Find secluded places for hot springs and spas deep in the Japanese nature of Hokkaido

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the bustling city and go deep into the nature of Japan. While overlooking the beautiful scenery, enjoy the hot spring detoxification therapy and perfect SPA experience. The three secluded places introduced in this issue allow every tourist to spend a completely relaxing and happy time in Japan.

Hokkaido·Kutchan

Leisurely in the natural scenery of the north country Quiet private hot springs

| Zaborin Forest |


▲ The guest rooms have semi-open-air baths where you can luxuriously enjoy the spring water that gushes out from the ground, which is rich in metasilicic acid and minerals.

Zaborin Ryokan is located in an undeveloped primeval forest, surrounded by the Amaseko-cho mountain ranges such as Mt. Yotei, Annupuri, and Weisspeak, which are known as the "Mount Fuji of Hokkaido". It is a hot spring hotel where you can enjoy a quiet time in a majestic natural forest landscape.


▲ Visitors arriving at the resort can visit the tea room and taste matcha.


▲ "Kitakaiseki Ryori" created by a chef from Hokkaido is a local cuisine that incorporates creative techniques of Japanese cuisine.

The chef personally visits the farmers who grow the ingredients and carefully selects the ingredients. The tableware is mainly made of pottery produced by ceramic artists in Saga Prefecture, and there are also many utensils with a classical atmosphere.

Fresh shrimp dipped in gooseberry vinegar, Hokkaido abalone steamed with local fine wine, deep-fried mazu salmon and spring wild vegetables are all delicious creative platters from the mountains and rivers.


▲ The wine paired with the dish is the fine wine "Kutchan" from the Kutchan brewery, Niseko Brewery. The water used for brewing is the natural spring water of Mt. Yotei. The taste is sweet and mellow, without any astringency.


▲ The main course is grilled kelp of Tsunazo beef from the Kuroge Wagyu breed, served with local snow vegetables. The aroma of kelp and the tenderness of Wagyu are a perfect match.

The guest room building is surrounded by a courtyard and a mixed forest, blending in with the surrounding landscape, and the red pine felled during the forest development period is also recycled in the exterior wall. The guest rooms have complete private space and many floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful views. As the seasons change, you can experience a completely different natural beauty. The only 15 rooms in the hotel are equipped with indoor baths and semi-open-air baths, and the local hot spring water quality is also one of the best in Japan. After soaking in the hot spring, a massage with emu oil that deeply moisturizes the skin is a luxurious experience.


▲ The guest rooms are divided into two types: beds and tatami. The tatami room in the picture is called "Sotoyukiwa". It is the design work of the innkeeper who is a photographer. The photos similar to ink paintings make the room more artistic.


▲ Zaborin is located in a beautiful garden area that has not been artificially developed. Unlike the Hirafu area, the atmosphere here is more comfortable and quiet.

The inn is run by a British creative designer who traveled around the world and finally settled here because he was attracted by the natural charm of Amaseko-machi. The nature here reminded him of his hometown. The inn has a tea room where guests can taste matcha. The library displays Japanese and Oriental antiques and artworks, which he spent 20 years collecting. The moss artworks decorated everywhere make this space full of green vitality. Away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, free your mind in silence, and cleanse every corner of your body. How can you miss such a happy moment?


▲ Designed by an architect from Sapporo, a relative of the innkeeper. This is a Japanese design that makes people feel the natural feeling of flowing clouds and water.


▲ From the restaurant, you can see the river where the spring water of Mt. Yotei converges. The fresh air and Hokkaido Japanese breakfast will make you energetic for the whole day.


▲After soaking in the hot spring, you can go to the massage room in the basement for a skin massage. Emu oil, which has anti-inflammatory and good moisturizing effects, can relieve muscle fatigue and improve blood circulation. 90 minutes, 16,800 yen.

Tips: It takes about 2 hours to get there by car from New Chitose Airport. If you take the train, get off at Kutchan Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line, and then take a car for about 10 minutes to arrive. The hotel has a shuttle bus to Kutchan Station. There are also shuttle buses to New Chitose Airport in winter (shuttle buses require reservations).

● 76-4, Hanazono, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
● Tel: 0136-23-0003 15 rooms in total. One night stay with two meals is 59,500~91,950 yen per person
● Bank card: ⒶⒹⒿⓂⓋ
● Check-in time: 14:00 Check-out: 11:00

Ehime Matsuyama

Experience luxury in the architectural space designed by Tadao Ando

| SMALL LUXURY HOTEL IN SETOUCHI |


▲ There are 4 flat-bottomed bathtub-style "semi-open-air hot spring rooms". The hot spring water rich in sodium bicarbonate ions and radon ions can give you warm care from the inside out.

