Much has been made of the design at Momiji, the upcoming Japanese restaurant of Steven Han (Umi, Kushibar). As you’ll see in the photos here, the buzz is not unwarranted—at the least, Han is delivering something unique to Seattle.

Momiji meaning maple tree, three variants of the wood dominate. A bar accommodating 24 anchors the front of the house; amble back a sleek hallway and find a sushi counter, DJ stand, and brawny booths and tables, all of them handcrafted by renowned woodworker Craig Yamamoto. Descend another hallway (“I like splitting up spaces,” explains Han) and you’re in a more intimate dining room, back-lit paper murals festooning its walls. Streaks of amber pepper the leafy artwork “like the changing colors of maple trees,” cooed Han during our tour. At the center of it all is Momiji’s piece de resistance: a Kyoto-style garden courtyard, where in warmer months you can dine alfresco.

Curious yet? Click through the slideshow to take a look around.

All photos by Seattlemet.com photographer Lucas Anderson.