THE HIRAMATSU Karuizawa Miyota
Grand auberge — think French country inn crossed with a Japanese ryokan. Serious about food, serious about nature, serious about quiet. Art on every wall (from Jomon pottery shards to Venice glass), a vinyl hi-fi room in the Annex, and an outdoor brazier to sit around after dinner. Not flashy. Deeply considered.
The complimentary free shuttle only runs to/from Miyota Station (Shinano Railway) — book at least 2 days in advance. If arriving from Karuizawa Station, budget ~¥7,000 for a taxi.
Why It Matters
The Hiramatsu group was born in 1982 from a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Tokyo. The flagship hotel concept — 'One Stay, One Full Course' — treats every element of the stay as a course in a meal. Two MICHELIN Keys awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection 2025, one of only three properties in Japan to receive an upgraded rating that year. Chef Akio Yanagihara, trained under Paul Bocuse, leads the culinary program using Nagano's Shinshu region produce.
This is the Hiramatsu group's flagship hotel, and it operates on a simple, honest premise: the meal is the point. Everything else — the private onsen in your room, the fire pit lounge, the forest trails, the Wellness Salon — is designed to sharpen your appetite and deepen your enjoyment of two serious restaurants. The property opened in March 2021 in Miyota, a small town in Nagano's Kitasaku district, sitting at the foot of Mt. Asama in 60,000 square meters of highland forest. Just 37 rooms and villas. Two Michelin Keys in 2025.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Deluxe Twin
The entry-level room — and it's still over 100 sqm including the terrace. Natural materials throughout, modern art on the walls, a sofa facing the big forest window. The south-facing terrace works as a second living room. Twin beds with Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforters. This is what passes for a 'standard' room here.
twin · 100 sqm
Dog Villa Suites
The only rooms where pets are welcome — the rest of the hotel is pet-free. These detached villas come with dedicated dog runs, dog beds, and pet amenities. The Villa Exclusive Services and room service menus make it possible to dine in your villa with your dog rather than leaving them alone. A rare find at this level of hotel.
Junior Suites
Corner suites with windows on two sides, flooding the room with light. The living room sits far from the entrance, giving a genuine sense of arrival and privacy. An L-shaped terrace connects directly to the living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Large closet designed for long-stay guests.
Miyota Suites
The only room type in the hotel with both north- and south-facing windows — a meaningful distinction here. The north view frames Mt. Asama's forested foothills, where you can sometimes catch rime ice on the trees in early winter. Located on the 3rd and 4th floors with panoramic sky views toward Yatsugatake and Sakudaira. Sky View classification.
Terrace Villa Suites
Detached two-bedroom villas with a standout 90 sqm terrace — big enough for an autumn full-course dinner or a summer barbecue. Heavy use of wood in the decor. Open the bathroom window and it feels like bathing in the middle of the forest. Morning Basket breakfast can be taken on the terrace in good weather.
90 sqmThe Hiramatsu Suite
The hotel's crown room. Occupies half of the top floor with the best view on the property. Two bedrooms separated by a living and dining room, accommodating up to four guests. Has both a shower room and a private semi-open-air hot spring bath. Ideal for families or small groups who want total privacy and the flagship experience.
235 sqmVilla Suites
Nine fully detached villas spread through the forest. Each has a living room, mini kitchen, two bedrooms, a private terrace, and a private garden — plus a semi-open-air hot spring bath. Villa guests get exclusive access to Forest Dining, where a full-course meal is served outdoors in the garden. The most immersive way to experience the property.
The Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Professional photography session with a hotel-certified photographer familiar with Miyota's natural beauty. Location photos and album creation available on request. All year.
Self-guided walks through the 60,000 sqm forest grounds along maintained paths. The hotel sells a stainless steel insulated flask from a local maker for taking on walks. Available in all seasons.
A riding lesson at a stable in the Mt. Asama foothills, followed by a horseback trek through the mountain terrain. Available year-round.
Guided trek through snow-covered mountains in winter. Views only accessible in the snowy season. Winter exclusive.
Guided mountain trekking with encounters with alpine plants, birds, and wildlife. Suitable for beginners through advanced. Spring to autumn only.
In-room leather crafting using a kit from Hamano Leather Crafts (est. 1880), a prestigious Japanese bag brand with a workshop right in Miyota town. Create your own pochette in 30-60 minutes using scissors and a ruler. Safe for children. Available as a souvenir.
One-on-one yoga instruction on your room terrace or in nature. Yoga mats and blocks provided. Reservations required at least 2 days in advance. For guests 12 and older.
60-minute guided yoga session in the forest during golden hour. Spring and summer only.
An outdoor brazier near the Annex where guests can sit around a wood fire. Jomon period pottery has been excavated on the hotel's grounds — it's the same spot humans have gathered around fire for millennia. A free Food Truck with drinks and light snacks operates from 5-7pm during the seasonal opening (late April to late September).
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
2nd floor of the main building. Reception, fireplace, terrace seating, and a large painting of Shinshu apples by artist Kyoji Takubo. Glass artworks by Venice-based artist Ritsue Mishima throughout.
Photo books and literature on Miyota, plus a dedicated Sound Room with a vacuum-tube amplifier hi-fi system for listening to vinyl records. Complimentary self-service coffee and tea. Open 10am-6pm.
Jomon period pottery excavated on the hotel's grounds displayed at the main entrance. Venice glass artworks by Ritsue Mishima and large-scale paintings in the Lobby Lounge. Modern art and pottery displayed throughout all floors, elevator halls, restaurants, and guest rooms.
In-room dining from La Lumière Claire's Italian menu. Also available at lunchtime. Late-night snack menu includes soba noodles and o-chazuke.
Complimentary coffee, tea, and herb teas plus the pâtissier's sweet of the day at the 5th-floor Italian restaurant, with panoramic views. Runs 2-5pm daily.
Every room and villa has its own private semi-open-air onsen bath. Mineral-rich water is brought in daily from the hot spring town of Ueda. Available at any time of day or night.
Each room comes with hotel-original whole bean coffee sourced from a local Miyota roaster, plus a coffee mill to grind it fresh.
Minibar stocked complimentarily per number of guests. Typically includes local apple juice, local peach juice, Suntory oolong tea, Perrier, Karuizawa beer, Yebisu beer, and local sparkling wine.
The hotel does not have a gym or fitness center. Wellness activities are outdoor-focused (trekking, yoga, horseback riding).
The hotel does not have a swimming pool.
Hiramatsu Concierge arranges recommendations and reservations for facilities around Miyota and Karuizawa, including Pacific Club Karuizawa Resort and Eau sol vert Karuizawa Club.
Complimentary taxi transfer from Shinano Railway Miyota Station. Must be reserved at least 2 days before arrival.
Free valet parking available on site.
Yoga mats available in every guest room for self-directed practice.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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