Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Japan / Kutchan / Zaborin
Zaborin
Kutchan, Hokkaido, Japan · Independent · Grand Luxury
Set in a silent birch forest at Hanazono, Zaborin's 15 minimalist villas each have two private volcanic onsens, one indoor and one outdoor rotenburo, fed from an on-site gensen kakenagashi spring nearly a kilometer underground. Kita-kaiseki is the culinary program. Architect Makoto Nakayama opened the house in 2015, five years before Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton arrived in Niseko.
- 15 rooms
- Opened 2014
- Neighborhood: Hanazono
- Architect: Makoto Nakayama
About Zaborin
- Fifteen villas sit in a birch forest at Hanazono; each has two private volcanic onsens (indoor plus outdoor rotenburo).
- On-site gensen kakenagashi water is drawn from nearly a kilometer underground, ranking in the top 10 percent of free-flow hot springs in Japan.
- Kita-kaiseki, northern-Hokkaido kaiseki, is the house culinary program.
- Architect Makoto Nakayama opened Zaborin in 2015, before Park Hyatt Niseko and Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
- MICHELIN Two Keys in 2025; Five Red Pavilion in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido 2017.
History
Architect Makoto Nakayama opened Zaborin in 2015 in a birch and fir forest at Hanazono, five years before Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton reached Niseko. The name means sitting in seclusion in the forest. Fifteen villas each have private indoor and outdoor onsen fed from an on-site spring. The culinary program is Kita-kaiseki. The house later earned MICHELIN Two Keys (2025) after a Five Red Pavilion in the 2017 Hokkaido Michelin Guide.
The setting
4 km from Hanazono Golf. 13 km from skiing at Niseko Mt.
Restaurants and bars
- The Dining Room — Restaurant · Japanese kita kaiseki (Northern Hokkaido kaiseki), multicour · Chef Yoshihiro Seno
- Irori — Restaurant · Robatayaki (Japanese hearth dinner, pre-booking available)
- Chanoza 茶の坐 — Restaurant · Japanese matcha
Experiences
- Private onsen baths — Each villa has two private baths, one indoor and one covered open-air, fed by volcanic spring water with no hot water added.
- Kita kaiseki multi-course dining — Award-winning kita kaiseki by Yoshihiro Seno, served as an omakase chef's menu in a secluded dining room.
- Robatayaki dinner at the irori — Robatayaki dinner in the enclosed irori hearth space, available by pre-booking.
- Chanoza matcha tea ceremony — Guests may sit in the chanoza tea space and take part in a matcha tea.
- Massage in private room — A massage therapist can be arranged to visit the ryokan; a double room with two massage beds is provided.
- Footbath (ashiyu) — Outdoor footbath in the central courtyard, reached through snow tunnels in some winter months.
Amenities
- 15 villas, each with indoor and outdoor private onsen
- On-site gensen kakenagashi spring
- Kita-kaiseki dining
- Birch-forest setting at Hanazono
- Cigar room, ski storage, and mountain-view lounge
- Hot tub
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open Zaborin in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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