310 Mount Admire Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723

Hinoki House is a rare architectural offering in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Japanese-inspired design and natural landscape exist in quiet balance. Set on more than 17 acres within gated Cullowhee Forest, the property offers privacy, riverfrontage, and a level of serenity increasingly difficult to find. A collaboration between the owners and MossCreek Designs, the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath residence reflects the restraint and simplicity of traditional Asian architecture while embracing the scale and beauty of its mountain setting. Designed as a glass lantern with windows wrapping both levels, the home maximizes light and vertical space with ceilings of 12 feet or higher, expansive open-concept living, dining, and kitchen areas, and two main-level bedrooms with two-and-a-half baths. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw the outdoors in, framing views of a private waterfall, cascading water features, deep granite pools, and hundreds of feet of riverfrontage. Douglas fir lodge-pole framing, mulberry and cedar walls and ceilings sourced from the Pacific Northwest, and Brazilian cherry hardwood floors add warmth and craftsmanship throughout. The lower level includes two additional bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate kitchen, a bonus room, and a laundry area, offering flexibility for guests or extended stays. Wraparound covered decks on both levels extend the living spaces outdoors, overlooking hiking trails, koi ponds, outdoor showers, Japanese gardens, a fire pit, and a dining gazebo — all set against sweeping mountain views. From the gorge to the mountaintop knoll, the landscape feels both expansive and deeply private. The estate includes a 6.37-acre primary lot and an 11.47-acre secondary parcel featuring a nearly level mountaintop knoll, ideal for a second dwelling. Well-loved and carefully maintained, Hinoki House represents a rarely available architectural retreat, where thoughtful design and irreplaceable natural setting converge. Cullowhee Forest provides a scenic private approach to this end-of-the-road property, along with a 75-foot waterfall, High Falls trail access, and fiber-optic internet. Located 25 minutes from Cashiers for shopping, dining, and recreation; 15 minutes from Lake Glenville and two restaurants with live music; approximately 60 miles from Asheville and its regional airport; and within a two- to three-hour drive of Atlanta, Charlotte, and Greenville.