Hoshinoya Karuizawa is the birthplace of the Hoshinoya brand, which is based on the concept of "a special seat for that moment." Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the inn continues to attract many visitors with its theme of "staying in a valley village," where you can spend a spiritually enriching time surrounded by beautiful scenery depicting "the original landscape of Japan." The "Forest Rejuvenation" program we're introducing today is not just a stay for relaxation. Guests walk through the forest, soak in hot springs, eat seasonal health foods, and tone their bodies. Repeating this experience will reset your mind and body in an amazing way. We experienced part of the 3-night, 4-day program and spoke with the developer about the background to it.

Hoshinoya Karuizawa Hotel Review Part 1: Enjoy the "Terrace Rice Field Afternoon Tea" surrounded by greenery and water at the newly opened "Terrace Rice Field Lounge"

Hoshinoya Karuizawa Accommodation Review Part 2: Experience the 2-night, 3-day special program "Karuizawa Summer Healthy Stay"

The "Forest Rejuvenation" program allows you to feel your body in harmony as you take slow, deep breaths while surrounded by nature.

After checking in, you will be given an explanation of your 3-night, 4-day schedule and a consultation to discuss your current physical condition.
This trip is not just about relaxing, but is focused on rediscovering and regulating your body.

The program begins with thoughts of what kind of trip it will be and whether you will actually be able to feel the benefits.

First, learn the "deep breathing bathing technique" and take deep breaths to release tension in your body.
Afterwards, we had a lesson on how to use Nordic walking poles on the premises, in preparation for "Forest Bathing Walking," one of the main activities of the program. Nordic walking poles are used differently from regular poles; rather than being used in front of the body as a walking stick, they are used behind the body to support walking. This helps to support walking, allowing for a good pace, and by putting your feet up with good posture, it seems to warm up the body.

According to the explanation, when using Nordic walking poles, you swing your arms more widely than usual, which results in a full-body workout and increases your physical activity. Feeling the comfort of moving your body in a lush green environment, you will feel refreshed as you walk with your mind cleared.

Now it's time to set off on your forest walk. You can choose from three basic courses depending on how you feel that day. Of course, if you ask, you can also choose a different course.

I chose a path that takes me around two of Karuizawa's famous waterfalls, Ryugaeshi Falls and Shiraito Falls. I drove part of the way and then walked into the depths of the forest. With each step, the soft feel of the earth resonated with my body, and the chirping of the birds and the rustling of the trees gently caressed my soul. Embracing a world of silence, my senses sharpened one by one, and my tangled thoughts began to unravel. Before I knew it, my mind was suddenly lighter, as if a breeze was blowing deep into my chest.

Acupuncture and body care treatments allow you to deeply engage with your body

After feeling a pleasant sense of fatigue, I was excited to try the acupuncture and body care treatment. It was actually my first time trying acupuncture. I had always wanted to try it, but I was worried about not being able to do it with a trusted acupuncturist, so I hadn't had the chance yet. However, with a nationally certified acupuncturist and judo therapist selected by Hoshinoya Karuizawa, I was able to relax.

Your physical condition will be thoroughly checked during the consultation on the first day. Over the course of three days, treatments will be carefully tailored to your physical condition on that day. After the approximately 150-minute treatment, the pain in your body will miraculously ease, and your body will feel warm, perhaps due to the blood circulating.
Furthermore, I had been suffering from back pain from the moment I woke up in the morning, but the next morning I felt refreshed for the first time in a long time, and I realized how light my body had been and really felt the effects.

Eating is also an important element of "forest care"

Another key aspect of "Forest Recuperation" is food. This program includes a special medicinal diet based on sports nutrition, as well as three meals a day at Hoshinoya Karuizawa's main dining restaurant, Kasuke Japanese Cuisine. This means that your diet during your stay is thoroughly managed.

For dinner, we had the "Mountain Kaiseki" at Japanese Cuisine Kasuke. The dishes, which used autumn ingredients such as matsutake mushrooms, sweetfish, Shinano snow trout, and sweet potatoes, were simply beautiful and had a gentle flavor that permeated the body. Perhaps because I was feeling well, I ate the whole thing in no time.

The program includes a special meal for dinner on the second day: "Mountain Seasonal Vegetable Hot Pot Set." This beautifully presented hot pot is not only healthy for the body, but also powerful enough to satisfy the appetite.

After a satisfying day of moderate exercise, body care, and delicious food in a wonderful environment, I ended the day practicing the "deep breathing bathing technique" in the "meditation bath," a hot spring with natural hot spring water. Rather than simply soaking in the water, I regulated my breathing and gently stretched my body in the water. Repeated deep breathing while immersed in the hot spring water seemed to relieve the fatigue of the day and fill me with energy. This was my first time learning that there is a bathing technique that "actively utilizes" the power of hot springs.

My mind and body felt refreshed and I was able to fall asleep quickly that night.

For breakfast, we had the "Mountain Seasonal Vegetable Porridge Breakfast," which combines the bounty of the local mountains with the wisdom of medicinal cuisine. As we put the nutritious porridge into our mouths, our body gradually warmed. We realized that eating a good breakfast is an act of nourishing the body and preparing for the start of a new day.

Although this experience was only part of a four-day, three-night program, it was an experience of listening to my own body and harmonizing it in nature. Unlike training in the city, I truly felt my mind and body become in tune. When I thought about how to spend my precious holiday, I realized that simply being in a balanced environment with good food, exercise, and acupuncture made my mind and body feel surprisingly lighter.

