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SSH PROGRAM

Art and architecture tours, organic farm visits, bespoke ski experiences, insider introductions, fireside talks – welcome to Shishi-Iwa House Program. Our monthly schedule of customized events, tours and activities is carefully curated and brought to life through a wide network of local friends and deep insider knowledge. Every visit can be tailor-made with bespoke activities – all designed to ensure that guests have a unique and unforgettable stay.

CULTURE

Tap into the creative world of SSH

Design-loving guests can enjoy insider tours of SSH, highlighting its groundbreaking architecture, artworks and design details. Beyond the hotel, staff can also craft bespoke creative itineraries, exploring Karuizawa’s world-class contemporary galleries and local craft ateliers.

FOOD AND DRINK

Explore Karuizawa’s finest flavors

SSH staff can arrange private access to a raft of culinary gems – from local bee farms to generations-old sake breweries. Back at the retreat, guests can also enjoy world-class cocktail, wine and whisky tastings, plus a Japanese roasted tea experience, with our in-house tea master.

SPORT AND WELLNESS

Inhale, exhale - and recharge in nature

Nature plays a key role at SSH – and guests can tap into this through a spectrum of sports and wellness activities. Bespoke highlights include skiing, snowboarding, golf, tennis, horse-riding, waterfall walks, hot spring onsen soaks and private morning yoga overlooking our gardens.

FIRESIDE CHATS

Intimate talks in your home from home

We also host an in-house talk series, with guests invited to join our fireside chats with a string of SSH friends – from Pritzker Prize-winning architects, whisky distillers and winemakers to local farmers – for an experience which is both intimate and informative.

EVENTS

From architect talks by the fire to pop-up dinner events, explore what’s on the schedule at Shishi-Iwa House.

A STUDY OF JAPANESE LANDS
THROUGH THE MIND OF
CHEF VAUGHAN MABEE

Join us for an extraordinary evening with Chef Vaughan Mabee, the culinary visionary behind Amisfield, New Zealand’s most awarded restaurant. Recently ranked No. 44 in the Top 100 Chefs of the World, and the first and only restaurant in New Zealand to be listed on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants extended 51–100 list, Chef Mabee returns to Shishi-Iwa House for an exclusive eight-day residency in early December.

Amisfield has been crowned Restaurant of the Year for four consecutive years (2020–2023) at the Cuisine Good Food Awards, maintaining a prestigious Three-Hat rating in 2022. The restaurant also earned the Best Dining Experience 2024 and Three Knives Award from The Best Chef Awards. Chef Mabee’s culinary journey includes serving as a judge on MasterChef New Zealand, further cementing his reputation as one of the world's most innovative chefs.

Known for his wild foraging, boundary-pushing techniques, and a deep respect for nature, Chef Mabee will present a 10-course tasting menu that explores the Japanese lands through his unique minds.

Only 20 seats are available per night on December 4–7, 10, and 12–14 and the menu is priced at JPY 50,000 (inclusive of tax and service charge), with optional pairings from JPY 15,000 (non-alcoholic) to JPY 40,000 (10 pours).

Reservations via TableCheck under "Shola Karuizawa" or email inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com. We hope that you will join us in this rare event.

December 4 - 14, 2025

HIDDEN LANDSCAPES:
UNCOVERING WHAT FLOWERS
WITHIN HUMID HOUSE

We invite you to join a one-of-a-kind autumn retreat that redefines floral design as a pathway to inner awareness and authentic connection. Hidden Landscapes: Uncovering What Flowers Within is a 3-night, 4-day holistic experience co-hosted by the visionary floral designers at This Humid House in the architectural sanctuaries of Shishi-Iwa House, designed by Shigeru Ban and Ryue Nishizawa.

Set in the serene forests of Karuizawa, this retreat goes beyond aesthetics—the focus is on the process rather and less the product, on deeper engagement, reflection and discovery. It's a space for exploration, experimentation, and embracing the unexpected shifts that happen along the way.

With no prior floral experience required, participants will explore through silent collaboration, group exercises, meditative hikes, and creative sessions.