The private museum designed by Tadao himself has been converted into a luxurious hotel since last winter. There are only 7 rooms in the museum, but you can enjoy the Setouchi specialty care more deeply and taste hot spring food, as if you are in a paradise. In the museum where green and concrete are perfectly integrated, with avant-garde art decoration, the room is full of non-realistic style, providing unlimited services for limited guests. The room is equipped with a hot spring water jet massage chair and two swimming pools, as well as a sauna.


▲"ALL THAT SPA" provides a variety of services. The Chinese medicine package treatment technology can not only improve immunity, but also have a skin-beautifying effect.


▲Using magnesium sulfate for foot bath can promote metabolism, and scrub can be used to clean body dirt.


▲ The honorary chef of Miyamaso, which is famous for its herb-picking cuisine, showed off his cooking skills. The picture shows five appetizers. Using ingredients carefully collected from Shikoku and other places, and following the original cooking methods of the ingredients, delicious dishes such as yuzu peel sushi, dried persimmons, and local fish rolls are made.

The blue sky of Setouchi is reflected in the massage room, and the entire spa room is sparkling. You can experience a full set of hand care in it. The herb bags made of herbs and citrus peels produced in Shikoku are pressed all over the body to promote metabolism. At the same time, the products with domestic spices can fully experience the characteristics of Setouchi. After the diagnosis and treatment, taste the healthy food made from Shikoku seasonal ingredients, and the whole body fully enjoys the blessings of the mountains and seas of Setouchi, and the sense of happiness of vacation arises spontaneously.


▲ The hotel retains the charm of an art gallery, and the suites are over 100 square meters. The museum displays products of calligrapher Rieko Kawabe and minimalist leader Frank Stella, and has a gallery.


▲ The 4-person suite is furnished with Nordic furniture, simple but warm.


▲ Overlooking the entire Seto Inland Sea from the water of the open-air pool "The Blue".

Tips: About 50 minutes by car from Matsuyama Airport. About 35 minutes by car from JR Matsuyama Station.

Setouchi Retreat Aonagi

● 794-1 Yanagiya-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
● Tel: 089-977-9500
● 7 rooms in total Garden Suite 1 person 1 night + 2 meals 64800 yen~ 4-person suite 61560 yen~ Semi-open-air hot spring suite 97200 yen~ Blue Nagi Suite 216000 yen~
● Bank card: ⒶⒺⒹⒿⓂⓋ
● Check-in time: After 15:00 Check-out time: Before 11:00
● Children under 15 years old cannot stay alone

Yamanashi Prefecture·Obuchizawa

Art and nature decoration, detox time to satisfy the five senses

| HOTEL·KEYFOREST Kitasha |


▲ The "SPA·keyforest&Beauty" installation is only for guests staying at the hotel. The hot spring water, which is rich in sodium and chloride substances, is warm all year round and has a calming effect.

The memorial-style building located at the foot of Yatsugatake was designed by the designer Kitagawa Hara On, who is a famous designer of the Japan Pavilion at the Milan International Expo. This open-air hotel located in the Kobuchizawa Art Village can not only appreciate the modern art of the "Keith Haring Art Museum", but also enjoy the natural scenery. Although the building is poured with concrete, it is full of fashion. The embellishment of the style of the Jomon period ruins can be seen everywhere, and the various primitive patterns in the museum fully demonstrate the artistic characteristics of the building.


▲ Thai massage can relax stiff muscles. 60 minutes, 7560 yen.


▲ The essential oils used in the essential oil treatment are extracted from 10 kinds of essences such as frankincense and grapefruit. 70 minutes 9720 yen.

The hotel is most proud of the open-air bathtub surrounded by the jungle, and the spring water flows very comfortably. The water source is drawn from high-quality spring water. You can relax in the hot spring and overlook the scenery of the Southern Alps. While purifying your body and mind, you can soak in the hot spring and enjoy the signature ingredients produced in Koshu. It can be said to be a paradise on earth. This place, which takes only 2 hours by car from Tokyo, is a great place to heal physical and mental fatigue.


▲ The hotel has an overall function. The irregular quadrangular window design is inspired by everything in nature.


▲ The room named "Fish House" means the light of the sun. Design furniture and authentic decorations coexist harmoniously here.


▲ The lobby is inlaid with a square pattern in the same shape as the window. A private spa area that blends in with the surrounding nature. The space is dotted with square patterns, reflecting a sense of fashion design.


▲ The local signature chicken, Shingen chicken hot pot, is served with spring seasonal vegetables. You can also taste Koshu red wine trout and Koshu red wine beef. Price 8640 yen.

Tips: When taking the train, get off at JR Chuo Line Kobuchizawa Station, about 8 minutes (free pick-up, reservation required). When taking the car, it is about 5 minutes from the Kobuchizawa IC on the Chuo Expressway.

Hotel Keyforest Hokuto

● 10248-16 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
● Tel: 0551-36-8755
● 6 rooms in total 2 people 1 night using 1 room 43200 yen~75600 yen
● Bank card: ⒶⒺⒹⒿⓂⓋ
● Check-in time: 15:00 Check-out time: 11:00