Tree Hut on Volcano: This Treehouse in Japan is Minimal Escape from City Lights

There is something alluring about treehouses that everyone seems to fancy living in them. Whether located in the interiors of Iran or nestled in New York, treehouse stays are an enticing escape for mundane routines. Take this quaint little establishment in Japan for instance. Perched on steel columns (15cm in diameter) and penetrated by a dogwood tree stands a tiny house called Tree Hut on Volcano.

Made by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP architects, the treehouse is located 2km from Owakudani, Kanagawa in Japan, which is a volcanic valley filled with sulfuric plumes. It may sound frightening, but don’t worry, the treehouse is raised about 5m above the ground to avoid the heavy air containing hydrogen sulfide and moisture flowing near the ground surface.

The architects made the 19-square-meter hut as per their client’s requirement, who wants to sell it further someday. Combining art and architecture with a dash of minimalism, Tree Hut on Volcano is a wooden cabin resembling a shrine. The entrance to the treehouse is by a staircase that blends with the trees so naturally that it’s hard to spot it. The structure is poised on a deck that is pierced by a tree, which offers shade in the summer and sunlight in the winter when it sheds its leaves.

The interior is not very spacious but minimal enough to accommodate a bed and other necessities for a comfortable stay. There is a small bathroom and a kitchen with cabinetries, though you might have to cook your food on the iron stove placed in the center of the hut.

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A large south-facing window opens toward the forest with sublime light pouring down from the skylight that creates a serene atmosphere all around. Promoting minimal lifestyle, the Tree Hut on Volcano is indeed a minimal escape from city lights.

Balancing on three columns designed to sway slightly in the wind or when inhabitants on the top move about; the treehouse accommodation may let you experience the peculiarity of a dancing treehouse.