about
the minka
A restored Kanazawa guest house, garden restaurant and creative retreat shaped by Japanese simplicity, handcrafted detail and a lifetime of hospitality.
Modern Minka is a place to stay, gather, learn and slow down in the heart of Kanazawa. Set within a restored private residence and converted teahouse, it brings together boutique accommodation, garden-inspired Japanese dining, hands-on workshops and intimate seasonal retreats.
Rooted in quiet minimalism and the beauty of handcrafted detail, Modern Minka offers more than a visit. It is an invitation to experience Japanese living through food, garden, craft, ritual and place.
Experiences
At the centre of Modern Minka is dining and experiences designed to immerse guests in the rhythm, restraint and richness of Japanese culture. From thoughtful workshop sessions to multi-day retreats, each offering is shaped to encourage connection: to craft, to seasonality, to the garden, to food, and to the quiet pleasure of making time.
Workshops are designed to be tactile, intimate and meaningful, giving guests the chance to slow down and participate in the kinds of everyday arts that define Japanese living: arranging, making, tasting, observing and appreciating the details often missed in ordinary travel.
Weekend retreats offer a deeper way to experience Modern Minka. Guests can stay within the restored teahouse, enjoy garden-inspired dining, take part in curated workshops, and use the property as a serene base for discovering Kanazawa or the wider Hokuriku region.
danielle gjestland
Modern Minka is directed by Danielle Gjestland, an Australian entrepreneur whose career has been defined by a deep connection to Japanese culture, regional produce, thoughtful design and exceptional guest experiences.
Danielle grew up in Sunshine Beach, Queensland and began her career in tourism before opening Wasabi Restaurant & Bar in Noosa in 2003, at just 24 years old. At the time, despite Noosa’s reputation as a world-renowned tourism destination, it had no Japanese restaurants. Wasabi began as a pioneering local dining destination before growing into one of Australia’s most respected regional restaurants.
Under Danielle’s guidance, Wasabi moved from its original Sunshine Beach site to Noosa Sound on the Noosa River and earned national recognition, including two Chef Hats, Good Food Guide Regional Restaurant of the Year, and recognition in The Australian’s Hot 50 lists. Wasabi was also recognised as Queensland’s number one restaurant in the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100.
Danielle’s long relationship with Japan has been central to her work. Through regular trips to Japan, she sourced ingredients, ceramics and ideas, visited sake breweries, and explored the traditions that shaped Wasabi’s omakase-style dining experience. She also gained Sake Sommelier accreditation in 2015.
That same respect for craft, seasonality and restraint informs Modern Minka. Rather than chasing trends, the brand is guided by enduring principles: simplicity, quality, usefulness and a strong sense of place.
From Restaurant to Farm to Home
In 2012, Danielle began developing Honeysuckle Hill Farm to grow Japanese ingredients that were otherwise difficult to source locally. The farm also used the Japanese Bokashi system, returning organic matter from the restaurant to the soil and completing a thoughtful paddock-to-plate cycle.
That same commitment continues through Modern Minka, her home in Japan now: valuing what is grown, made and experienced with care from the ground up. Growing Japanese ingredients from scratch requires patience, respect for the seasons and care for the soil, and those values now shape experiences that help guests understand the depth and intention behind Japanese food, farming and culture.
Our Philosophy
Considered simplicity: creating spaces and objects that feel calm, functional and uncluttered.
Natural materials: favouring texture, tactility and materials that age with character.
Japanese inspiration: honouring craft, restraint, ritual and the beauty of everyday details.
Australian ease: designing for relaxed, practical living in contemporary homes & regional settings.
Hospitality at heart: bringing warmth, care and attention to every interaction.
Experiences with meaning: offering workshops and retreats that allow guests to learn, taste, make and reconnect in a considered setting.
Welcome to Modern Minka
Modern Minka is for people who are drawn to spaces with soul: places that invite slower living, thoughtful choices and a deeper connection to culture, craft and season. Guided by Danielle Gjestland’s experience across Japanese hospitality, sustainable food culture and design-led service, Modern Minka brings together accommodation, dining, workshops and weekend retreats in a distinctly personal way.
