Scene stealer

A rural Japanese restaurant takes inspiration from the landscape

A cornucopia of natural materials sourced from the landscape temper the minimalist interiors of new restaurant Sower, overlooking the serene waters of Lake Biwa in Japan’s mountainous Shiga Prefecture. Located in the grounds of L’hotel du Lac and designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio, the restaurant is accessed via large doors, made from assamela wood, with clean-lined copper handles and ceramic inserts. Guests can dine at a large terrazzo-style counter, which wraps around an open kitchen, or at circular Japanese ash tables with oxidised black legs, on oak chairs with woven cord seats by Danish brand &Tradition. Meanwhile, atmospheric light fixtures are provided by New Light Pottery, in collaboration with the Shiga-based contemporary ceramics studio Nota & Design. The setting offers the perfect backdrop to the culinary innovations of US chef Coleman Griffin, who prepares bold and imaginative visual feasts using ingredients sourced from the surrounding land and waters, served on ceramics by 2016/Arita Japan, where Teruhiro Yanagihara serves as creative director, and Nota & Design. @restaurant_sower

At new rural Japanese restaurant Sower, designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio, a terrazzo-style counter (this picture) wraps around an open kitchen, next to a wall of tiles by Nota & Design, who also created some of the ceramics (below)