Keyforest Hotel Hokuto

A property as stunning as it is exclusive, the Keyforest Hotel Hokuto acts as the crown jewel of the Kobuchizawa Art Village. With its six carefully-designed rooms, friendly international staff, private spa and intimate dining spaces, guests are sure to enjoy a highly personal experience. Though still relatively unknown to international tourists, the Art Village is quickly becoming a must-see for art connoisseurs, thanks to the incredible onsite Keith Haring Museum. Entry to the museum is included with every stay.

Set within the breathtaking mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, the hotel sometimes serves as a base for hikers with a taste for luxury, as well as horse-riding enthusiasts and photographers. Stables are located close by, and the hotel staff are happy to book you a day out on horseback to explore the local region’s historical ‘samurai trails’. Other activities on offer include fishing, pottery-making, star-gazing and yoga. We particularly like the outdoor facilities, which let guests enjoy a spot of tennis or a summer BBQ in a convivial atmosphere.

A fresh, seasonal breakfast is served in the hotel, with dinners available in the attached restaurant. Meat-eaters should definitely try the local delicacy: tender beef or trout marinated in red wine.

Owned by Kazuo Nakamura, the ‘village’ reflects a man with particular tastes: from the Keyforest’s extensive selection of whiskeys to bright art pieces adorning each wall, clients with a taste for art and luxury in unusual settings are sure to be bowled over. Travelers with a particular interest in similar hotels, such as Benesse House on Naoshima, should take note.