Before the Kyoto Art Collaboration, we carved out a short detour to Hoshinoya Karuizawa. We had thought about Shishi-Iwa briefly, but Hoshinoya simply felt more like us.
Hoshinoya Karuizawa was designed by Rie Azuma, a long-term architectural collaborator of Hoshino Resorts, and is the very first Hoshinoya resort. The main pavilion features tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame sweeping views of the valley and forest, seamlessly connecting interior and exterior.
The check-in pavilion, small yet striking, is punctuated by PH Louvre and PH Artichoke lighting, highlighting textures and corners without ever dominating. Over 20 years on, the design feels timeless: traditional Japanese elements are understated, and the architecture blends harmoniously into nature, creating a quiet, immersive space you can truly inhabit.