Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Japan / Karuizawa / HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
Karuizawa, Japan · Hoshinoya · Grand Luxury
HOSHINOYA Karuizawa is the flagship that invented the brand: the 1914 Hoshino Onsen ryokan, rebuilt in July 2005 by architect Rie Azuma as a 77-room village of pavilions along a stream below Mount Asama. Hoshino Resorts dates to a 1904 forestry business in this highland valley, and the 2005 resort was conceived as Japan's first eco-resort, drawing on geothermal and hydroelectric power, with night lighting pulled back to protect the National Wild Bird Forest.
- 77 rooms
- Opened 1914
- Rooms from 474 sq ft (44 m²)
- Architect: Rie Azuma
About HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
- The site began as Hoshino Onsen Ryokan in 1914 and reopened on 20 July 2005 as HOSHINOYA Karuizawa, the first property of the HOSHINOYA brand.
- Parent company Hoshino Resorts started in 1904 as a forestry and hot-spring business in the same Karuizawa valley.
- The 2005 rebuild was conceived as Japan's first eco-resort, using geothermal and hydroelectric power, with night lighting dimmed to protect the National Wild Bird Forest.
- The hot-spring bath is split into two chambers: Hikari no Heya, washed in natural light, and Yami no Heya, kept in complete darkness.
- Flagship that invented the HOSHINOYA brand: the 1914 Hoshino Onsen ryokan, rebuilt in 2005 as a 77-room pavilion village below Mount Asama.
History
The roots of HOSHINOYA Karuizawa reach back to 1914, when the Hoshino Onsen hot-spring ryokan first welcomed guests in the forested highlands of Karuizawa. The parent company, Hoshino Resorts, had been established in 1904 around forestry and hot-spring operations, and the Karuizawa hot springs became an early retreat for writers and artists.
In July 2005 the historic ryokan was rebuilt and reopened as HOSHINOYA Karuizawa, the flagship of Hoshino Resorts' luxury HOSHINOYA brand. Conceived as one of Japan's first eco-resorts, the 77-room property is laid out as a village of guest pavilions along a stream, drawing on geothermal energy and blending traditional ryokan hospitality with contemporary design.
Restaurants and bars
- Kasuke — Restaurant · Japanese cuisine, "alpine kaiseki" style
- Bleston Court Yukawatan — Restaurant · French course meals
- Sonmin-Shokudo — Restaurant · Seasonal Japanese casual meals
- Forest Cafe & Bar — Café
Experiences
- Karuizawa National Wild Bird Sanctuary Forest tour led by Picchio — Eco-tourism tour through the sanctuary led by Picchio's professional guides; wild bird nature tours run every day.
- Meditation Bath — Hot spring facility exclusive to guests, with spaces of both light and darkness, at about 39 to 40 degrees Celsius.
- Flying Squirrel watching tour — Guided tour with a 96.1% sighting rate (2021 result), led by wildlife-knowledgeable staff.
- Highland horse riding — Highland horse riding offered by HOSHINOYA Karuizawa.
- Outdoor skating — Outdoor skating at the resort; the Forest Cafe & Bar sits by the edge of an icerink.
- Tombo-no-yu open-air hot spring — Open-air public hot spring fed by Hoshino Onsen, also open to day visitors.
Amenities
- Spa
- Sauna
- Kids' club
- Onsen
- Pet-friendly
- EV charging
Open HOSHINOYA Karuizawa in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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More hotels in Karuizawa
- Shishi-Iwa House — Independent · High Luxury
- Anantara Karuizawa Retreat — Anantara · Core Luxury
- FUFU Karuizawa Wind in the Sunshine — FUFU · Core Luxury
- FUFU Kyu-Karuizawa Restful Forest — FUFU · Core Luxury
- Hotel Indigo Karuizawa — Hotel Indigo · Core Luxury
- Hotel Kajima no Mori — Okura · Core Luxury
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