Tonoya / Sōan — formerly known as Eratei — is a beautifully preserved wooden house nestled quietly in the heart of Osaki-Kamijima, in what was once a hidden refuge of the Heike clan.

 

The name Sōan carries a wish for a space that is quiet, profound, and spiritually expansive.

 

The character “Sō” (蒼) does not simply mean “blue.”

It is the deep, still blue of the sea’s depths, the far reaches of the sky, and the hidden heart of the forest—

a color that holds depth and silence, embracing our inner world like the vastness of sky and ocean.

 

What flows through this hermitage is a silent strength—present without noise.

It resonates with the breath of Zen, the voice of the deep psyche, and the spirit of shamanic traditions.

It gently welcomes the vibrations that exist before words arise—those that remain unnamed, yet deeply felt.

 

“Sō” is also a color that connects to memory beyond time.

It echoes the ancient rhythms of nature,

gently guiding those who enter toward the depths of their own hearts.

 

Sōan embodies a quiet masculinity— like the sun, the sky, or the deep forest.

Not a force that asserts itself, but one that watches over with calm presence.

In this space, it finds harmony with the soft, feminine light of the moon.

 

This is a hermitage where you can place yourself within stillness,

and return to the richness of simply being.

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