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japanese ryokan for sale

Shizuka ryokan, the iconic japanese ryokan in Australia (near Melbourne) is now on sale!
I almost made up my mind and decided to leave Kobe and move to Australia`s “Spa country” to manage the ryokan while continuing my business on the internet!
Unfortunately I have kids going to school and my wife said no…
So I decided to spread the voice here. Anybody interested?

The property consists of 1.4 hectares of residential zoned land, dotted with local pine trees and featuring landscaped Japanese gardens and stone pathways
The ryokan building with 6 spa guestrooms and a massage treatment room (all with ensuites and courtyard gardens), large lounge and dining space, internal zen stone garden, commercial kitchen, sunny deck, office, reception, laundry, staff accommodation (comprising 2 ensuite bedrooms and lounge / dining room) etc.

Of course there is plenty of room for new extensions and in this case I think that a couple of Bartok design hinoki bathtubs would be just like the icing on the cake…!
The business is well rooted with a “manicured” website shizuka.com.au, top rankings in trip advisor and prestigious awards from the Australian tourism association.
It has been featured on the Australian and the Japanese television and is patronized by famous Australian personalities.

If interested, contact Peter at the email available at the bottom right of this page:
http://shizuka.com.au/contact/location/

large truck for a compact tub

This tub is being taken to the packaging company.
We loaded it on the forklift and took it outside…

But could not help it to smile when we saw the 10T truck that come to pick up the tub…
I am sure the ofuro felt like a prince ☆!

finally arrived

We shipped a tub in Canada and it was delayed for over one week because of port workers strike. We were worried and felt sorry for the client but he kindly sent us a picture with the pallet safely arrived.

We never received a claim until now for damage occurred during shipping and from what I can see of the outside of the crate, I hope also in this case the tub will be OK.
Pay attention when opening the crate and do not forger to remove all screws before opening the lid!

I can enjoy the weekend now 🙂

adjustable seat hinoki tub

This gorgeous tub was commissioned by an upstate NY architect for his client.
The design process went along for few months and at some point the client also considered using some shoji screens for the project.

Here are some details:

– japanese Knotless hinoki wood bathtub w/ L-joints (thick planks)
– sizes: L1375mm x W750mm x H686mm (int. dim.) – 615 mm deep
– natural oil apron, small dowels @ joints. Iron brand at front top-right
– Hinoki wood internal seat D400mm with additional set of guides
– Hinoki wood traditional cover 870x210x18 (7pcs)
– Hinoki wood bench 609 x 450 x 648H
– Sawara wood ladle with handle (180D 290H)
– Sawara large bucket （225D　120H）
– Asnaro minimalist stool (330 x 220 x 300H)
– Hygrometer (complimentary)

As mentioned in the title, this is our first “removable seat” with the opportunity to be positioned lower or higher.

We supplied also a normal bath stool together with a higher custom bench which can be used for entering the tub from a sitting position. Very convenient for users of wheelchairs.

With this order we can confirm the recent trend in shipping fees: airfreight is cheaper than ocean freight in more and more occasions. On the top, time consuming Importer Security Filing is not necessary for airfreight so keep it in mind if you plan to purchase a bathtub from Japan…

Addition:
my carpenter scolded me because the top picture is too cramped and the nice front and proportions of the tub cannot be seen…
He is right. This tub deserves a clean head shot. Enjoy!

New Year Outlet bathub – sold out!

sorry, sold out!

On the last day at work in this 2014, the carpenter completed this regular size asnaro bathtub. It is a very busy period but by popular demand we were working on this outlet tub and here it is! our New Year present to all japanese bathtubs fans!

The pictures are here below, but I regret we do not have a method to convey you the smell!
May be because of the dry season, but I feel this asnaro lot is particularly aromatic and could feel it even outside of the warehouse!

The tub specs are as follows:
* material: knotless natural Asnaro wood bathtub (AB grade tub / quatersawn)
* sizes: L1350mm x W750mm x H675mm (external dimensions) 570mm(depth)

Of course the tub is brand new and after taking the pictures it has been wrapped in clear polyethylene sheet.

Find here the drawing (pdf file) >>> outlet141227.pdf

Here is the cost breakdown:

Tub: 415,000. JPY
Packaging: 1550x950x880 plywood box: 41,000. JPY
Pick up and delivery to Tokyo port: 13,000 JPY
Shipping: please let me know your exact address so we can provide an official quotation for your consideration.

That`s all for now. Happy New Year!

square tub for Singapore

We have been corresponding with the architect for about 2 months, arranging all the details to make it fit nicely on site.
Between Christmas and New year, we completed this well proportioned square hinoki tub and extra thin sunoko floor grating.

