Hoshino Resorts launches Japan’s first ever agriturismo resort

Hoshino Resorts, the leading family-owned Japanese hospitality company with a contemporary take on the traditional ryokan (inn), provides the perfect base for exploring Japan.

On Friday 1st November 2019, Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu, Japan’s first-ever agriturismo resort, celebrating nature, cultural activities and local farming practices, will open to guests.

Located in the heavily-forested Tochigi Prefecture area – just 90 minutes’ north of Tokyo by bullet train – Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu sits at the foot of Mount Nasu and is ideal for families and couples. Between two to four guests can be accommodated in 43 bedrooms, all set within the forest and split between the main building and two separate annexes, each drawing inspiration from Nasu’s rural surroundings.

The area is a thriving local larder with farms, forests and rice fields providing an abundance of crops. Uniquely for Japan, the hotel is centred around an agri-garden – a farm run by the hotel – which will eventually grow 80 different vegetables and herbs in its fields and greenhouses. Guest can immerse themselves in the hotel’s organic farming methods by taking part in educational workshops such as learning to sow vegetables, cultivating fields and creating their own herbal tea.

Both restaurants at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu draw inspiration from the local produce. The hotel’s main restaurant, Otto Sette Nasu, is nestled within the forest and features delicious Tuscan cuisine created by Tokyo-born Chef Shigeru Nasai, who likes to pair Italian dishes with local Japanese wines from Yamanashi and Nagano.  Less formal dining is available at Shaki Shaki, which specialises in Japanese and Western-style cuisine. The buffet-style restaurant serves breakfast and evening meals and includes hot and cold Italian dishes, a wide variety of bread plus seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Based in a three-cone-roofed building in the forest, the hotel’s POKO POKO activities centre offers guided forest walks, campfire cooking, snowshoeing, snow games and treasure hunts.  A book café inside the activities centre has an authentic Italian pizza oven and guests can take part in a pizza-making experience using ingredients from the agri-garden. There is also kayaking on Itamuro Dam Lake (a spectacular sight during the autumn foliage season) and cycling in the forest.

A spa at the hotel offers a range of treatments including body massages and facials using yoghurt and clay. Guests can also visit the indoor and outdoor public hot spring baths – Nasu Onsen – one of eight hot springs located in the area. With views of the forest, hotel guests have exclusive use of Nasu Onsen daily from 5am – 11am (the onsen is also open to guests and non-residents for bathing from 3pm – 1am).

Further afield, Yahata Park provides instagram-worthy views throughout the year – cherry blossom in spring, azalea blossom in late May/June, carpets of lillies and sunflowers in midsummer and golden leaves during the autumn. Hikers and walkers can follow a 9 km trail over several suspension bridges – above forests and rivers – in search of the perfect vantage point.

A one-night stay at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu is priced from ¥21,000 per person (£150 pp two sharing including breakfast). Children’s prices: under 11 years old pay 70% of adult price, under 6 years old pay 50% of adult price, under 3 years old stay for free. To book, please contact +81-50-3786-1144; https://risonare.com/nasu/en/.

Notes to Editors

Photography: High resolution images of Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yaX88k-0GI8TtXbRFG_9-KF9LsoG8oYS

The origins of the Hoshino hospitality brand started with the opening of the first hot spring resort, Karuizawa, in 1914. The company was rebranded as Hoshino Resorts by current CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino in 1995, and now includes four hospitality brands under its parent company – HOSHINOYA (Hoshino Resorts’ flagship luxury brand), KAI (authentic hot spring ryokan/inns), RISONARE (family-friendly) and OMO (urban-based mid-range hotels), together with other unique lodgings.

Hoshino Resorts operates 39 properties (37 in Japan, plus one property each in Bali and Taiwan).

Press: For further information, high-res images or press trip requests (with a suitable commission), call Julia Farish or Lizzie Cooper at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440, or email j.farish@travelpr.co.uk or l.cooper@travelpr.co.uk.