SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa
Architect-led nature retreat with serious art credibility. Lo-fi in spirit (no TVs, deliberate quiet), ultra-considered in execution. Think design museum crossed with a ryokan, but less ceremony and more genuine creative energy.
Karuizawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) is just a 10-minute drive away — taxi runs JPY 4,000 one-way; hotel car JPY 10,000. Book the hotel car for groups.
Why It Matters
The first hotel projects for both Shigeru Ban and Ryue Nishizawa — two of the most celebrated architects alive. SSH No.03 is built almost entirely from sacred hinoki cypress wood sourced in Gifu Prefecture. The property holds a Michelin Key designation and participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program via Mr & Mrs Smith.
Three separate houses by two Pritzker Prize-winning architects — SSH No.01 and No.02 by Shigeru Ban, SSH No.03 by Ryue Nishizawa — sit minutes apart on foot in the forested hills above Karuizawa. Each building is a genuine first: neither architect had designed a hotel before. Thirty rooms and suites across the three houses range from compact 20 sqm timber rooms in SSH No.02 to the fully hinoki-wrapped Cabin Villa in SSH No.03, with an art collection, architecture library, private bathhouse, and restaurant Shola rounding out one of Japan's most intellectually serious hotel projects.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
SSH No.01 Classic
Comfortable rooms averaging around 25 sqm with clean-lined crafted wood details designed by Shigeru Ban. Ground-floor rooms have large private garden terraces; upper-level rooms offer views of Mount Asama. All have queen-size beds with Ploh linens, Shigeru Ban-designed fixtures, showers, and window-side bathtubs.
Queen · 25 sqmSSH No.01 Superior
Upper-level showcase rooms floating among the treetops, with walls of glass and a private terrace looking onto forest or Mount Asama. Either 30 sqm (shower and bathtub) or 20 sqm (special handcrafted hinoki cypress bathtub). Queen-size beds throughout.
QueenSSH No.01 Villa
Three or four rooms on two levels grouped together for self-contained stays of 6–7 guests. Each Villa shares a simple kitchen, an art-filled living space, a private garden entrance, and an interior door opening directly into the Grand Room. Ideal for families or small groups.
Multiple
SSH No.02 Classic
Serene timber rooms measuring 20 sqm, each with a private garden terrace and a handmade hinoki cypress wood bathtub. Available in king or twin. Bespoke artist-made textiles hang above the beds. Compact but smartly designed with luxurious touches.
King or Twin · 20 sqm
SSH No.03 Cabin Villa
The most exclusive room in the collection. A two-level pavilion all to yourself: living room and outdoor terrace on the lower level, bedroom and bathroom on the upper level. 48 sqm inside plus external terrace. Walls of windows create the sensation of floating in forest, with tree views and glimpses of Mount Asama. Every surface is hinoki cypress. Sleeps 2. Adults 8 and over only.
Queen · 48 sqmSSH No.03 Superior
Eight rooms in SSH No.03 by Ryue Nishizawa, each unique in layout. Some span 30 sqm with spacious forest views; others are 40 sqm (25 sqm inside + 15 sqm terrace) overlooking forest and internal Japanese courtyard gardens. One tatami-floored room with futons; one Western-style room with striking high ceilings at 22.4 sqm. All wrapped entirely in hinoki cypress wood. Furnished with mid-century design icons — Pierre Jeanneret, Arne Jacobsen, Michael Thonet — plus antique Japanese pieces and ukiyo-e prints.
Western bed or futon (varies by room) · 30 sqmSSH No.03 Tatami Suite
Two spacious suites offering a refined Japanese residential experience. Crafted tatami mat flooring, exquisite antique Japanese furniture curated by Nishizawa. 40 sqm inside plus a 14 sqm private terrace overlooking forests and Japanese courtyard gardens. Both suites are wrapped entirely in hinoki wood and have private hinoki bathtubs. Sleeps 1–3 guests. Adults 8 and over only.
Futon · 40 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Insider tours of SSH's three buildings highlighting groundbreaking architecture, artworks, and design details — including pieces by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Jeanneret, and Arne Jacobsen. Staff can also build bespoke tours of Karuizawa's galleries and craft ateliers.
Intimate in-house talks hosted by the fire with Pritzker Prize-winning architects, local sake brewers, winemakers, farmers, and artists. Guests join as part of their stay — one of the hotel's most celebrated features.
Seasonal activity where guests can learn to make onigiri (Japanese rice balls). Available December through April.
Modern tea ceremonies and traditional Japanese tea roasting rituals hosted in the Teahouse, with SSH's in-house tea master. Available to guests across all three houses.
The hotel sits within or beside the Karuizawa Yacho no Mori (Wild Bird Sanctuary). Staff can arrange guided birdwatching sessions.
Guided and self-guided forest bathing walks within and around the Karuizawa Yacho no Mori National Wild Bird Sanctuary, which surrounds SSH No.03. Almost 100 hectares of protected forest on the property's doorstep.
Walks to Sengataki and Shiraito waterfalls, within easy reach of the property. Sengataki Hot Spring is walking distance from the hotel.
E-bikes available on request for exploring Karuizawa's surroundings, including the popular Harunire Terrace.
Available on request through the SSH Program team.
A bespoke guided trekking program through Japan Alps trails with spiritual and historical significance. Full bilingual support, meals, transport, and overnight accommodations managed by SSH.
Bespoke ski experiences on Mount Asama and surrounding slopes, arranged by SSH staff. In season only.
Visit to Duca Farm to explore the seasonal ingredients used at Restaurant Shola. Part of the Farm Visit & Dinner Package.
Private sake, wine, and whisky tastings including access to Daimon Sake Brewery, rare Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, and bottles from the now-closed Karuizawa Whisky Distillery.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Japanese-style communal lounges in SSH No.03 with complimentary Japanese sweets and teas for guests.
A large communal living space in SSH No.01 with fireplace, connected to Villa rooms via interior doors.
An extensive private collection of paintings, woodblock prints, and photography by acclaimed artists including Hiroshi Sugimoto displayed throughout all three houses.
Located in SSH No.01. Dedicated books on Japanese architecture and art, including design and contemporary art monographs.
On-site boutique selling bespoke SSH lifestyle goods — Norikazu Oe ceramics, whisky and Madeira collaborations, Ploh linens, Wajima-nuri lacquerware, and artisanal souvenirs.
Free on-site parking, reservation required.
Traditional teahouse at SSH No.03 for meditation and tea rituals. Limited access for No.01 and No.02 guests.
BUILD YOUR SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE KARUIZAWA PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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