Karuizawa, Japan
Renovated
2024
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
Hoshino ResortsForested valley retreat
Tiered cedar pavilions and footbridges weave through a quiet mountain valley, where lantern light reflects on misty river currents at dusk.
“Hoshinoya is about how you spend your time at the resort, how the design can help you relax, rather than just big luxurious rooms.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Tiered cedar pavilions and footbridges designed by Rie Azuma frame a terraced river valley and retention pond.
Remarkable
Immersive thermal soaking spans the light and dark sensory chambers of the Meditation Bath and outdoor granite pools.
Notable
Mountain kaiseki dining at Kasuke features foraged wild vegetables, freshwater river fish, and guided bird sanctuary walks.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper* and AFAR.
Hoshinoya Karuizawa’s environment is as pastoral as can be; it’s set on a hot spring, by the side of a small lake, surrounded by forests...
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Forest trails lead directly into the Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary, while nearby Harunire Terrace offers riverbank cafes under Japanese elm trees.
The rooms
Mizunami pavilions extend over running waterways with private viewing decks, while hillside Yamaroji rooms feature deep eaves and aromatic wood baths.
The onsen
Soak slowly.
Outdoor granite pools and indoor cypress baths at Tombo-no-yu are fed by free-flowing hot spring waters.
The spa
Waterside treatment rooms look out across the pond, offering licensed acupuncture and botanical oil bodywork.
At the table
Kasuke arranges dining tables across stepped terraces facing the forest, serving seasonal mountain kaiseki dinners.
The communal bath experience is essential: an artful, immersive space arranged in three progressively darker chambers, designed as a watery meditation.
How it began
First opened in 1914 as Hoshino Onsen, the mountain estate was reinvented in 2005 as a sustainable ryokan powered largely by geothermal energy.
Good to know
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Hoshinoya Karuizawa
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Karuizawa
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.