude feels almost planetary

It’s not often that an architect seems happy for a completed structure to disappear. Yet for Sou Fujimoto, the idea of creating the lightest possible human imprint on the rich nature that surrounds it reflects the essence of his latest project.

Located on the subtropical shores of Ishigaki Island, in Japan’s southernmost Okinawa region, Not A Hotel Earth is a private villa designed in the form of a tilted, plant-wrapped circle, overlooking the East China Sea. White, light and purist, with a hint of futurism, the seemingly wall-less structure hovers weightlessly in its setting. Infinity pools and glass walls create near-invisible boundaries between inside and out, while at its curved heart lies a wild meadow.

This is the latest addition to the rapidly growing Not A Hotel portfolio, an innovative Japanese company specialising in architect-designed spaces with fractional ownership. Properties are managed by Not A Hotel, with owners able to rent out their share when not in use, giving guests the chance to enjoy the rare experience of a hotel-like immersion in remarkable residential-style surroundings. More than 30 buildings now span six sites across Japan, from Tokyo and Nasu to Kitakaruizawa and Fukuoka, with four more in development – all brought to life by a star-studded roster of architects, including Suppose Design Office, Snøhetta and Nigo (who, alongside Pharrell Williams, is also a creative adviser to the company).

Hidden depths: Not A Hotel Earth

Not A Hotel Earth, a four-bedroom space sleeping up to ten people, is the new flagship of the Tokyo-based company, which is headed up by new-generation entrepreneur Shinji Hamauzu. ‘The Not A Hotel locations we choose are often not famous tourist spots, but we feel that they have potential,’ says Hamauzu. ‘We always trust the architects completely and don’t give them a brief. We just tell them how many rooms we would like, then let them create as freely as possible.’ Describing the allure of Fujimoto’s work, he adds, ‘Often when people see his buildings for the first time, they may think they’re a bit unusual. But with time, people can feel how his designs harmonise with the land and with nature.’

Arriving at Not A Hotel Earth, there is an immediate sense of being cocooned. A gently sloping walkway to the front door transitions visitors from the outer world to the inner sanctum – and after crossing the threshold and slipping off shoes, the journey continues along a curved white corridor, which flows into an airy living room.

Centre stage beneath high ceilings is a bespoke mahogany Cassina table, its softly curved lines mirroring the building’s form. Wrapped around it are a set of Carl Hansen chairs, while alongside is a sunken seating area. A minimalist unit by kitchen appliance brand Hoshizaki is home to a signature Not A Hotel ‘conbini’ (the name given to Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores) packed with local treats, from mango juice and whisky to Cup Noodles. Nature, however, quickly steals the show. Along one side, the space opens out onto a 20m infinity pool, dissolving into an expanse of sea and sky; and on the inner side, glass walls flow into a circular courtyard garden.

The house’s green inner sanctum is by acclaimed landscape architect Taichi Saito, whose design company, Solso, creates green environments for a wide range of residential, commercial and urban ventures. This tilted, organic cosmos of vivid green vegetation, with an edge of untamed beauty, features leafy banyan trees, scattered cut-out circles (one containing a children’s pool, the other a sunken firepit), and lush planting flowing seamlessly all the way up to the roof, where views of sea and sky once again loom large.

For Fujimoto, the idea of creating a light circular structure arose soon after visiting the site – a spacious expanse of land, on which stood a private villa, surrounded by gardens. While the initial plan had been for several villas, the architect was struck by how well-maintained the original house was, and the project soon refocused on the idea of building a single property. From the start, Fujimoto was keen not to create a conventional rectilinear structure facing the sea. Instead, he maximised the depth of the land plot by making a circular structure. Its round shape also softly echoes gusuku, the ancient curved stone fortresses particular to Okinawa.

‘It’s not just about having an ocean view, but also a view to the sky,’ says Fujimoto. ‘We tested many ideas and eventually came up with a kind of huge open courtyard. Once you are in the courtyard, protected by its wall, you can only see the sky. You are surrounded by nature. It’s calm, but you can also feel a dynamic topography. It’s like being in the middle of a valley. That’s a wonderful feeling. You’re both open and protected.’

Back inside, several ocean-facing guest rooms flow off the main space, each white and minimalist, with light woods and high ceilings – one also features a library annexe with a desk placed distractingly in front of a floor-to-ceiling glass pane. The lower level is home to more guest rooms, a gym and an underwater sauna, illuminated by a skylight that captures light-reflecting ripples of water.

As with many Fujimoto creations, the idea of harmonising the structure with its natural setting ultimately shaped its creation. ‘The project name is Earth,’ says the architect. ‘If you look from above, it almost disappears into the ground. The circle itself also looks like a small Earth. It can make you feel like you’re the only human on Earth.’

Not A Hotel Ishigaki Earth is located at 120-92 Miyara, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0243, Japan.

This article appears in the December 2025 Entertaining Issue of Wallpaper* , available in print on newsstands, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News + from 6 November. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today