Flânons

Karuizawa · Japan · To stay

Shishi-Iwa house Karuizawa

Location & practical

Three Houses, Two Masters, One Forest

  • Three houses by two Pritzker laureates.
  • Timber, hinoki and forest framed in glass.
  • Architecture, art and seasonal Nagano cooking.
  • €300–1,200 / night
  • 33 rooms
  • Nagakura

Before Shigeru Ban designed his first Shishi-Iwa House, he had the trees counted. More than 260 of them were mapped, and the architect drew his building around what was already there. The result, opened in 2018, is a timber structure that curves through the Karuizawa forest, with glass-walled rooms, terraces and shared spaces tucked between the trunks. The furniture includes Ban's characteristic paper-tube designs. If you have ever wanted to sleep inside an architect's sketchbook, this is a remarkably comfortable opportunity.

A second house followed in 2022, also by Ban. Straighter lines, generous glazing and an expressive timber roof give No.02 a different personality. Upstairs, there is room to linger over a drink or dinner at SHOLA, where chef Masashi Okamoto combines French techniques with produce from Nagano. Then, a short walk away, comes the contrast: No.03, completed in 2023 by Ryue Nishizawa. His linked pavilions borrow the scale and rhythm of traditional Japanese buildings, opening onto courtyards and forest views. The interiors are wrapped in pale hinoki cypress, with tatami, carefully chosen furniture and the gentle fragrance of timber doing much of the work.

There is an excellent art collection, an architectural library and a programme of tea rituals, nature experiences and treatments. No.03 has a private hinoki bathhouse, which is a beautifully crafted soaking bath rather than a natural hot spring. Accommodation ranges from compact, considered doubles to larger tatami suites and a separate cabin villa; in No.01, connecting room groups can also be taken together for a family or friends.

Choose the house as carefully as the room. Guests can move freely between the shared facilities of No.01 and No.02, whereas No.03 is more private, with restricted access and stricter age rules. This is also a place for people happy to exchange oversized hotel rooms and a long list of resort diversions for something more particular. The forest is lovely, the food deserves an evening, and the architecture gives you plenty to look at without ever asking you to hurry.

  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Garden

Rooms.

The Flânons choice

Which room would we choose?

For a first architectural encounter, choose SSH No.01 Superior for Shigeru Ban’s forest-facing upper-floor rooms and private terrace. For a quieter, more Japanese residential mood, SSH No.03 Superior is the most distinctive alternative.

All 7 room types

SSH No.01 Classic

2 adults

23–25 m²

Queen bed · Bathtub · Forest view

Shigeru Ban-designed guest room with tailored timber details and window-side bath. Some have a private garden terrace, others Mount Asama views; confirm the precise room.

SSH No.01 Superior

2 adults

20–30 m²

Queen bed · Private terrace · Forest view · Bathtub

Upper-floor Shigeru Ban room with large glass areas and a private terrace. Bathroom layouts and tub materials vary by room; verify your preferred layout.

SSH No.01 Villa (grouped rooms)

7 adults

Multiple bedrooms · Shared living room · Kitchenette · Private entrance · Garden access

Three separate groupings of three or four bedrooms spread across two floors, sharing a living room and a simple kitchen. Intended for families or groups; the exact occupancy is six or seven, depending on the grouping.

SSH No.02 Classic

2 adults

20 m²

King or twin beds · Private garden terrace · Hinoki bathtub · Shower

Compact Shigeru Ban room with a handmade hinoki bath, private garden terrace and artist-designed textile details. King and twin configurations are available.

SSH No.03 Superior

2 adults

22.4–40 m²

Hinoki interior · Forest view · Courtyard view

Eight individually designed rooms by Ryue Nishizawa. Some have futons on tatami, others Western beds; size figures can include outdoor terrace. This house has age restrictions.

SSH No.03 Tatami Suite

3 adults

40 m²

Tatami · Private terrace · Hinoki bathtub · Courtyard view

Two suites with 40 m² interior space and an additional terrace of around 14 m², Japanese furnishings and private hinoki bath. Age restrictions apply.

SSH No.03 Cabin Villa

2 adults

48 m²

Separate living room · Stairs · Private terrace · Hinoki bathtub · Forest view

A two-level private pavilion with living room below, upstairs bedroom and bathing space, and a terrace. The interior is finished in hinoki; age restrictions and stair access apply.

