Machi-no-Eki Yusuhara (Community Market and Hotel)

Machi-no-Eki Yusuhara is a community complex in the mountain village of Yusuhara, designed by Kengo Kuma and finished in 2010. The exterior uses bundles of cedar and wisteria set into the facade in a pattern referencing the traditional thatched construction of the region, and the building has drawn architecture visitors to this otherwise remote Kochi village. Inside, a market sells local vegetables, Yusuhara cedar products, and specialty foods from the surrounding area. A small hotel occupies the upper floors, and a library branch is integrated into the complex. The village sits at around 900 meters elevation in the Shikoku highlands, and the cool air and forest setting make it a distinct stop on a mountain drive through Kochi.