This floating hotel will take you around Japan’s scenic coastlines

When holiday accommodation is lovely, it can be a wrench leaving it to go off and see the sights. A new floating hotel in Japan will solve that problem, however, as it will take you around scenic coastlines in the Seto Inland Sea.

The luxury ship, named “guntû” departs from and returns to the Bella Vista Marina in Onomichi City, and provides Japanese inn-style accommodation. It has 19 passenger cabins with ocean views and terraces, and it carries guests around the scenic locations scattered along the Chugoku and Shikoku coastlines.

guntû doesn’t pull into shore, but moors at various locations in the Seto Inland Sea. From there, tender boats transport passengers to visit various islands, depending on the route, such as Miyajima Island where the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima-jinja shrine is located, and Naoshima Island, which is famous for its art museums. The ship provides six westbound and eastbound routes in the Seto Inland Sea, and the voyages last from two to four days.

While on board, guests can enjoy the views from the observation deck, and their dining options include a tearoom, cocktail bar and sushi bar. The main dining menu features seasonal specialties from the Setouchi area. Relaxation options include a sauna, beauty treatment room and communal bath.

The floating hotel was designed by Yasushi Horibe, and takes its name from the Asian paddle crab, a species of blue swimmer crab that is found throughout the Seto Inland Sea. The crab is frequently used to make miso soup in the ship’s home port of Onomichi. guntû was named after it in the hope that it will also become one of the subtle delights of Setouchi.

For further information on booking guntû, see here.