Although I did not stay at the hotel for this visit to cover the “LIFE EXPO 2022” held at the adjacent headquarters, I was able to experience the sauna, which is rumored to be highly regarded by “sauners”.
I visited FIELD SUITE SPA HEADQUATERS (456-1 Nakanohara, Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture), which is owned by the outdoor brand Snow Peak. The resort complex, which will open in April 2022, offers “bathing, dining, and lodging” in a rich natural setting.
Sauna recommended! FIELD SUITE SPA HEADQUARTERS
FIELD SUITE SPA HEADQUATERS is located on the grounds of Snow Peak Headquarters, which houses Snow Peak’s headquarters, camp fields, and directly managed stores. It covers an area of about 150,000 square meters! This was my first visit to the site, and I was impressed that the headquarters is located in such a natural setting. I was very impressed.
Let’s take a quick look inside the facility. The building consists of a first floor and a basement level. The shop sells not only Snow Peak products, but also select items such as local specialty products from Niigata and craft gin and other alcoholic beverages. I was personally interested in the limited edition stainless steel vacuum bottles with the facility’s logo, natural fiber relaxing wear, and high-quality amenities used at the spa.
At the back of the store is Restaurant Yukimine, one of the two restaurants in the hotel. With the cooperation of Hideki Ishikawa of the famous Japanese restaurant “Kagurazaka Ishikawa,” this restaurant offers “nature-eating cuisine” that can only be enjoyed in this area. The restaurant is open from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. only to guests of the FIELD SUITE SPA HEADQUARTERS.
Next is the hot spring area on the first basement floor, which can be used on a day trip. There are separate men’s and women’s baths and saunas, and the water is “Seolbong Onsen,” a type of hot spring that does not cause bruising. The summer view of the deep green scenery through the glass was so wonderful that I wanted to keep looking at it. By the way, you can see the snowy scenery on the official website, which gives a completely different impression depending on the season.
The sauna I was looking forward to was just as, if not more, wonderful than I had expected. You sit around the sauna stove in the center of the sauna, and the sauna also has a glass window on one side, so the view of greenery spreads out just like the view from the indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. The sauna also has a glass window on one side. I felt as if I was taking a sauna in the great outdoors. It is such a liberating and pleasant feeling to be able to see the outside scenery. The walls and floor are modern and black in color, reminding me of the smoke sauna I experienced in Finland a few years ago.
It is not only the sauna that is wonderful. First of all, the water bath! It is 120 cm deep, and you can soak yourself up to your shoulders. It was the first time for me to feel the sensation of floating in the water while my body cooled down. Then there is the outdoor air bath area. It is really comfortable here, too, and you can enjoy the outside breeze while resting your body on the Snow Peak chairs. Ahhhh, weakness!
After about three sets of sauna, water bath, sauna, water bath, and occasional air bath, I felt truly “in shape.
Next to the hot tub is another restaurant, Snow Peak Eat. This restaurant has a floor where you can sit and stretch out your legs, giving it the feel of an “after-bath place. The menu includes a “Local Obanzai Set Meal” with a choice of your favorite side dish, Katsu Curry, seasonal Kakiage Udon, and other sweets such as sorbets and crepes. I had Kanda Dairy soft ice cream after taking a bath, which was also very tasty.
Finally, let me introduce the accommodations at SFIELD SUITE SPA HEADQUATERS. Located at the rear of the building that houses stores, restaurants, and bathing facilities, villa buildings and “JYUBAKO” are located in a quiet area where only guests are allowed to enter.
There are three villas: two 50m2 “Villa Junior Suites” and one 100m2 “Villa Suite”. Each has a maximum capacity of four people: two adults and two children up to elementary school age who can sleep together. Each building faces a wooded area, so there are no glass windows from which guests can see other guests. The warmth of the wood inside and the wonderful sense of unity with the scenery outside will make you feel as if you are relaxing in the midst of nature. Oh, I want to stay here!
JYUBAKO is a trailer house jointly developed by architect Kengo Kuma and Snow Peak. There are a total of four JYUBAKO houses in a row, covering an area of 24m2. I was shown the interior of this house as well, and it was an extraordinary space that was neither a house, camp, nor glamping. As in the villa building, the rooms are furnished with Snow Peak products such as cups and lights, and I felt that the joy and pleasure of using them added value to the stay.
© Source travel watch
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