Karuizawa, Japan
Hotel Indigo Karuizawa by IHG
Larch timber lodge
Karuizawa, Japan
Opened
2022
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
IHGLarch timber lodge
Conceived as an alpine artists' enclave, the lodge gathers guests around an outdoor fire pit and open-air bathhouse soaks.
What it’s good at
Listed
Larch timber pavilions encircle central courtyards accented with local Mount Asama basalt stone.
Listed
A communal bathhouse features outdoor carbonated spring baths beside Thai botanical spa rituals.
Listed
Wood-fired Shinshu farm produce pairs with Nagano wines in a freestanding dining pavilion.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Its 155 rooms and suites spread out across three distinct wings, and all of them are quietly stylish and humbly luxurious.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Beside Karuizawa Golf Club, in leafy alpine surroundings five minutes by car from Karuizawa Station.
1 of 4
The rooms
Rooms spread across three wings. Some open onto private gardens, and selected bathtubs look straight out into the forest.
The bathhouse
Chiselled granite lines the indoor and outdoor baths, set beside a wood-paneled dry sauna and cold plunge pool.
The spa
Three private treatment rooms host botanical therapies from HARNN, reached past a sculptural Japanese cedar staircase.
The gym
German-made NOHrD wooden treadmills and exercise bikes line the fitness room beneath a paneled wood ceiling.
Restaurant
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI
Italian dishes come straight from an open wood-fired grill, served beneath exposed timber beams or at the bar counter.
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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.