The philosophy of stay illuminated in Karuizawa "HACIENDA KARUIZAWA" is a meeting of travel and life

As you step off the platform at Karuizawa Station, you can smell the scent of the pine forest. The air at an altitude of 950 meters has a density that is clearly different from that of Tokyo. This sensory difference is likely the reason why Karuizawa has been loved for so long. And now, a slightly different-toned accommodation from the past has been born.

The silence that begins the moment of arrival "HACIENDA KARUIZAWA"

"HACIENDA KARUIZAWA" (Hacienda Karuizawa) is a hotel designed under the supervision of The Conran Shop. It is located within the newly opened mixed-use facility "Karuizawa T-SITE," directly connected to the North Exit of Karuizawa Station, which just held its grand opening on April 25. This space can be described as a reinterpretation of the concept of a "small mountain cabin," standing alongside the wellness facility "AQUAIGNIS GARDEN SPA," interpreted through a modern sensibility.

Looking at it from a broader perspective, "Karuizawa T-SITE," where HACIENDA KARUIZAWA is located, is a mixed-use facility that has been established on approximately 13,000m2 owned by the Shinano Railway. It consists of six buildings, with a total floor area of about 4,400m2, comprised of single-story and two-story structures. Dining, accommodations, wellness, and shopping all exist within this single site.

The overall concept of the complex is "eat, stay, relax." It is designed not merely as a shopping center but as a place where one can spend time leisurely. It can also be interpreted as a "more open proposal" of the “vacation home culture” that the land of Karuizawa originally possessed, embodying a lifestyle of spending time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Let's return to the hotel.

HACIENDA KARUIZAWA, characterized by its compactness with just nine rooms, deliberately maintains a scale that preserves the spatial ratio among guests. In a larger accommodation, one must conform to the rules of that place, for better or worse, but with nine rooms, guests can move at their own pace. There’s no crowd at check-in, providing a sense of privacy.

As you walk through the entrance, the fire in the fireplace warmly welcomes you. Beside the fire, lounge chairs by Hans J. Wegner and a shaker rocking chair are lined up. Before checking in, it feels as though the lobby is telling you there is no need to rush here.

When you actually place yourself in it, you can feel something like the gravitational pull of the space. It feels much more fitting to me than just seeing it in images.

On the walls are monochrome photographs capturing Mount Asama. These are not just decorations but likely function as a medium to dialogue with the memories of the land. Vintage furniture from different eras coexists with modern designs in one space, maintaining a strange harmony.

In a corner that you reach by progressing down the corridor from the lobby, there is a library with several bookshelves. This space, lined with books about the nature of Karuizawa and contemporary culture, serves as a private hideaway for guests. Sitting down in this room, furnished with original pieces from The Conran Shop, creates a seamless connection between being on a trip and the daily reading habit. The phrase "the continuity between travel and life" comes to life here as a tangible experience.

An indoor space where you can gain new discoveries

Each of the 9 rooms at HACIENDA KARUIZAWA is selected with different furniture and accessories. While it can be said that the design allows repeat visitors to discover something new each time they enter a different room, it gives an even stronger impression that each room possesses its own worldview.

In the room I stayed in, a modular sofa and a low table were arranged facing twin beds. The walls, ceiling, and floor made of natural wood resonate with each other. On the white linen bed, there was a hand-illustrated cushion. This serves as just the right accent, striking a balance that is not overly strict.

Two round wall lamps are mounted on the wall next to the bed. The warm light spreads out radially, giving soft contours to the room at night. The floor material seems to have been calculated even for the sensation when stepping on it barefoot, making the moment of stepping onto the floor in the morning a unique experience.

The washbasin area features a white countertop with two chrome faucets mounted on the wall. A large wooden-framed mirror and indirect lighting impart a sense of elegance amid simplicity. On that counter, amenities from the British brand "bamford" are lined up. The plant-based fragrance doesn't assert itself too much, transforming morning face washing into a moment of mental preparation.

The philosophy of abundance with a kitchen and dining area

Some guest rooms, such as Room 105 and Room 110, are equipped with a kitchen and dining area. I believe this is one of the elements that best represents the philosophy of this hotel.

This hotel challenges the common notion that "you don't cook anything at a hotel." You can buy local ingredients at a nearby market, return to the hotel, and easily cook in the room’s kitchen. Then, while enjoying the light from the window, you can slowly eat around a round table. This feels more like an extension of everyday life rather than an "extraordinary" experience while traveling.

In the dining area, there are tile walls contrasted by wooden tables and black-framed chairs. The arrangement of the pendant light illuminating only above the table creates an atmosphere that concentrates on the evening dining experience and lulls one into drowsiness late at night. This dining space functions extremely well as a place to create "our own time."

The hot spring facility "AQUAIGNIS GARDEN SPA" nestled at the foot of Mount Asama

Not only the hotel rooms but also the hot spring facility "AQUAIGNIS GARDEN SPA" is designed under the supervision of The Conran Shop. This facility is available for use even by non-staying guests (entry fee 1300 yen), but combining it with an overnight stay will enhance the experience, making it feel as if the stay is breathing.

The concept is "A quiet quality and the gateway to a forest that unravels the journey." Natural wood walls, beige-toned natural stone, and indirect lighting. The minimalist bathing space, composed solely of water, wood, stone, and light, possesses its beauty as a result of stripping away decorations to the extreme, where the Japanese onsen culture intersects with Scandinavian sauna culture.

Two types of saunas are provided: an automatic steam sauna and a wood stove sauna. The latter offers a primal experience, where you can surrender your body while watching the flickering flames and listening to the sound of burning wood. In front of fire, humans strangely return to a state that precedes language. One can stop contemplating and simply concentrate on feeling the heat.

The new environment called "Karuzawa T-SITE"

has some points that are too valuable to end with just travel stories. Inside the "Karuzawa T-SITE," there is a shared lounge belonging to Tsutaya Books.

During my hotel stay, I opened my laptop in the lounge only in the morning. In a quiet space surrounded by bookshelves, my concentration was higher than usual. The air of Karuzawa and the moderate silence allow for a work environment that is clearly different from Tokyo's coworking spaces.

For those who "work fully remote from Monday to Friday," moving in on Friday night with a weekend off and working here only on Monday morning before returning—this three-night, four-day stay comes across as quite realistic. The distance from Tokyo Station is about 70 minutes by Shinkansen. It is also an ideal location for workation, not too close or too far. The scale of this place doesn't become a pressure even for a longer stay. There’s no anxiety of “having to go somewhere”; everything can be completed within the flow between the hotel, spa, library, and lounge. This might be the true strength of this hotel when considered as a place to spend a few days, especially since it is directly connected to Karuzawa Station.

HACIENDA KARUIZAWA
Access / Directly connected from the north exit of Karuzawa Station, about 70 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo, parking for 150 cars
Number of rooms / 9
Check-in / 3 PM
Check-out / 11 AM
Rates / From 33,000 yen (per person in a double room)