Okudaya, a 120-Year-Old Ryokan in Wakura Onsen, Reopens After Disaster Recovery | First Inn Rebuilt in Wakura Onsen Post-Earthquake

Okudaya, a long-established ryokan in Wakura Onsen, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, celebrating its 120th anniversary, has completed the reconstruction of its inn after suffering damage and demolition due to the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. On Thursday, July 9, 2026, it will reopen as the first post-disaster inn reconstruction in Wakura Onsen. The renovated facility will operate as a "private detached villa" accommodating only four groups per day. *Reservations will open on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Rather than simply replicating the original inn, the new Okudaya aims to create a new style of stay that allows guests to enjoy the hot springs of Wakura Onsen, the cuisine of Noto, and encounters with local people through four detached guest villas and a "dining-out stay" concept where meals are enjoyed in town.

Approximately two and a half years after the disaster, this restart has not been an easy journey.

■ Just as renovation finished, everything came to a halt

January 1, 2024.

The Noto Peninsula earthquake caused significant damage to "Okudaya," which was about to celebrate its 120th anniversary.

In fact, the previous year, Okudaya had just completed a major renovation after overcoming the challenges of the pandemic.

Regular guests had praised it as "transformed into something incredibly beautiful," making the timing of this disaster especially devastating, just as the inn was finally embarking on a new beginning.

The building's foundation was severely warped, making continued operations impossible. All the time, funds, and the future of the inn that was supposed to begin anew vanished in an instant.

The owners seriously considered closing the business permanently.

The building sustained extensive damage, leaving demolition as the only option.

■ Still, they didn't want to end a 120-year legacy

Mr. Okuda, the representative, had originally built a career in the beauty industry in Yokohama, pursuing a different path. However, about ten years ago, during a visit back home, he rediscovered the value of Wakura Onsen: the rare, high-concentration chloride hot spring water gushing from the sea, and the long-standing therapeutic bathing culture that has soothed people's bodies for generations. The enduring power of the hot springs, passed down over many years in this town, deeply moved him.

Reconnecting with these values strengthened his resolve: "I don't want the 120-year legacy of Okudaya to end with my generation." Even after losing hope in the disaster, he couldn't give up and continued searching for a way to carry on the inn.

■ It was the people of Wakura Onsen who supported the rebuilding

While searching for a way to continue Okudaya, it was the community of Wakura Onsen that showed the path forward.

Hotels, shops, residents, and local government worked together, holding repeated discussions under the banner of "creative reconstruction" rather than mere restoration.

Their shared goal was to create a "new vision for Wakura Onsen"—one that carefully preserves the charm the town has cultivated over the years while passing its best qualities on to the future.

After the disaster, Mr. Okuda became the chairman of the Wakura Onsen Tourism Association, placing him in a position to lead the town's overall recovery.

Confronting the future of the entire region, he realized that his family's inn, passed down through generations, should not simply be restored to its former state.

He wanted to create a hotel that would once again bring people back to Wakura Onsen. This vision shaped the new form of Okudaya.

The rebuilding began with the goal of creating "the future of Wakura."

■ Inheriting 120 years of therapeutic bathing culture into the modern era
The new Okudaya invites guests to step out and experience the town of Wakura

"We want to create a hotel that brings people back to Wakura Onsen."

From this desire emerged the new concept of Okudaya: four detached private villas and a "dining-out stay" style where guests enjoy meals in town.

The therapeutic bathing culture of Wakura Onsen, sustained for 120 years. We have preserved its essence while evolving it into a form of private relaxation suited to modern travelers. All guest rooms are in independent detached buildings, each with a private entrance and a private open-air bath fed directly by the natural spring. Guests can enjoy the therapeutic bathing culture of Wakura in a completely private space, undisturbed by others.

Another highlight of the stay is the "dining-out" experience—leaving the inn to enjoy meals in town. Guests will head into Wakura to dine at local restaurants, savoring ingredients from Noto and exchanging words with shop owners and locals. Staying at Okudaya becomes the starting point for exploring the town of Wakura.

Beyond that lies the wider journey through Noto, extending to Wajima and Suzu. As a quiet hot spring and a gateway to the town, the new Okudaya aims to be the starting point for exploring the entire Noto Peninsula.

[Guest Room / Ruri] A serene, modern-Japanese space with private open-air baths fed by natural spring water in every villa.

■ Announcement

In advance of the opening on July 9, 2026, reservations will begin on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Reservation method: Online reservations via the official website.
Official website: https://wakura-okudaya.com/

Our inn operates on a "dining-out stay" model. Meals are not included in the stay, so please enjoy dining at restaurants in the Wakura Onsen town. Upon check-in, we can provide recommendations for local restaurants in the area—please feel free to ask.

We warmly invite you to experience the new Wakura Onsen.

■ Facility Information

Opening from July 9, 2026

Wakura Onsen Okudaya
Address: 5-1 Yobe, Wakura-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa 926-0175

Phone: 0767-62-2062

Guest Rooms: 4 villas (all detached with private open-air spring-fed baths)

Access:

[By train] 5 minutes by car from JR Nanao Line "Wakura-Onsen" Station.

[By car] 10 minutes from "Wakura" IC on the Noto Expressway.

Official website: https://wakura-okudaya.com/