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concept

A journey back to your true self.

Air carried from the abundant forest with dappled sunlight
Gradually resetting sensations and emotions.

Light and space,
Warmth and fragrance,
Food and conversation,
Fulfilling sleep,
And to a morning of renewal.

the rich and luxurious time of returning to your true self
Giving rest to all five senses,
Mind and body slowly harmonize.

RECONNECT WITH HUMAN ESSENCE
From the forests of Karuizawa, the joy of living.

Every experience at ESSENCE KARUIZAWA
guiding you to your true self.

01stay

02food

03experience

04activity

01stay

All rooms feature a private sauna, open-air bathroom, and terrace connecting to the forest. The special bathing experience enveloped by the Karuizawa forest releases the body from within, quietly harmonizing thought and sensation. Fragrances are designed based on the philosophy of Tomoko Saito, a pioneer of Aroma Fragrance Design®, harmonizing with Karuizawa's nature while accompanying changes in time and mood. For sleep leading to deep rest, we provide the highest-grade beds by Nihon Bed and recovery wear by VENEX. So that your time at ESSENCE becomes not merely a stay, but time for returning to your true self.

02food

Both dinner and breakfast are served at restaurant "SHIN," supervised by Zaisuke Hasegawa of the two-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant "Den." "SHIN" is not a standalone restaurant, but a place that accompanies each guest's way of spending time, comfortably connecting with your time at ESSENCE KARUIZAWA. Overlooking the Karuizawa forest, using ingredients from Nagano and carefully selected materials from various regions, we deliver authentic yet soul-soothing dining experiences.

03experience

ESSENCE KARUIZAWA's guest-exclusive lounge gently connects with the Karuizawa forest. Enjoy light meals and drinks prepared according to the time of day while spending your time as you wish. The space is accompanied by enveloping music from high-end audio, harmonizing the flow of your stay. Not a place for doing something, but a place that harmonizes simply by being there. Sound, light, and the presence of nature overlap, gently leading you to comfort.

04activity

We offer various activities incorporating Karuizawa's seasons and climate: fragrance blending experiences, vihta making for the sauna, forest yoga in summer, and stargazing under the full winter sky. Not to produce something, but to open your senses through experience. Time spent in nature brings quiet inner transformation, leading to moments of returning to your true self.

Accommodation Reservations