COVA KAKUDA

The winding bays and inlets of Ago Bay, a unique marine ecosystem dotted with 60-some craggy ria islands, is the 19th-century birthplace of pearl cultivation. Its pearl farms, fisheries, and villages embody the idea of satoumi, coastal areas where biodiversity is increased through human contact. In the delicate balance of satoumi, humans do not just take from the rich bounty of the sea or land but are an integral part of a virtuous cycle, enriching their world even as it sustains them.

In recent years, however, the traditional models of satoumi have broken down, facing pressure from water degradation, climate change, and urban flight. Cova Kakuda, a new ultra-private retreat near the remote town of Shima, seeks to find a new model of satoumi to sustain the region into the future.

Cova is part of the venerable, family-owned Kakuda Pearl company and occupies the oceanfront site of a disused Akoya pearl farm and workshop from 1931. The existing buildings have been stylishly renovated and expanded to create 4 secluded villas, each with a distinct design inspired by its previous incarnation. The retreat offers an all-inclusive model that encompasses not just meals provided by a private chef but also a range of cultural and wellness activities.

To help preserve the natural environment, the resort centers sustainable operations, farming food on site, composting waste, renewably harvesting firewood from the surrounding forest, and recycling and upcycling ocean trash gleaned from the bay. They also support the establishment and training of new pearl farmers, providing jobs that keep local youth from moving to the city and a sustaining a healthy population of Akoya oysters to clean the waters of Ago Bay.

Cova is proving that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of luxury. On the contrary, it enables and preserves the secluded natural beauty and unique cultural immersion that define the luxury ryokan experience.