Photo Gallery

Ariel View of Asahi Loft

Nestled in the south east corner of Harmony, Minnesota, the Asahi Loft is heated and cooled by geothermal technology. That means no upstairs stuffy bedroom with a roaring window air conditioner. The Asahi Loft is a separate building located to the west of the Ofstedal's home and the deck overlooks rustic farm buildings.

Front view of the loft

You will find ample off-road parking and room for those special bikes too. To the left you can see the private and spacious deck with a table, umbrella and comfortable chairs which will allow you hours of relaxation.

About Us

After 25 years of teaching in Tokyo, Doug and I are now "living in Harmony". We loved our jobs teaching at International School of the Sacred Heart (Cindy) and St. Mary's International School (Doug) and found the Japanese people and culture to be wonderful. The Asahi Loft is one way we can share our Asian life with you.

Antique Stone Lantern

Finding this stone lantern in our Tokyo neighborhood antique shop was exciting. Getting it shipped back to Minnesota was more of a challenge. The lantern welcomes you at the foot of the deck entrance to the loft.

Antique Scroll

At the Oi Flea Market this old, water damaged scroll caught our eye. It beautifully fills this area at the bottom of the interior stairway. Both entrances can be locked for safety and privacy.

Please allow time to visit Asahi Antiques, located in the basement of our home. There are a wide variety of antiques and collectibles with a wide price range too. Take home an antique to remind you of a special visit to the Asahi Loft of Harmony.

Closet

When the Arai family home was going to be demolished in Shibuya we were able to save several shoji doors and screens. Our contractor expertly fit them as doors to the closet. The ranma (transoms) above the doors are hand carved. In traditional Japanese housing ranma are used to allow ventilation. Three ranma can be found as accents in the loft.

Top of the interior stairs

Behind the sliding shoji doors you will find ample space for your hanging clothes and shelves for your belongings.

LIving area

Behind the Japanese bamboo screens you will find cable television, but you can leave them closed if you came to Harmony to get away from such distractions. The gas fireplace below will add just the right atmosphere on chilly nights.

Happy Buddha

We like to decorate our homes with Japanese scrolls which can easily be changed with the seasons. We often refer to this character as Happy Buddha when in fact he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan, Hotei, the fat and happy god of abundance and good health.

Kanji Meaning "Nothing"

Nothing...that is what should concern you during your stay at Asahi Loft. This print is from the famous Kato Gallery in Hiroo.

The wide angle view of the Asahi Loft

A full kitchen awaits you at the Asahi Loft. Mr. Yutzy, our Amish woodworker, was able to incorporate antique Japanese doors into the custom made shelving. The lower cupboards are fashioned to look like those in a Japanese farmhouse. A trestle style table allows you to dine in, or you can enjoy the many fine restaurants that Harmony has to offer.

Beautiful Japanese Dishes

We loved to sift through antique shops and weekend flea markets in Japan looking for both antiques and collectibles. We hope you will enjoy using the beautiful collection during your stay. Coffee and a wide variety of teas are available for you to enjoy.

Spacious Four Foot Shower

Warm colors of slate greet you after a refreshing shower. Guests will find blue and white yukata (bathrobes) waiting for them.

Serenity Bath

As bathing is such an integral part of the Japanese culture, it was important to find the perfect deep soaking tub. "The Serenity model air tub has 60 air jets which release thousands of heated bubbles which excite the skin and massage the entire body." The extra deep and wide tub allows for comfortable bathing for one or two persons.

Vessel sink in Amish cabinetry

While shopping in the pottery villages of Okinawa, Japan, we fell in love with the handcrafted vessel sinks but realized the difficulty in transporting such a fragile item back to Minnesota. Luckily, a local Harmony potter, Lu Ommen, was willing to try his hand at such a project. The resulting sink set the color scheme of the Loft.

Easy Access to the Bike Trail

The Loft is only minutes from the Harmony-Preston Bike Trail. Chuck and Brit get ready for an early morning round trip ride to Lanesboro. In the winter the same trail is a wonderful cross country ski trail with a chance to see deer, cardinals, and even bald eagles along a picturesque trout stream.

Comfortable king size bed

Mr. Yutze just finished our custom made headboard last summer. A guest this spring commented that she would like the headboard attached to the wall so that she could read in bed more easily. We took that suggestion and recent guests have been very pleased with the change. We take seriously all comments from our guests and try to improve the Asahi Loft to make it a wonderful experience for you.

The "dryer" ...your sheets, towels and yukata are line dried for you

Quiet reading corner

We have added a more comfortable chair for the reading corner. A large sake barrel with glass surface works as a table. The high speed wifi was upgraded with second wireless router. Stay connected with Skype and plan your next day's activities.