[Short Stay] Relax and Savor Refined Cuisine at an Auberge in Komatsu, Ishikawa

Explore a Region Blessed with Extraordinary Water, Land, and Weather

Ancient stoneworks and quarries have been discovered in the Komatsu region that produced materials that were used locally and also sent to other parts of Japan. Local gemstones and jewelry have been found in tombs from the Kofun period (250-538) as well as larger stones used in the construction of temples and castles, a legacy of artistry and industry that has been officially recognized by Japan Heritage and endures to this day. Visiting the village of Kanagaso will offer you a glimpse into the artisanal traditions of this region, where people have long made the most of the wealth of the land and the waters that flow through it.

The lands and waters of the Komatsu region have provided sustenance and inspiration for hundreds of years

With the nearby mountains receiving heavy snowfall in the winter, the region around Komatsu is the beneficiary of the pure meltwater that flows through its rivers and streams and feeds its springs each year. Not only does this superior water help local farmers produce superb agricultural crops such as Hotarumai Koshihikari rice, but it also promotes the growth of mountain vegetables and mushrooms that have been harvested here by villagers since prehistoric times. The local forests also abound in delicious wild game including birds, deer, and wild boar.

A Classy Overnight Stay with a Touch of Local Nostalgia at Auberge Eaufeu

Auberge Eaufeu was constructed on the grounds of a former local elementary school in Kanagaso, with the choice made to utilize the school building itself rather than razing it to erect a new building. While extensive renovations have been carried out inside the building to transform it into a stylish and comfortable place to stay, the exterior is very much preserved in its original form. Even for those who never attended school in Japan, it is a scene that evokes a palpable sense of local nostalgia and community.

Built within a converted former elementary school, Auberge Eaufeu helps preserve the history of the local community

Rooms in Auberge Eaufeu offer all the modern conveniences of a hotel with stylish furnishings and hardwood floors as well as large comfortable beds. Charming touches from their past as school classrooms remain, however, with some rooms providing views out over the former schoolyard and some retaining white boards (where blackboards used to be) and wooden desks. The thriving creativity of such a place also lives through the artwork that adorns the walls of Auberge Eaufeu, painted by celebrated artist Ogawa Kiichiro during a residency at the auberge. Surrounded by art, nature, and memories of childhood, a stay at Auberge Eaufeu will no doubt leave you feeling similarly inspired.

The rooms at Auberge Eaufeu combine comfort and style with art, nature, and nostalgia

Delight in the Gourmet Meals of a Master Chef Who Collects His Own Ingredients

The meals at Auberge Eaufeu are enough on their own to make it a prime destination for those who appreciate unique gourmet cuisine. Meals at the auberge are conceived and created by master chef Shota Itoi, the youngest-ever winner of the Grand Prize at the prestigious annual RED U-35 competition. Trained in the delicacies of French cuisine, Itoi has also embraced the wealth of local produce and wild ingredients at his fingertips in Hokuriku, combining what he knows and what he finds into truly wondrous dishes.

Master chef Shota Itoi combines the style of French cuisine with locally sourced ingredients

While much of the food served at Auberge Eaufeu is sourced from the local region, chef Itoi has taken this one step further, venturing out into the surrounding fields and hills himself to search for prime ingredients. The treasures that nature offers him are seasonal, with wild vegetables and herbs in springtime, crayfish from the river in summer, and mushrooms amidst the falling red leaves in autumn. Wild game like boar, deer, and ducks provide meat. Combined with local farm produce, this great bounty allows chef Itoi the freedom to create such culinary masterpieces as the signature Eaufeu maki roll.

Itoi’s Eaufeu maki roll contains wild game sausage, farm vegetables, and local spices and herbs

Your food will be enjoyed at Auberge Eaufeu’s elegant modern restaurant with spectacular views of the outdoors along with art from Ogawa on the walls. If you stop and look really hard for a moment, however, the ethereal essence of a school dining hall remains, drifting intriguingly beneath the surface.

The classy restaurant at Auberge Eaufeu provides comfort and spectacular views of the outdoors

Breakfast can be enjoyed either at the auberge restaurant or as a picnic on the roof, in the schoolyard, or at another location of your choosing.

Dine on Kutani Ware at Auberge Eaufeu with Special Sake Pairings

Just as the land of the Komatsu region is inseparable from the water that flows through it, gourmet meals derived from the bounty of the land go best with a fine sake. To help you best appreciate this marriage of complementary flavors, Auberge Eaufeu offers its guests sake pairings from the Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute that perfectly complement the delicious dishes of Itoi’s haute cuisine.

All of the gorgeous dishes at Auberge Eaufeu are served up in style

Some of the dishes served at dinner will be delivered to you on Kutani ware ceramics, born out of the clay of the Komatsu region and the creativity of generations of local craftspeople. There can be no more authentic Komatsu experience than to use these fine ceramic plates and vessels as you dine on meat and vegetables gathered from the land around you, sipping sake brewed from the region’s rice and pure water.

Special sake pairings are selected to complement the flavors in your meal

Experience Creativity and Passion That Springs from the Land Itself

A visit to this little-known valley in Ishikawa Prefecture offers visitors the chance to understand Hokuriku beyond its larger towns and cities. Here, creativity is shaped by the surrounding landscape: a chef who gathers wild ingredients from the hills, and an artist whose work is inspired by the nostalgic setting of a former rural school. The result is a place where the land, culture, and people are closely intertwined.

The beauty and bounty of the countryside in the Komatsu region inspires many different types of creativity

During your stay, slow down and savor Kanagaso at your own pace, walking the grounds, dining at leisure, and enjoying the atmosphere of Auberge Eaufeu.