JUU
arts & stay
大阪・此花区
Nishikujo · Osaka · Japan

A quiet stay
where time
was left untouched.

大阪の片隅、
木と光、時間の痕跡を残した宿。

An artist-run private inn set within a Showa-era residence. A space curated as much as lived in — with works by contemporary outsider artists across every room.

Hosting since
2019
Reviews
116
Booking.com
10/10
JUU entrance with noren curtain — Nishikujo, Osaka
Entrance · 入口 01
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§ 01

Wood, light,
and time.

時間が住まう宿

JUU is not quite a hotel, and not quite a home. The building began life as an architectural design studio in postwar Osaka — a Showa-era residence whose timbers, plaster walls, and slow afternoon light remained largely untouched for half a century.

We chose to keep it that way. Floors that creak in particular places. A staircase that turns into shadow at dusk. Windows that frame the neighborhood rather than the view.

What we added — quietly — is contemporary art. Works by Japanese outsider artists, placed where you might otherwise hang a clock. Each piece chosen, not decorated. Each stay framed by a different artist's hand.

The inn is operated by FIGYA, an artist-run space in Umekō that has hosted contemporary exhibitions for over ten years. JUU is its companion: a place where you don't just see the art — you sleep beside it.

Exterior of JUU — Showa-era residence
Exterior
Interior with original timbers and staircase
Interior · Living
§ 03

The space.

三つの間、ひとつの宿

A two-story residence with three sleeping rooms, a generous living area, and a fully equipped kitchen. The entire house is yours during your stay — no shared corridors, no other guests.

The Inner Room — twin beds and chairs
Room 01
奥の間

The Inner Room

A wood-walled room with twin beds and a small seating area. Morning light enters slowly through the window blinds. A single work from the current rotation anchors the space.

Twin Beds Sleeps 2
The Middle Room — simple bedroom with original timbers
Room 02
中の間

The Middle Room

A quiet bedroom with exposed wooden beams and warm light. A simple bed and clean lines — designed for sleep rather than display. The window frames the rooftops of Nishikujo.

Queen Bed Sleeps 2
The Attic — high timber ceiling with ceiling fan
Room 03
屋根裏の間

The Attic

A loft-like space with a high timber ceiling and original wooden beams overhead. The quietest part of the house — and the best place to read late, beneath a slow-turning ceiling fan.

Loft Sleeps 2
§ 04

Art that lives here.

寝床のそばに、アートがある

Every work in the house was selected — and most were acquired directly from Japanese outsider artists working with disability art studios across Kansai.

This is not décor. It is a quiet form of patronage: a way for FIGYA to bring artists whose work rarely leaves the studio into the everyday rhythm of a place where people sleep, drink coffee, and pause.

Guests are welcome to ask about each piece. Artist statements, in English and Japanese, are kept in a small book by the entrance.

See the collection
Ceramic sculpture on wooden cabinet
№ 01
Sculpture
障害アート・現代作家
Dining table set with Japanese ceramics
№ 02
Vessels
ジャパンビンテージの食器
Original timber beams and ceiling architecture
№ 03
Above
古材の梁
Quiet still life — lamp, plate, book
№ 04
Stillness
夜のひととき
In Residence · Now

The current rotation features works by artists based in Osaka and the wider Kansai region. Pieces change roughly every season. Some are for sale — proceeds return directly to the artists and their studios.

§ 05

Voices from guests.

滞在された方の声
10.0
Verified guest rating

Exceptional, across every stay.

via Booking.com · 西九条 · 此花区

雰囲気が古民家風でとても好みでした。バスタオルとタオルの用意もありました。広いため寒く感じることもありますが暖房はつけられます。

Guest from Japan ★★★★★

素晴らしい古民家です、ベッドの寝心地最高、USJからも便利です。また今度大阪に旅行の際に利用したいです。

Returning guest ★★★★★
§ 06

To stay.

滞在について
Whole house
From ¥38,000per night — sleeps up to 9
Minimum stay
2 nights2泊3日より
Check-in
16:00self check-in available
Check-out
11:00
Languages
EN / 日本語email support 24h
What's included
Air conditioning
Heating
Full kitchen
Washing machine
Free Wi-Fi
Amazon Prime
Towels & linens
Toiletries
Coffee & tea
Private entrance
Hair dryer
Pest-treated
House notes

A Showa-era residence on three levels. The bedrooms and main living spaces are reached via a staircase from the entrance. Smoking is not permitted indoors. Children are welcome.

§ 07

Finding JUU.

道のり
JUU arts & stay Open in Google Maps

Nishikujo, Konohana Ward

A few quiet blocks from Nishikujo and Chidoribashi stations, in the Umekō neighborhood — a corner of Osaka that has slowly become home to small galleries, design studios, and artist-run spaces.

Chidoribashi Station 5 min walk
Nishikujo Station (JR) 10 min walk
USJ 10 min taxi
Namba 15 min
Kansai Airport 70 min
Kyoto 60 min
§ 08

Good to know.

お越しになる前に

No — and we'd rather say so plainly. The entrance is at street level, and a staircase leads up to the bedrooms, living room and kitchen on the second floor. A meditation space sits above that on the third.

It is part of what makes the building what it is, but it does mean the house is not well suited to guests who find stairs difficult.

There is a shower room, but no soaking tub. Guests who would like an ofuro often visit a neighbourhood sentō — we're happy to point you to a good one within walking distance.

One, renovated, on the second floor. For larger groups this is worth knowing in advance — it is the honest constraint of a house of this age.

The main room has a high, open ceiling — beautiful in every season, and cool in the depths of winter. Each bedroom has its own air conditioner, and the main room has a commercial-grade unit.

From December through February we place additional heaters in the house and lay out extra bedding. If you're travelling in that window, tell us and we'll have the house warm before you arrive.

Yes. One group at a time, always. 116㎡, three bedrooms, up to nine guests, with a private entrance. You will not share the house with other travellers or with us.

Please look closely, and please don't handle the pieces. Some are fragile, and all of them belong to the artists who made them.

A small book by the entrance carries artist statements in English and Japanese. Several works are available to purchase — proceeds go directly to the artists and their studios.

There is no dedicated parking on site. Coin parking is available a short walk away, and we can send you the nearest options before you arrive. Most guests reach us by train — Chidoribashi is five minutes on foot.

Very much so. We only ask that children are kept clear of the artwork, and that the staircase is treated with care.

The house sits in a quiet residential street, so we ask all guests to keep noise low after dark — a courtesy to the neighbours who have been here far longer than we have.

Groups, retreats and quiet work. With one group in the house at a time and a large open main room, JUU also suits small workshops, studio retreats, photo shoots and team offsites. Write to us and we'll talk through what you have in mind.
Reservations

Come stay with us.

ご予約をお待ちしています

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