【Visiting a Dream Property】What is life like in Hayama with a dirt floor, walking my dog along the beach?

Mr. Takayama, a designer living with his beloved dog, resides in a rental home about a 9-minute walk from Morito Beach in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture. He has creatively utilized the feature of this property, the earthen floor (DOMA), as a design office while comfortably creating separate living spaces. We spoke with Mr. Takayama about his life with "dogs, the sea, and the earthen floor."

Keisuke Takayama
Born on July 22, 1986, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Editorial designer.
After graduating from the Bunka Fashion College, he joined a design firm. After leaving, he moved to London, and upon returning to Japan, he became a freelancer. His beloved dog, Shimaru-kun, is a 5-and-a-half-year-old miniature pinscher.

He dreams of a life walking his dog by the seaside

His home features a 1LDK (35.21m2) on the first floor plus a loft (15.1m2). The image shows the office desk located toward the back from the entrance area, which is a DOMA (a mudroom garage, 6 tatami mats).

Walking by the seaside in Hayama with his dog and working from home with a mudroom. This is the daily life of freelancer editorial designer Keisuke Takayama. A dreamlike life with dogs, the sea, and a mudroom—what kind of life does he lead?

—Please tell us how you spend your day.

Takayama: "I go for a walk with my dog to the sea almost every day. I’m woken up by my dog (Shimaru-kun) around 4 to 5 AM, so I feed him. After he takes a second nap, he wakes up again around 6 AM, and we go for a walk to the sea."

"After returning home, I take a bath and relax with some coffee. I start work around 9 AM."

My dog and SAP.

—It's wonderful to walk by the beach with your dog every morning.

Takayama: "It's really pleasant. Morito Beach isn't that wide, but there are many people walking their dogs, and it's fun to exchange greetings. The morning sea is really refreshing after all."

—How do you spend your afternoons?

Takayama: "It depends on work, but I usually wrap up around 5 to 6 PM and take this child out for a walk. I let my clients know that I’m available until 8 PM, so after that, I cook for myself and go to bed by 9 PM."

A bright work space with light streaming in.

—Very healthy indeed.

Takayama: "This child wakes up and gets hungry at the same time every day, so since moving here, I've had no need for an alarm clock. When I lived in the city, I used to do reckless things like drinking for 30 hours straight in Shibuya, but I don’t drink much anymore."

Arriving at a Hayama life with a dirt floor

—So, why did you decide to live in Zushi-Hayama?

Takayama: "I used to live in Sangenjaya, but in the summer, I often went to beach houses in Enoshima, Yuigahama, and Zaimokuza to drink. Among those, my favorite place was Zushi-Hayama. The atmosphere just fit me."

—What kind of atmosphere fit you?

Takayama: "Each beach has its own color. For example, Yuigahama has a lot of party people, Enoshima has a slightly mischievous vibe. Zushi and Hayama are in between, with both types of people, but there’s no sense of fear, and I liked the perfect balance." <

—So that’s why you chose Hayama?

Takayama: "Yes. At that time, I wanted to live a life where I could walk my dog by the sea, so I started looking for pet-friendly properties close to the ocean. Eventually, I found a place about a 25-minute walk from my previous home at Zushi Beach." <

"But as I was looking for a house even closer to the sea with a unique layout, I came across this property with a dirt floor." <

The DOMA (dirt floor), which can also be used as a motorcycle garage, serves as an area for putting on shoes.

—How is it to live here?

Takayama: "It's very comfortable. I set up a desk in the dirt floor area to create a workspace, so it's easier to switch between work and private life."

High ceilings. I've heard you can see the moon through the upper window at night.

—Are there any other ways you have devised to switch between work and private life?

Takayama: "I wear socks while working."

—Socks?

Takayama: "When I go to the office, I wear shoes, right? I don't really work in bare feet or beach sandals."

"So to switch my mood, I deliberately wear socks. Also, I drink with a straw in my drink. It's a small habit, but after doing it for over ten years, I've realized that this style is comfortable for me."

The wall layout with a consistent tone and favorite items is also stylish.

—What has been the best thing about choosing this home?

Takayama: "Being close to the ocean and having a dirt floor means this child won't become sedentary. To maintain this quality of life, I feel motivated to think, 'I have to do my best at work!'"

Due to Mr. Takayama's influence, some people have moved from the city

next to a 12-tatami mat LDK is a DOMA (a dirt-floor space).

—What do the people around you say about your current life?

Takayama: "Friends who knew me well from the times when I used to drink often say, 'Isn't it a bit early to retire?' However, due to my influence, there are about two people who have also moved from the city to Kamakura or Zushi."

—What attracted those people to move here?

Takayama: "While the proximity to the sea is a positive factor, I think being tired of city living is also significant. I sometimes feel like going to the city, but when I imagine actually going, it becomes a hassle. I only go to the city a few times a year now."

"It's also since moving here that I've started informing clients that 'business hours are until 8 PM'."

—Why did you decide that?

Takayama: "When I lived in the city, the streets were active even at night, so I wasn't very sleepy. But here, it gets quiet when it gets dark, and I naturally feel sleepy."<

The DOMA is used not only as a work desk but also as an entrance and storage space.

—You've adopted a more human-like rhythm of life.

Takayama: "Yes, I've naturally started to reform my way of working, and I believe I've achieved a lifestyle that suits the times and is truly my own."

"Also, perhaps because I stopped placing a large sofa, I've stopped being lazy."

Adjusting the tone to skillfully layout the space

An interior view from a 10-mat loft. The large windows allow for enjoyment of seasonal scenery.

—It's a very tasteful interior, but do you have any particular preferences?

Takayama: "I try to match the overall tone as much as possible. Influenced by my father who loved gardening, I also make sure to have plants. I utilize storage made of bricks and countertops in the mudroom and kitchen. It's very convenient because it’s easy to adjust the height."

—You're also good at using the space well.

Takayama: "When placed side by side, the space appears wider, so I’ve designed the mudroom that way. I want to make effective use of the limited space, so I’ve stopped buying things that would just become garbage."<

The greenery serves as an accent in the room while also making it harder for guests to see into the kitchen due to the presence of plants.

—How do you utilize the loft?

Takayama: "I use it for sleeping and storing clothes. From the loft, you can see the Hayama mountain range, and in spring, the mountain cherry blossoms bloom. It's a space where you can relax and feel the changing seasons."

A stylish exterior. It is sometimes mistaken for a shop and has people peeking in.

—What a wonderful life. I envy you.

Takayama: "I want to continue my current lifestyle as much as possible. But someday, I'd like to live in a warehouse or a single-story house."

The stylish Takayama-san, and also the good boy who has always been good, Shimaru-kun. Thank you!

Inquiry for properties / YK Life Marketing
A company that handles designer rentals such as garage houses and pet-friendly homes in seaside towns. If you're interested, please contact us here.
https://hayama-zushi.style/
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Interview & text / Hisashi Natsuno Photography / Masashi Kakino

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