Here are the specs for the tub:
* material: Hinoki wood AB grade tub (quatersawn)
* sizes: L900mm x W900mm x H750mm (ext. dim.) 640mm(deep)
* details: oil finish apron, wood dowels joints. Iron brand at front top-right
* options: Hinoki wood internal seat W300mm
* accessories:
– Hinoki wood traditional cover 920x225x18 (4pcs)
– Hinoki wood “Sunoko” floor grate panel 900x900xH55 (split in 2)
– Asnaro wood stool (330x220x300H)

I hope the client will enjoy this corner of authentic japan in his bathroom!

Comments about the pocket onsen indiegogo campaign

Here below I will display some comments I received by people who received the pocket onsen. Feel free to add your in the comment field below or mail me if you want to be anonymous and/or add a picture.

Got my pocket onsen in the mail today. Packaging is superb! It will make a great Christmas gift.

I should have waited another day before writing! The oil was delivered
yesterday. I was finally able to open it this morning (I was doing home visits
yesterday) and it is luscious!
Thank you so much for contacting me about this project, and please let me know
if you have any other aromatherapy distillations of rare things. I’d love to
be involved.
I can’t wait to get this to my friends – fortunately, I ordered several so I
will have them for my “special stock”!
Best wishes for the holidays for you!

visit from Cape Town

We received a kind visit from South Africa.
The clients are remodeling their new house and are considering using a japanese bathtub and some other interior items such as tatami and shoji screens.

Actually this time the client was visiting the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara) as well, so I had a chance of meeting them at my office in Kobe first, that is where we discussed the technical details.
Then I reached them in Tokyo and escorted them to our workshop in Chiba prefecture.
We do not get the chance of clients visiting us very often, but it is of course very useful to explain the features, details and installation requirements of a japanese bathtub so we hope you will also come to Japan and visit us!

Notes for exporting to Canada

1)Can you provide the correct harmonized tariff code number ?
2) Products made of wood are subject to fumigation or finish requirements to stop the importation of insects. What is the experience with shipments to
Canada?
3) How soon can you ship following confirmation of our order.

1) The ofuro and the material for the sunoko are HS code 4421 . 90.
Other accessories or metal parts may have a different code.

2) We exported 5 times to Canada. There is no need for fumigation for finished wood products. I will verify for the lumber for the sunoko grating. Anyway we can supply a certification stating that the material is Kiln Dried and this is sufficient.
On the other hand, some some counties building dept. require compliance with the ASME regulations. Our tubs are not ASME certificated, so you should either file it as a “soaking tub” (not sanitary equipment) or contact us for more options.

3) Later today I will prepare a proforma invoice for your review and approval.
Please note that the shipping fee is still approximate. Kindly let me know your exact shipping address so I can obtain a official quote from the forwarder.
Finally, as you probably know ocean shippings for Canada require that the receiver is a corporation (private entities cannot file the customs paperwork.)

chopping table for famous chef

Well, this is not a tub but being a custom woodwork, I decided to add it to this section.
We made a chopping table for a famous chef, with a solid hinoki chopping board.

At first we considered the shipping cost and found out that the normal shipping would cost as much as the table itself…
So we decided to make it “knock down” so it could be shipped by EMS air mail.
Of course the client had to assemble it but we prepared all the joints so no screws are necessary (only glue).
This way we could keep the cost within the price range of an american end-grain chopping table.

as the board itself needs to be removed for washing, we supplied a silicon mat to be cut to size and placed between the top frame and the cutting board. The mat　becomes sticky when compressed, so it holds the board in place preventing it to slide.
Also, it absorbs the vibrations hence the sound made when chopping or cutting.

to the left is the sketch of the chopping table
to the right is the picture that the client kindly sent us!

Here are the specs of the table:
* Hinoki wood stand 540x450x745H with urethane finish
(Assembling on site with use of bond.)
(this stand would be without middle shelf to make the assembly easier)
* Packaging (reinforced cardboard box)
* Shipment by EMS

Here below are some cutting boards you can choose. Which one do you like?

here are the indicative costs (keep in mind that solid hinoki cost may vary like a commodity so we cannot guarantee on these prices)
kiso hinoki
140101. 　430mm L x 118mm x 300mm(quarter sawn) ￥84,000 plane finished
140102. 　580mm L x 108mm x 380mm(quarter sawn) ￥98,000 plane finished
130742. 　710mm L x 72mm x 370mm(plank cut) ￥35,000 plane finished
130703. 　650mm L x 90mm x 580mm(plank cut) ￥48,000 plane finished