ARCHITECTURE

A Resort Designed for Outdoor Enjoyment

At the most fundamental level, the guestroom is a place where one sleeps and wakes up. Azuma focused on creating more--a space that places the guest within nature. The moment that the guest enters, sliding open the cabin's inner door, they are met with a majestic view of beautiful Lake Kawaguchi, seen through the immense window separating the bedroom area and the balcony. As the cabin's interior is minimally decorated, the view essentially becomes a part of the room. Each balcony also features a space where a fire can be lit, enticing guests to spend their time outdoors.

The public areas are designed to be discovered as guests climb up the resort's premises from their cabins. The first structure to come into view is the beautiful truss roof of the dining hall. With its high ceiling and wide windows overlooking a red cedar forest, the hall pays homage to the openness of the great outdoors that surround it. It is a room that echoes with the lively chatter of guests and staff, and the sound of food sizzling at the large grilling station in the center of the room.

A short climb up from the dining room takes guests to the Cloud Terrace, a series of platforms connected with stairs, culminating at a tiny café. A wood stove in the cafe burns throughout the year, warmly greeting guests who make the trek to the top of the resort. As with the cabins, the public areas have been designed to bring guests closer to the gorgeous views and pristine forests that the location provides.