A forty-year-old cabin transformed into an elegant hotel equipped with a hot spring. There is a hotel that sits quietly in the Urabandai mountains, surrounded by the forest and lakes. The hotel is named “aalto” which means “wave” in Finnish and is where the nature of Fukushima and the ambience of Northern Europe come together. It has won over many fans with its gracious hospitality. |
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Hotel where the nature of Fukushima and Finnish ambience mergeIn his book “Ni Ho N Mo No” which includes the many Japanese products and techniques he encountered in his travels, Nakata refers to HOTELLI aalto in this way – “There isn’t anything in particular that stands out, but the setting is very comforting at this hotel.” |
Nakata spends about two thirds of the year traveling abroad, so many days are spent in hotels, making them a part of his daily routine. He has pursued the ultimate environment and atmosphere, staying at several hundred properties, and this hotel is one of his favorites. |
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“This used to be a cabin that was used as a corporate recreational facility for 40 years.” |
The building was renovated over 2 years, being careful to maintain a balance with the scenic setting, the environment, and the original foundation as much as possible. All the building materials were sourced locally. Three architects were involved in creating the plans, and Yoshihiro Masuko, Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts, led the project team. “The floor plan is quite different, but we took advantage of the original structure.” “It’s quite unusual for a hotel to have a hot spring, isn’t it?” |
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ACCESS
- HOTELLI aalto
- 1073-153 Hidara Obudaira, Kitashiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima