Hokkaido’s hottest new hotel, Nozo, cleverly combines contemporary Japanese design alongside traditional artisan elements to create an ambience that is both comfortable and chic – a hallmark of the country’s latest boutique hotel brand.
Enjoying an idyllic location between the Yubari and Tokachidake mountain ranges in Furano, Nozo Hotels offers 78 rooms in a low-rise design that showcases traditional materials such as timber and stone with a nature-inspired colour palette to create an aesthetic that reflects the spirit of Hokkaido whilst remaining warm and welcoming for guests.
Widely renowned as a ski resort, Furano is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts who are keen to explore the region’s hiking and cycling trails, lavender fields and white-water rafting, as well as those looking for a more tranquil spot to take in the spectacle of Japan’s cherry blossom season, which begins at the end of April in Hokkaido – later than in Tokyo due to its cooler climate.
Interior design and architecture firm G.A Brand was charged with crafting the distinctive ‘Nozo’ brand for the hotel, which was conceived as a social hub to showcase local crafts and produce, fostering a sense of curiosity and community in a carefully curated environment.
Design highlights include stripped-back textured walls inspired by traditional Japanese ‘Shikkui’ plastering techniques, and the central Buna Bar, the hotel’s heart and soul, which was conceived as a social ‘living room’ featuring a copper still fireplace, copper bar and the use of raw materials such as stems and seeds within its design, reflecting the region’s rich brewing, distilling and agricultural heritage. Already popular as a place to gather and share stories, the bar serves local Hokkaido beers, innovative cocktails, and sake, wines and whiskies from local and international brewers and winemakers.
Guest rooms are minimalist with light timbers, grey stone floors and statement woven headboards, which inject a cultural richness, while generous Family Rooms and Junior Suites are designed to accommodate children and those who like to settle in with plenty of space.
The hotel’s striking Sugi Spa pays homage to Hokkaido’s volcanic heritage with hot water tubs for indoor and outdoor bathing, including a skylight that floods the bathing zone with natural light by day, then provides clear views of dark starlit skies to connect guests with the landscape and create an atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional hot spring nestled in the mountains. Bathing areas are separated by gender, and the spa offers cold water dips and saunas to stimulate circulation.
Nozo Hotel is easily accessible via international flights to Sapporo or by regular domestic flights from Tokyo and Osaka to Asahikawa Airport, a scenic hour’s drive from the property.
