Like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie, guntû is a magical, floating boutique-hotel-cum-cruise-concept in Japan’s serene and jaw-droppingly picturesque Seto Inland Sea. It’s the getaway to end all getaways. Once onboard, guests are encouraged to let time pass slowly, allowing their senses to explore their surroundings and find their zen. Ours, it turned out, was to be found primarily in the food, thanks to guntû’s executive chef Kenzo Sato, of Tokyo’s illustrious Shigeyoshi restaurant, who creates bespoke menus tailored not only to guests’ tastes, but also to their mood, the ship’s location and the weather. If that isn’t enough, behind the main dining room is a ‘secret’ floating six-seater omakase sushi counter, where sushi master Nobuo Sakamoto uses only the freshest fish caught directly from Seto Inland Sea that day to prepare Setouchi sushi – melt-in-your-mouth delicacies unique to guntû.
Photography courtesy of guntû