Balanced with nourishing cuisine, hot spring rituals, shiatsu massage, sake tasting, and curated nature walks, every element is designed to restore, reconnect, and reawaken.

This is not about arranging flowers. It is about allowing what is hidden within us to come alive.

Spaces are limited to 12 guests.

For a detailed itinerary and reservation, please contact inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com.

December 7-10, 2025

TRAINING WITH THE PRO
WEEKEND TENNIS RETREAT
WITH JASON JUNG & TATSUMA ITO

Please join us for an exclusive weekend tennis experience at Shishi-Iwa House, where the serene forests of Karuizawa meet world-class athleticism. This special workshop is led by Jason Jung, an active ATP professional with a career-high ranking of World No. 114, known for his tactical brilliance and endurance on the tour. He will be joined by Tatsuma Ito, one of Japan’s most accomplished players, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of World No. 60 before retiring from professional tennis last year. Together, they bring a rare mix of experience, technical insight, and mentorship for players seeking to elevate their game.

Spaces are limited to 12 guests.

For a detailed itinerary and reservation, please contact inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com.

November 28 – December 1, 2025

TREKKING ADVENTURE:
ASCENDING MT. ASAMA & KAMIKOCHI
- LAND OF THE GODS -

We are returning to Mt. Asama & Kamikochi, the land of the gods, for the second year this coming autumn for 4 nights 5 days trekking adventure. An exciting schedule of activities and dining options awaits. Please reserve ahead as the number of participants is limited.

For more details, please email inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com.

October 20 - 24, 2025 (4N/5D)

JOIN US FOR
A FIRESIDE CHAT
WITH ARCHITECT
MR. ETAN KIMMEL

If you are staying at Shishi-Iwa House or dining at SHOLA Restaurant on October 4, we warmly invite you to an intimate fireside chat with renowned Israeli architect Etan Kimmel, co-founder of the acclaimed studio Kimmel Eshkolot Architects.

Etan Kimmel is celebrated for his award-winning work on cultural and civic architecture, including Israel’s Memorial Hall on Mount Herzl, The Davidson Museum near the Western Wall, and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. His studio’s thoughtful approach has earned international recognition, including prestigious awards from RIBA, the Chinese Ministry of Culture, and the Dedalo Minosse Foundation.

In this special conversation, Mr. Kimmel will share insights into his architectural philosophy, the role of memory in spatial design, and his perspective on cross-cultural influence — including reflections on Japan.

This event is complimentary and exclusive to our in-house guests and SHOLA diners.
The talk will be conducted in English with Japanese interpretation.

We look forward to sharing this inspiring evening with you.

RSVP at inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com

October 4, 2025, 5:00 PM

NOTO
SUPPORT
DINNER

At this special event, we are honored to welcome Mr. Taiichi Kirimoto of Wajima Kirimoto as our guest navigator. Guests will enjoy the dinner served on beautifully restored Wajima-nuri tableware, revived through the Wajima-nuri Rescue & Reborn Project led by Mr. Kirimoto.

These pieces, once lost due to the earthquake, have been lovingly repaired, polished, and finished with suki-dame—a translucent lacquer technique—after being coated with traditional vermilion lacquer (shu-ai). Thanks to the hands of skilled artisans, the tableware is now returning to dining tables with new life and meaning. Mr. Kirimoto will also speak about the inspiration and commitment behind this remarkable project.

The dinner will be crafted by Chef Toshiya Ikehata, owner-chef of L’Atelier de NOTO and a native of Noto. Despite the devastating damage to his restaurant caused by the earthquake, Chef Ikehata has continued to travel across Japan to share the essence of Noto’s food culture and the region’s ongoing challenges. Together with Chef Okamoto of SHOLA, he will present an exclusive one-night-only course that celebrates the seasonal bounty of both Noto and Karuizawa.

Following this event, Shishi-Iwa House will continue to support the revival of Noto’s craftsmanship and culture by offering select works from Wajima Kirimoto, including pieces from the Reborn series, at our in-house SHISHIIWA SHOP on an ongoing basis.

