Offering the charm of Japan's beautiful "agriculture" and a high-quality gastronomic travel experience AUBERGE de SENVIE Grand opening in Sakurai, Nara on April 24, 2025

Hirakawa Trading Co. (Yao City, Osaka; President: Haruki Hirakawa) has been selected by the Designated Manager Selection Committee of the Nara Prefectural Government's Food and Agriculture Promotion Division as the prospective designated manager of the "Nara International University for the Creation of Attractive Food and Agriculture Practice Auberge Building" in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, and will begin operating the "AUBERGE de SENVIE" on April 24, 2025, under the theme of sensory and life activities. The Auberge de SENVIE will begin operations on April 24, 2025, with the theme of the life of the senses and life as its theme.

The students of the "Nara International College for the Creation of Appeal of Food and Agriculture," who are the future of food in Japan, a country of gourmet food, will receive practical training in cooking and service, thereby contributing to the development of highly skilled "food leaders". The view from the suite

View from the suite

AUBERGE de SENVIE" BRAND IDENTITY

AUBERGE de SENVIE" BRAND IDENTITY

Sens (senses) x Vie (life)

We hope that visitors will taste the bounty and culture of the land with their five senses and feel the richness of life. It is also a "tribute" to Sakurai, the place where various Japanese cultures began.

Rooted in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, which is mentioned in the Manyoshu, we sublimate local traditional ingredients with French techniques to create new values in the spirit of "Shozen Keigo".

Shozen Keigo: To inherit the past and open up a new era.

Brand Color

Greenish blue

Roku-Sho" is a bright, austere, bluish-green color. It is a color that goes well with Nara's traditional vegetables and Sakurai City's "sakura" (cherry blossoms).

It is also a color suitable for Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, where it is used for historic buildings and sculptures such as shrines and temples.

Brand Logo

Embodiment of Life

The crest design is based on the Tomoe pattern, which symbolizes the flow and circulation of life. Tomoe-gara has long been familiar as a traditional Japanese pattern, representing the providence and harmony of nature, and at the same time symbolizing energy in constant motion. The spirit of "Shouzen Keigo" (inheriting the past and opening up a new era), which is also used to symbolize "embodiment of life" that lasts forever, has been sublimated into a refined geometric design in the shape of the Tomoe pattern.

Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, the place where Japanese culture began

Sakurai City, in Nara Prefecture, is a land of deep history where many aspects of Japanese culture began, including the oldest shrine in Japan, "Ogami Shrine," the oldest road in Japan, "Yamanobe-no-michi," as well as sake, capital, performing arts, culture, and poetry.

Sakurai City in Nara, where beautiful nature of each season and Japanese culture are fused together, is a special place that evokes nostalgic feelings for Japanese people, and a "beautiful Japan" that attracts the attention of many international travelers.

At AUBERGE de SENVIE, you will be able to experience the charms of Nara Prefecture through all five senses during your stay, not only with foodstuffs related to "agriculture" but also with furniture and items made from Nara Prefecture's cedar, cypress, quince and other woods, and carefully selected and prepared in-room Nara Prefecture-produced beverages.

Restaurant dining scene (Nara Prefecture wood show plate)

Lounge

About Nara International University for Food and Agriculture Creation (NAFIC)

NAFIC is a university where students can learn about "food" and "agriculture" in their entirety in order to develop human resources who are familiar with the sequence of how agricultural products are grown, distributed, prepared, and delivered to the table, and who will support the world of food and agriculture with security and trust.

There are two departments, the Department of Food Creative and the Department of Agri-Management, and AUBERGE de SENVIE also plays a role in nurturing future human resources through its "Auberge Practicum" program in cooperation with NAFIC.

The thought that goes into each and every piece of tableware, such as glasses and cutlery.

AUBERGE de SENVIE restaurants use many carefully selected items from the world's most prestigious manufacturers, such as Robmeyer, Zalto, and Riedel wineglasses and Christofle cutlery. This is not only to ensure that our guests have an elegant and quality time, but also to give the university students who experience auberge training an early exposure to the world's highest quality so that they can learn how to handle them with care and cultivate a sense of respect for each and every piece of tableware that colors their dining experience. This is our hope.

About AUBERGE de SENVIE

Auberge de SENVIE is an auberge restaurant with two suites and seven standard rooms (one of which is a universal room), where the theme is the life of the senses and life. The restaurant offers a high-quality gastronomic travel experience in Sakurai, Nara, based on the hospitality and sustainability cultivated at "sankara hotel&spa Yakushima (Kagoshima Prefecture)," which is also a group facility.

Chef Profile

Chef Urabe

Hiroshi Urabe

Born in Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture. He is a member of Toc Blanche International Club and Japan Charcuterie Association. After graduating from a culinary school in Fukuoka, he studied at the Imperial Hotel Osaka for 14 years. He has won numerous awards in culinary competitions and honed his French cooking skills and creativity. He sublimates the climate and history of Nara into French cuisine based on "local production for local consumption" utilizing local ingredients. With the creed, "Cooking is about love, sincerity, and ingenuity," he offers a unique gastronomic experience.

Awards

3rd Prize in the 1st "Under 29" Culinary Competition

T-FAL Prize, 6th Pâte Creut World Championships in Asia

Bocuse d'Or 2023 Japan Preliminary Round Finalist

7th Pâté-Croute World Championships in Asia, Finalist

Dinner

Specialty: Nara strawberries and lobster

Specialty: Somen noodles from Miwa, the birthplace of somen noodle making.

Breakfast (for hotel guests only)

Breakfast omelette

Breakfast scenery

Business Hours and Charges

［Business Hours］Breakfast 7:30-10:00 (L/O 9:00)

　　　　　　Lunch 12:00-15:00(L/O 13:30)

　　　　　　Dinner 18:00-22:00(L/O 20:00)

　　　　　　Other food and beverage Lounge use 19:00~24:00(L/O 23:30)

［Price］ Lunch: 5,500 yen / 7,700 yen / 11,000 yen (tax and service charge included)

　　　　　　Dinner: 16,500 yen / 25,300 yen (incl. tax and service charge)

　　　　　　Lodging: 42,300 yen (tax and service charge included) - 1 night with evening breakfast

　　　　　　　　　　　Price per person based on double occupancy.

■Opening limited souvenir distribution

We hope that the opening of the hotel will be a good opportunity for you to visit Nara Prefecture, and we will provide "original red seal booklets" to the first 100 guests who arrive.

Outline of the facility

Facility name: AUBERGE de SENVIE

Opening : April 24, 2025

Location ： 2217 Takaya, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture

TEL ： 0744-42-0505

MAIL : reservation.senvie@hirakawa-corp.com

Reservation method: Online reservation (official website) or by phone

HP ： https://www.hirakawa-corp.com/senvie

About Hirakawa Shoji Co.

Under the management philosophy of "creating affluence," the company provides services that enrich people's lives from various angles, including food, health, and entertainment. Currently, the company is developing 11 businesses in a diversified manner, and is striving to create a spiritually rich society.

Company name: Hirakawa Shoji Co.

Head Office: 1-118 Shiki-machi, Yao, Osaka, Japan

Representative ： Haruki Hirakawa, President and Representative Director

Establishment : June 1957

Business : Hotel and restaurant business, real estate business, interior design business, pachinko,

　　　　　　 Amusement business, Hot springs business, Golf business, Fitness business,

　　　　　　 Apparel business, Clean energy business, Wagyu cattle breeding business

HP ： https://hirakawa-corp.com/