TŌKA 's Story
The Journey of TŌKA
A Haven Where Nature and People Intertwine
When I first visited Oita more than a decade ago, something quiet within me whispered, “One day, I going to live here.” Back in Tokyo, as I raised my children and ran a small shop and workshops, I found myself rethinking food, daily rhythms, and what it truly means to live well. A few years later, that path led me to the Kunisaki Peninsula and to this house—a place that felt as though it had been waiting for me.It has since become the heart and beginning of TŌKA .
Encountering the House
The property spans over 200 tsubo, 660㎡ = 7,100 sq ft. With three buildings set among a Japanese garden, a hand-drawn well, a small field, and the gentle presence of animals.Our life here is also connected to the family who once cared for this home former educators whose stories still linger in its rooms. Their daughters’ passions for photography and horses somehow intertwined with my own path, adding yet another quiet thread of connection.This house was originally built by its first owner, who had found great success in California before returning to create this place. I, too, was born in California, and the same sense of openness, warmth, and freedom that shaped my early life is something I feel deeply here as well. All these pieces came together in a way so naturally that it felt less like coincidence and more like something meant to be.
I knew then that there was no other place for me.To be continued…
Before a new chapter began
This house carried the family crestthe "Kamon"of its previous owners "Gyōyo", adorned with an elegant motif of apricot leaves.Within its design lies a quiet message to walk with nature and to nurture life.
Here, I Anzu, whose name also means “apricot” have been weaving my days with many helping hands, renovating, restoring, and slowly shaping a way of life, piece by piece.The vegetables from our garden and the time shared with our chickens, ducks, and goats remind me of a simple truth: food is the source of life.Our playful phrase, “Anzu, come on!”, began as a bit of wordplay, yet over time it became a joyful call a symbol of connection.
Here, where nature and people, heart and body, come together again, I hope to continue writing a new story one that grows gently from this place.
Working Together
Days Built in Harmony
It would never have been possible without the support of volunteers. Every joy, every challenge, every unexpected moment held meaning and together, they shaped what Tōka is today.
Even when things didn’t go as planned, we learned to embrace each moment as part of nature’s rhythm, growing through patience, understanding, and care. Through these shared experiences, we have built not just a place, but a community one woven with gratitude beyond words.
Food touches both the body
and the heart.
At Tōka, we honor food by living in rhythm with nature. Our free-range chickens, ducks, goats, and the harvest from our fields we cook by embracing the life and seasons they offer. We use no chemical seasonings or additives, allowing each ingredient’s natural strength to shine. Our meals focus on gentle digestion and “light, effortless detox,” supporting the body without burden.May each dish soften your heart and guide you toward a quiet harmony with nature. Vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options are available upon request.
食は心と身体をつくる
Sauna & Workshops
At Tōka, the sauna experience begins long before you enter the heat.
Nature itself prepares your body.
The gentle warmth of SGE stones rises like energy from deep within the earth,
quietly warming you from the inside out.Your senses sharpen, and a calm settles deep within your chest.
Heat, breath, circulation your body and the natural world begin to move as one continuous cycle. Our farm experiences, meals, fermentation classes, and handcraft workshops
all grew from this same “rhythm of nature and daily life.” With the safety of certified AT guides and WAFA training, You can spend time here returning to yourself—quietly, deeply, and naturally.
Anzu MAMA
（Anzu Monica Maki）
Through cooking and orthomolecular nutrition, I place great value on both food and learning. I focus on gentle, nourishing, and uniquely crafted gluten-free meals, believing that food connects people and allows us to share knowledge across cultures.
Today, I run a retreat-style guesthouse where visitors can “stay as if they live here,” a place where daily life naturally blends learning and healing.
Through activities such as gardening, fermentation and handcraft workshops,
and sauna sessions in nature, guests can feel the seasons and the cycle of life with all five senses.Here at Tōka, I hope each person can find balance in body and mind,and quietly return to themselves while living in harmony with nature.