Recharge with a workation at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa. A relaxing villa experience for ultimate healing and inspiration｜TRAVEL
HOTEL INDIGO KARUIZAWA
The Luxury of Working and Resting in Karuizawa, a Land of Nature and Creativity
One of the new ways of working is "workation" (work + vacation). It's a work style recommended for modern business professionals, allowing them to balance work with relaxation. And there's the perfect place to enjoy it: "Hotel Indigo Karuizawa," just about an hour from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen.
Text by IJICHI Yasutake
Embrace Workation as a New Way of Working
With the widespread adoption of remote work, working styles have become more diverse. However, many people may be struggling with the sudden shift to remote work. While some might have a spacious study at home, others are likely working from a hastily set-up corner or the living room. Sharing private space makes it difficult to create a clear distinction between work and personal life, and working from home can lead to physical strain from prolonged sitting. If you have a family, you might also be concerned about noise. If you consider working at a cafe, it's difficult to stay for long periods, and it feels a bit awkward to go every day.
This is where "workation" comes in handy. However, we understand that while it might be feasible for business owners, management, or freelancers, it can feel like a high hurdle for employees due to concerns about how others perceive it. In fact, while the awareness rate of workation is about 80%, the experience rate remains around 4% (Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Report on the Survey of New Travel Styles, March 2021).
Workation can be utilized effectively depending on how you approach it. It's not about using it during periods packed with meetings or when a project is at its peak. It's most effective when you need to be flexible with your thinking or concentrate, such as when generating new ideas or completing a large document. Working in a freestyle manner and being in an open environment can lead to a more open mind, less bound by conventional thinking. Exposure to different scenery and new experiences enriches your input and sparks creativity.
The ideal place for such a workation is "Hotel Indigo Karuizawa." The Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station takes about an hour. From Karuizawa Station to the hotel is only about a 5-minute drive. For those working in the city center, considering that a one-hour commute to the office is commonplace, this travel time is hardly an inconvenience. It's also short enough to dismiss any "old-fashioned" notions of workation being merely about playing or resting.
A Villa for Me, Fulfilling Longing and Curiosity
Hotel Indigo Karuizawa, a lifestyle boutique hotel, opened in February 2022. Located in Karuizawa, a premier villa resort area that attracted royalty and cultural figures during the Meiji era, the hotel offers a place that fulfills all desires and curiosities for the salon and villa culture, drawing from Karuizawa's historical and cultural background, its unique art and architecture, the seasonal scents of nature embraced by Mt. Asama, and the rich flavors of fresh local ingredients.
Inside Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
Inside Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
Inside Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
A new workation plan has been available at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa since October 30th. It's suitable for any number of guests, including families with children. The plan offers a 30% discount on the Best Flexible Rate (including breakfast) for stays of three nights or more, excluding Fridays and Saturdays – a truly attractive offer that I had the pleasure of experiencing.
Lobby Lounge
Lobby Lounge
Lobby Lounge
In early November, Karuizawa was at the peak of its autumn foliage. Welcomed by the vibrant reds and yellows of the trees, we entered a stylish and impressive lobby lounge, predominantly featuring wood and centered around a striking fireplace. After warming up with a welcome drink—a blend of apple and prune with hints of ginger and lemongrass—we proceeded with check-in. From here, we were ready to fully immerse ourselves in both work and vacation.
Suite Room
Suite Room
Suite Room
The environment for focused work is perfect. The guest rooms offer a spacious ambiance, as if integrated with Karuizawa's natural surroundings. Gazing out the window, you are enveloped by the abundant vitality of the lush nature outside, bringing a sense of peace. Artworks are scattered across the walls, allowing you to fully experience physical and mental healing and sensory stimulation while concentrating on your work in tranquility.
Books selected by Daikanyama T-Site
Workation Salon
Workation Salon
Workation Salon
A bamboo tumbler received with the workation plan. Enjoy complimentary freshly brewed coffee, tea, and herbal teas.
In addition to the guest rooms, there are also excellent work spaces. The open lobby lounge features over 50 books selected by Daikanyama T-Site, and from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily, the Workation Salon is available. This provides a focused work environment in an open, private space with power outlets. Furthermore, engaging with others in the salon can foster new connections, much like the salon culture that once flourished in Karuizawa.
The Spa by HARNN
The Spa by HARNN
The Spa by HARNN
Public Bath
Public Bath
A 24-hour gym equipped with the latest machines is also available.
There are also plenty of amenities to ensure a complete vacation that will truly reboot your mind and body. The spa features "The Spa by HARNN," a prestigious Thai brand. HARNN's essential oils, nominated for World Spa Awards as the world's best aromatherapy brand, offer exceptional fragrance and texture. You can choose an oil that suits your mood and condition for a sublime relaxation experience, unique to this location, through treatments using traditional methods. Combined with the public bath, which includes an open-air carbonated spring bath, you can indulge and fully reboot your entire body, from head to toe.
Bonfire Lounge
From September to mid-November, you can enjoy mulled wine while watching the flickering flames at the hotel's courtyard bonfire lounge (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM). (Cancellation in case of rain). This is the only time you can experience the contrast between the crisp, cool air and the warmth of the bonfire. After checking in and finishing some work, it's the perfect way to start your evening before dinner.
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Dinner
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Breakfast
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Breakfast
All-Day Dining KAGARIBI Breakfast
Meals, both dinner and breakfast, are served at the dining room KAGARIBI. It features a generous use of fresh, seasonal ingredients from Karuizawa, including tomatoes and herbs from "Yanagisawa Farm," located about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. These fresh, seasonal ingredients are highly nutritious and invigorating for the body. The dishes, dynamically cooked over a wood fire by the chef, are all rich in umami and sweetness. The breakfast included in the workation plan is a buffet-style, offering a delightful selection of both Western and Japanese options.
By immersing yourself in the pristine air of nature, the artistic and cultural atmosphere that envelops the town, and the culinary delights born from locally cultivated ingredients at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa, you can experience a surge of new ideas, creativity, and profound satisfaction. Consider incorporating a workation perhaps once a quarter to experience the changing seasons and the local culture.
