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HOSHINOYA Karuizawa is nestled in a valley between the government-designated Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary and Hoshino Hill. Surrounded by the abundant natural beauty of the foothills of Mount Asama, this birthplace of the HOSHINOYA brand is conceived around the idea of “staying in a village in the valley.”
Rooted in a philosophy of living in coexistence and harmony with nature—a value inherited from its predecessor, Hoshino Onsen Ryokan—the resort imagines an alternative Japan: one in which Japanese culture had continued to evolve and mature into the present day. Its landscape evokes a vision of modernised Japan that has preserved a distinctly Japanese sensibility. This is reflected in features such as living rooms designed around sitting on the floor, hydroelectric power generation, and buildings positioned around trees preserved as habitats for Japanese flying squirrels. Together, they draw on the methods once used in traditional Japanese homes and on principles of environmental conservation.
From guest rooms surrounded by trees and water, visitors can observe the changing expressions of nature throughout the day and across the seasons. They can relax beside the resort’s iconic terraced garden, which reveals a different character depending on the viewpoint, and restore both body and mind in the free-flowing natural hot springs and relaxation spa.
By day, the expansive grounds offer an open and liberating immersion in nature. At night, the resort transforms into a private retreat where light and shadow are used to striking effect, inspired by the Japanese aesthetic celebrated in In Praise of Shadows. Through a range of experiences shaped by the rich natural environment of Mount Asama’s foothills, guests are invited to enjoy a deeply peaceful and restorative stay.
At the main dining restaurant, Japanese Restaurant Kasuke, located beside the terraced garden, guests are served a meticulously prepared “Mountain Kaiseki” for dinner, featuring ingredients sourced from the mountains and rivers. Breakfast is the gently flavoured “Mountain Breakfast,” made with a vegetable broth prepared from several varieties of whole vegetables.
Upon entering the reception at Tsudoi no Yakata, the gateway to an escape from the everyday, guests are greeted by a panoramic view of the terraced garden, the resort’s signature landscape.
The resort’s 77 guest rooms are divided into three categories: Mizunami, Yamaroji and Niwaroji. Making full use of the valley’s natural topography, the surrounding landscape takes on different expressions with the seasons and throughout the day, allowing guests to feel immersed in nature from within their rooms. The Mizunami Rooms overlook the river flowing through the heart of the village, with expansive views of the lush scenery at the foot of Mount Asama unfolding beyond the windows.
Mr Sekiguchi tends the plants and flowers across the grounds of HOSHINOYA Karuizawa. When the resort first opened, he considered what kind of garden should be created across its expansive site. He ultimately decided instead to observe and nurture the plants that emerged naturally, making the most of the landscape in its unaltered state. His words—“I’m not a gardener, but a caretaker”—encapsulate both his own philosophy and that of HOSHINOYA Karuizawa.
The terraced garden is the defining landscape of HOSHINOYA Karuizawa. Designed to evoke a timeless scene deeply rooted in the Japanese imagination, it reveals a different character from every vantage point. In addition to the adjoining Terraced Garden Lounge, tables and chairs are placed throughout the garden itself, allowing guests to discover and enjoy the perfect seat for each particular moment.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIYOTAKA HAMAMURA.
