Perched dramatically on a mist-wrapped Ishikura mountaintop in Gunma Prefecture, where the mighty Tone River begins, Not a Hotel Minakami Toji emerges as a radical reinvention of tradition. This collection of five exclusive luxury vacation homes, designed by Suppose Design Office principals Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida for the innovative NOT A HOTEL brand, offers an immersive dialogue with Minakami’s legendary seasonal transformations – from snow-laden winters and cherry-blossom springs to verdant summers and fiery autumns, all framed through extraordinary contemporary architecture.
The project’s most arresting signature is its copper-clad facade. Reimagining the traditional Japanese yamagoya (mountain hut), the entire roof and exterior walls are sheathed in straight-line copper plating. This is a living material, destined to evolve dynamically over years as its patina shifts subtly, mirroring the dramatic natural changes visible from every vantage point of this historic hot spring town.
Each expansive villa, encompassing 252.28 square meters, is meticulously zoned for privacy and spectacle. The ground floor houses two serene bedrooms imbued with a modern wabi-sabi sensibility – featuring textured plaster walls and tatami-inspired softness – alongside a shower room and convenient private parking. Ascending to the second floor reveals the heart of the transcendent experience.
Here, water is the defining element, seamlessly integrated with staggering panoramic views. A breathtaking 15-meter infinity pool appears to dissolve into the Minakami valley, elegantly wrapping around the main living and dining space. It connects visually and experientially to a natural hot spring onsen and a refreshing cold water bath adjacent to a full-scale private sauna, forming a sophisticated hydro-thermal circuit.
This aquatic ensemble surrounds the living/dining room, with each body of water meticulously maintained at its perfect temperature. The effect is mesmerizing: light dances on the pool’s surface, steam curls ethereally from the open-air bath, and the vast Minakami landscape unfolds beyond expansive floor-to-ceiling, double-glazed sliding walls, effortlessly connecting inside and out.
The interior itself is a masterpiece of spatial drama and comfort. Bathed in the soft, sculptural glow of Isamu Noguchi’s iconic Akari lamps, a substantial table seats eight beneath a soaring 6-meter ceiling crafted with advanced wood construction methods. This deliberate height introduces evocative pockets of shadow, focusing attention outward to the spectacular Minakami views and enhancing the intimate flicker of an operational wood stove, perfect for evening relaxation.
Beyond profound serenity within the villa, the Minakami area offers exhilarating access to rafting, skiing, and golf, leveraging its rich natural setting. Yet, the quintessential luxury remains deeply personal: soaking in the private onsen surrounded by black walls framing mountain ridges, plunging into the cold bath after the sauna’s heat while gazing at the infinity pool, or floating silently as snow blankets the world below.
Suppose Design Office has crafted more than mere luxury vacation homes at Minakami Toji; they’ve forged profound sensory sanctuaries where architecture, water, and nature converge spectacularly. This project offers an unparalleled new vacation home experience, high above the clouds, defined by its evolving copper-clad facade, elemental water features, and deep connection to the seasonal transformations of the Gunma mountains.