The idea and approach of "health care" that began at Hoshinoya Karuizawa

We spoke with Ryosuke Akabane, general manager of Hoshinoya Karuizawa, and Asuka Takahashi, who was involved in the development of the spa and also supported the Forest Bathing Walking event, about the background to the development of this Forest Health program.

"Yōjō" is the wisdom of nourishing yourself and living a healthy life, says Ryosuke Akahane, general manager of Hoshinoya Karuizawa.

"Since ancient times, Japan has had a culture of self-care through food, breathing, and rest. At Hoshinoya Karuizawa, we have adapted this wisdom to the modern era, and since shortly after opening, we have been offering the 'Forest Care' program, an experience that uses the power of Karuizawa's nature and hot springs to help harmonize the mind and body.

The "Forest Regeneration" program began at the beginning of the business

"At the time, macrobiotics was gaining attention, and interest in healthy eating was on the rise. So, Forest Health also had a program centered on food, but back then it was much more stoic than it is now, with strict dietary practices such as chewing brown rice 100 times and constantly grinding sesame seeds," says Akahane.

"At the time, the instruction was so thorough that we would sit next to the guests during meals to give them guidance. Thanks to that, they were able to lose weight during their stay and see visible results such as a slimmer face, but now we place emphasis on being able to continue the program without any strain. The important thing is for guests to find comfort at their own pace," says Takahashi, who planned and developed the program.

Takahashi also talked about the Nordic walking poles he recently adopted for his "Forest Bathing Walking" activities.

"Normal walking poles are used like walking sticks, but these Nordic walking poles allow you to swing your arms widely to support your walking. Not only do they help with walking, but they also increase the amount of exercise you get by exercising your whole body. Some customers have said that using these poles allowed them to walk longer distances than usual, and it seems that they have purchased new poles after returning home and are incorporating them into their daily lives. It's nice to know that this experience isn't just temporary, but can be put to use in their lives after returning home," he says.

We provide evidence-based health care from every angle.

Of course, the idea of ​​valuing food has remained unchanged since the beginning.

"Medicinal cuisine may seem like something special, but the basic principle is to start with making the most of seasonal ingredients. We offer menus that incorporate the bounty of Shinshu and enhance the effects of exercise and treatment. Another unique feature is that we have now created a program that makes use of the support of the Physical Education and Medical Research Institute, a public interest incorporated foundation that provides exercise and dietary guidance to athletes, and the Nissui Yunomaru Athlete's Cafeteria, both of which are local businesses."

Additionally, we are introducing Eastern medical approaches, including acupuncture and moxibustion, for the first time. The three-day acupuncture and body care treatments are conducted while monitoring each individual's physical condition. By receiving treatments every day, you will be able to listen more closely to your body's voice, which should give you the opportunity to find a recovery method that suits you best.

Another unique feature is that all staff are involved in the program. Rather than leaving it to external instructors, the staff themselves learn the knowledge and techniques and work closely with the guests.

"That's why we can notice even the smallest changes. We believe our role is to be there for our guests as they weave their own stories," says Akahane.

This idea has now spread to other Hoshinoya hotels, with programs such as "Island Time Rejuvenation" at Hoshinoya Taketomi Island and "Deep Breathing Rejuvenation" at Hoshinoya Tokyo, incorporating the unique nature and culture of each region to provide guests with an opportunity to reflect on themselves.

After completing this interview, I realized that this program goes beyond just "healing." Walking through the forest, soaking in a hot spring, enjoying seasonal produce, and simply resting... The accumulation of these simple actions allows you to reset yourself from a deep level.

The final words that Akabane-san spoke were very moving.

"This isn't a place to do something, it's a place to remember to do nothing."

The four-day, three-night stay, surrounded by the forest, was a meaningful time that brought back the harmony and adjustment that we have all forgotten in our busy lives.

Hoshinoya Karuizawa Hotel Review Part 1: Enjoy the "Terrace Rice Field Afternoon Tea" surrounded by greenery and water at the newly opened "Terrace Rice Field Lounge"

Hoshinoya Karuizawa Accommodation Review Part 2: Experience the 2-night, 3-day special program "Karuizawa Summer Healthy Stay"

Hoshinoya Karuizawa "Forest Regeneration"

・Implemented all year round
・Price: From 270,000 yen per person (tax and service charge included) *Accommodation fee not included
・Includes: 2 consultations, 1 deep breathing bathing lecture, 4 forest bathing walks, 3 acupuncture and body care sessions, 1 Mt. Asama stretch session, 1 relaxed deep breathing session, 2 dinners "Japanese Cuisine Kasuke Mountain Kaiseki", special dinner "Mountain seasonal vegetable hot pot set meal", 1 breakfast "Japanese Cuisine Kasuke Mountain Breakfast", 1 in-room dining breakfast, 1 special breakfast "Mountain seasonal vegetable rice porridge breakfast"
・Capacity: 1 group per day (up to 2 people)
・Reservations accepted on the official website up to 10 days in advance
・Target: Guests staying at Hoshinoya Karuizawa
・Notes: The schedule may change depending on your physical condition, requests, and weather.

The menu may be subject to change depending on availability and schedule.
If you make a reservation for two people, we will have to change some of the schedule.

Text by Yuko Taniguchi
Photography by Natsuko Okada (Studio Mug)