SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE KARUIZAWA
Hotel · Karuizawa ·
Architectural retreat in woods, French-Japanese cuisine, serene escape
Information
2147-768 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan Get directions
Architectural retreat in woods, French-Japanese cuisine, serene escape
2147-768 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan Get directions
"Set in the woods an hour outside Tokyo, Shishi-Iwa-House comprises three different hotels designed by two Pritzker-award winning architects. The 25 rooms feature wood and glass structures that float above and snake through the forest, with materials and furniture of unprecedented quality." - The MICHELIN Guide
"After two days at Hoshinoya, we moved to Shishi-Iwa House, a small hotel made up of three distinct buildings that showcase contemporary Japanese design: our rooms were in a sinuous structure by Pritzker winner Shigeru Ban, another airy pavilion by Ban houses the restaurant and a whisky bar, and a third by Ryue Nishizawa playfully reinterprets the traditional machiya. Extensive engawa connect courtyard gardens, the rooms have tatami floors and shoji screens, and the houses are filled with significant Japanese artwork plus libraries of design monographs and journals, making the place feel like a cultured, design-forward retreat." - Katie Kitamura
"Located in Karuizawa, 12 miles from Honmachi Machiyakan, SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa has accommodations with a terrace, free private parking and a bar. The 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The property provides a concierge service, and luggage storage for guests. At the hotel, rooms are equipped with a closet. Some rooms contain a kitchenette with a fridge. Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park is 14 miles from SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa, while Karuizawa Station is 4.1 miles from the property. Matsumoto Airport is 52 miles away." - My Boutique Hotel (en)
"Shishi-Iwa-House Karuizawa is not one house but a collection of them, three and counting, by two of Japan’s finest modern architects: Pritzker winners Shigeru Ban and Ryue Nishizawa. This location, an hour from Tokyo, is idyllic enough even without the enticement of such an architectural pedigree; the three houses are divided into stunning, quietly luxurious guest rooms in both Western and tatami styles. Hiking and forest bathing tempt guests out, while an architecture library and an arts and culture program provide indoor enrichment — as does Shola, the restaurant, where chef Masashi Okamoto serves breathtaking French-Japanese cuisine crafted from local and seasonal ingredients." - Tablet Hotels
"Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Shigeru Ban, this retreat emphasizes natural materials and a sinuous, wood-centric layout that weaves beneath an existing forest to blur the line between inside and out. Vaulted ceilings, retractable walls and windows, and bright, airy rooms let gentle breezes and birdsong flow through the spaces, while a sunlit library offers a quiet spot to read. The property forgoes in-room TVs and mini-fridges in favor of shared kitchenettes, communal living areas and a central relaxation space anchored by a 10-seater cherry dining table and fireplace, plus a south-facing deck for yoga or socializing over craft beer or sake. Upper-level rooms have private balconies and west-facing rooms offer views of Mount Asama; the location provides easy access to hiking trails and nearby waterfalls such as Shiraito Falls. Many rooms include large baths framed by windows for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), and breakfasts served in the sunny grand room focus on seasonal, local produce—farm-fresh milk and yogurt, homemade jams, bread from a 75-year-old boulangerie and coffee from a local third-wave roaster—making it an ideal low-key retreat for groups or solo travelers seeking connection rather than isolation." - Jessica Kozuka
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