Choose **SSH No.02 Classic** if a private hinoki bathtub matters more than floor area; it is a compact room. **SSH No.03 Tatami Suite** adds greater space and terrace views, while the **Cabin Villa** is the most private option for two. Families or groups should look at the grouped **SSH No.01 Villas**, rather than the age-restricted rooms in No.03.

Good to know.

Location
2147-768 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan
Open map & directions
Check-in & check-out
Check-in from 15:00, until 20:00, check-out by 11:00
Parking
Complimentary parking is listed for overnight guests. Confirm arrangements when staying in No.03, which has a different arrival point.
EV charging
Dedicated EV charging could not be reliably confirmed; enquire directly before travelling by electric car.
Getting around
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station, then a taxi to the property. There is no convenient direct rail or frequent local transit service to the houses; arrange the last leg in advance.
Arriving
SSH No.01 and No.02 guests check in at the upper level of SSH No.02, at 2147-768 Nagakura. SSH No.03 guests go directly to their separate reception at 2147-40 Nagakura. The houses are a short walk apart, and the terrain and outdoor connections are part of the stay. Tell the hotel if arriving after the published check-in window.
Pets
Pets are not permitted in the guest accommodation.
Accessibility
The property has outdoor paths between houses, changes of level and rooms or shared spaces on upper floors. Some accommodation, especially the two-level Cabin Villa, requires stairs. It is not generally described as barrier-free; request a room-by-room accessibility assessment in advance.
Travelling with children
Families can be accommodated in SSH No.01 and No.02, including the multiroom Villas in No.01. SSH No.03 has stricter age restrictions: the hotel labels its rooms adult-only, while some booking channels specify a minimum age of eight. Confirm the applicable policy for the chosen room before booking. Children aged four and over may be charged as adults on some plans.
Dietary options
Vegetarian and Vegan

Worth knowing

  • Book the house first, then the room: the architecture, bathing arrangements and atmosphere differ considerably across No.01, No.02 and No.03.
  • Rooms in the Ban houses are deliberately compact; check the exact floor plan and terrace arrangement if room size matters to you.
  • Guests of No.01 and No.02 can use shared facilities in both buildings. No.03 spaces are subject to separate access conditions.
  • No.03 applies stricter age rules than the other houses; reconfirm the policy for your dates and exact room.
  • The private hinoki bathhouse is not a natural onsen. Reserve a session ahead; conditions differ for No.03 guests.
  • SHOLA has limited opening days and seating, so arrange dinner before arrival if it is part of the reason for your stay.
  • There are no televisions or refrigerators in the minimalist guest rooms. This is an intentional part of the experience.
  • Karuizawa Station is a short taxi ride away; the houses are not a short walk from the station.
About this edit · 12 sources
  • Shishi-Iwa House — Rooms Room counts across the three houses, core amenities, and shared-facilities rules. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Shigeru Ban guest rooms No.01 and No.02 accommodation categories, sizes, occupancy and villa configurations. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Ryue Nishizawa guest rooms No.03 category details, adult-only labeling, tatami suites and Cabin Villa. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Architecture — SSH No.01 Shigeru Ban design and tree survey, paper-tube elements and sustainable construction. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Architecture — SSH No.03 Nishizawa pavilions, traditional spatial references and hinoki interiors. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Visit Official addresses, transport, arrival points and restrictions between houses. · Read 2026-10-23
  • SHOLA restaurant Restaurant concept, chef and seasonally sourced cuisine. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Private Hinoki Bathhouse Private bathhouse access, booking rules, distinction from natural hot springs. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Hotel details and guest policies Guest policies, property facilities, arrival times and accommodation count. · Read 2026-10-23
  • 2026 MICHELIN Keys Japan The property is listed with One MICHELIN Key in 2026. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Room-only and breakfast package listing Indicative current rates, meal inclusions and check-in times. Budget values are an approximate planning range in the standard currency rather than live booking quotes. · Read 2026-10-23
  • Japanese yen/euro reference rate Reference rate for indicative budget conversion. The upper end allows for larger categories and private group accommodation and should be checked against exact travel dates. · Read 2026-10-23