IWATA to Launch New Sleep Brand "NEZEN" at Kyoto Gion Hotel "SOWAKA" from July 1

IWATA Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as IWATA) announces that its new sleep brand "NEZEN" will be introduced at "SOWAKA," a small luxury hotel in Gion Yasaka, Kyoto.

Starting July 1, 2026, guests staying at SOWAKA who wish to participate will be introduced to the NEZEN "toolbox" set, which includes a "orin" (small bell) and incense, used for NEZEN's rituals.

Furthermore, all guest rooms at SOWAKA are equipped with IWATA's bedding, including the "LARKOWL" mattress pad, camel hair mattress topper, and down comforter. By combining the comfortable sleep provided by natural material bedding with the NEZEN experience, which uses sound, scent, and breathing to quietly conclude the day, we propose a time to more deeply savor your stay in Kyoto.

SOWAKA

"Nezen" to Quietly Conclude Your Kyoto Night

NEZEN is a new sleep brand by IWATA, which has been crafting bedding in Kyoto, designed to harmonize the time spent heading towards sleep through natural material bedding and experiences involving scent, light, and sound.

At its core is "Nezen," a very simple Zen ritual performed in a sleeping posture on the futon.

No special preparation or difficult movements are required. Simply lie down, quietly focus on your breathing, and reflect on the day. Falling asleep during the process is also accepted as part of the natural flow.

Instead of forcing yourself to sleep, NEZEN proposes releasing the body and mind from daytime stimuli and transitioning into natural rest, calling this quiet time the "Ritual of Stillness."

Lending Tools for Sound and Scent to Interested Guests

At SOWAKA, for guests who wish to experience Nezen more deeply, tools such as an "orin" and incense, selected for the ritual of stillness, will be available at the front desk.

SOWAKA ambassadors will explain the tools and the experience to interested guests. You can experience the lingering clear sound and the gently rising incense firsthand at the front desk.

A letter introducing NEZEN will be placed in each guest room. By accessing the dedicated website via the QR code on the letter, guests can learn about the philosophy and practice of Nezen.

Official Website: https://www.nezenlife.com/

NEZEN Introduction Letter

IWATA's Natural Material Bedding Adopted in All SOWAKA Guest Rooms

IWATA's bedding is used in all guest rooms at SOWAKA.

This includes "LARKOWL," which supports the body as a surface rather than a point and adjusts comfort according to individual body types and sleeping postures, as well as a camel hair mattress topper with excellent moisture absorption and release, and down comforters made with a focus on natural materials.

IWATA has continued to create bedding that utilizes the properties of natural materials, observing the changes in Japan's four seasons and bedroom environments. SOWAKA fuses modern comfort with Japanese hospitality while inheriting the memories of the land of Kyoto. By adding IWATA's bedding and the NEZEN experience to your stay, we aim for guests to feel the unique tranquility of Kyoto not only through sightseeing, dining, and architecture, but also at the end of the day and during sleep.

About SOWAKA

Well-being Unique to the Land in a Historic Kyoto Space

SOWAKA is a small luxury hotel located in Gion Yasaka, Kyoto. It consists of a main building renovated from a former traditional Japanese restaurant (ryotei) with sukiya-zukuri architecture, and a new building incorporating modern sensibilities. It proposes stays where guests can experience Kyoto's culture through history, architecture, gardens, cuisine, and hospitality.

In April 2020, it joined "Small Luxury Hotels of the World." In 2025, it achieved a Four-Star rating in the hotel category of the "Forbes Travel Guide," a global rating for top hotels, for the first time.

Forbes Travel Guide emphasizes not only facilities and amenities but also the intangible value of the stay experience, such as whether it allows guests to maintain a healthy lifestyle and enhance their well-being, and whether it provides a sense of place through its location and design.

Official Website: https://sowaka.com/

Introduction Overview

Facility Name: SOWAKA Location: 480 Kiyoi-cho, Shimogawara-dori, Yasaka Torii-mae sagaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, 605-0821 Scheduled Start Date: July 1, 2026 Target: SOWAKA Guests Provision Method: NEZEN toolbox introduced from the front desk to interested individuals Introduction Content: NEZEN experience using orin, incense, etc. Room Bedding: LARKOWL, camel hair mattress topper, down comforter, etc. Information Method: NEZEN introduction letter with QR code placed in all guest rooms NEZEN Official Website: https://www.nezenlife.com/

* Contents and start date are subject to change.

About NEZEN

NEZEN is a new sleep brand proposed by IWATA.

In addition to natural material bedding, it combines breathing, scent, light, and sound to design a time that allows the mind and body to return to their natural rhythm, away from daytime tension and information stimuli.

It reinterprets Japanese futon culture and the sensibility of stillness for modern living, redefining sleep not merely as rest, but as time for self-alignment.

In May 2026, it was unveiled at the New York lifestyle shop "Nalata Nalata" to coincide with the "NYCxDESIGN" global design event.

Official Website: https://www.nezenlife.com/

Company Profile

IWATA Co., Ltd.

Location: 701-2 Osakazaimoku-cho, Sakaimachi-dori, Aneyakoji-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, 604-8102

TEL: 075-211-8321 FAX: 075-211-7537

https://www.iozon.co.jp

Japan, where four seasons cycle through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. IWATA develops bedding that ensures healthy sleep throughout the seasons, considering the changing bedroom environments according to each season and region. Its design concept is "Authentic & Sustainable." The foundation of IWATA's high-performance bedding, evidenced by numerous patents and its quality, is imbued with great kindness towards people and the environment, and a sense of luxury.

IWATA is committed to sustainable manufacturing that reduces environmental impact for future generations through the use of natural materials, long-life design, maintenance, recycling, upcycling, and the utilization of domestic wood and bamboo.

Store Information

IWATA Logo

Custom Bedding Specialty Store IWATA

Kyoto Main Store: 3-jo sagaru, Sakaimachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, 604-8182

TEL: 075-241-2332 Business Hours: 11:00 - 19:00 Regular Holiday: Wednesday

Tokyo Store: 4F, TOC Building, 7-22-17 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0031

TEL: 03-5989-0838 Business Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 Regular Holiday: Wednesday (excluding national holidays) Summer/Year-end holidays

Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka Store: B1F, Palais Royal, 5-3-68 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, 530-0005 (Inside Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka)

TEL: 06-6479-2870 Business Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 Regular Holiday: Tuesday/Wednesday for the time being

Nihonbashi Store: 3F, Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. New Building, 2-5-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-6103

TEL: 03-6262-5666 Business Hours: 10:30 - 20:00