We hope this evening will offer you not only an unforgettable dining experience but also a moment to reflect on Noto’s present and be part of shaping its future.

Cost: JPY 38,000++ per person
Cost is course dinner and drink pairing. Guests also have an option to stay for additional night at a special rate of 15% discount. 

Inquiry:
For booking, detailed itinerary or further inquiries, please email inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com 

June 6, 2025 at 6 pm

A SPECIAL VEGAN
EXPLORATION
BY CHEF
TAKUYA OKADA

On May 21 and 22, we are excited to welcome our friend, Chef Takuya Okada for a special plant-based vegan tasting menu for two nights only. Chef Okada recently relocated to Karuizawa to open the restaurant Vase. Before that, he spent 6 years as a sous-chef at the 2 stars Michelin restaurant Crony in Tokyo. This event is an experimental journey where we challenge him to create a special vegan menu that celebrates the unique ingredients from Nagano farms. His dishes are extremely refined, creative and delicious.

This event marks the first time that Chef Okada will create an entirely vegan course menu for dinner —an exciting and thoughtful new chapter in his culinary journey. Known for his deep reverence for nature and his expertise in wild game and mountain fare, Chef Okada now turns his focus to plants, pushing the boundaries of flavor, texture, and creativity.

We cannot think of anyone better than him to elevate the fine produces of Nagano farms in this plant-based challenge. We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of inspired vegan cuisine in the heart of Karuizawa.

Cost per guest: ¥15,000++ (beverages additional)
Limit to 20 guests per night
RSVP at inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com

May 21 - 22, 2025

SAKURA
IN THE SKY
2025

Limited to 14 participants, this journey takes guests to the peaks of Mt. Kurofu (elevation 2,404 meters) and Mt. Iodake (elevation 2,760 meters), and other cherry blossom viewpoints, where the landscapes transform into a vibrant tapestry of pink and white blooms. Highlights include one-of-a-kind highest natural outdoor onsen in Japan at 1,894 meter elevation, one of three designated national treasures 2,000-year-old Yamataka Jindai Zakura tree, the 330 years old Wanitsuka Sakura tree with stunning Mt. Fuji as its backdrop, and Kiyoharu Art Colony with masterworks by renowned architects such as the iconic one-leg tea house by Terunobu Fujimori and others by Tadao Ando and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Inquiry:
For booking, detailed itinerary or further inquiries, please email inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com 

April 20 - 24, 2025 (4N/5D)

SECOND ANNUAL
CULTURAL GETAWAY
THE ANCIENT ART OF KINTSUGI
RETREAT 2025

Championing refined craftsmanship and cultural experiences, Shishi-Iwa House’s exclusive 3 nights / 4 days cultural getaway, in partnership with POJ Studio from Kyoto, returns this March 21 - 24, immersing guests in the ancient art of Kintsugi combined with luxury Michelin-Key accommodation, nature forest bathing and the finest culinary experience in Karuizawa.

Limited to 14 participants, this one-of-a-kind experience offers the opportunity to participate in an accelerated 4 intensive training sessions to learn the rare, centuries-old method of repairing ceramics and porcelain, embracing the meditative beauty of Zen philosophy through the art of imperfection.

Inquiry:
For booking, detailed itinerary or further inquiries, please email inquiry@shishiiwahouse.com

March 21 - 24, 2025 (3N/4D)

PRIVATE
RETREAT

There are few more peaceful settings for a private gathering, be it a corporate wellness break or a multi-generational family gathering. The hotel can be rented out in its entirety, or in the case of SSH No.01, by Villa, depending on the group size.

WEDDINGS

SSH is perfect for weddings, with its versatile interior spaces, bespoke menus and scenic natural backdrop.

CORPORATE

SSH can also help companies craft the ultimate corporate retreat, fusing design, nature and wellness, with the highest quality food and wine in a stunning setting.

Please contact us to receive the latest monthly schedule of SSH Program activities.