Nestled in a natural hot spring village in the forest, in the mountains of Niseko, on Japan’s beautiful northern island of Hokkaido sits two very unique log cabins.
Together with a team of traditional carpenters using local southern Hokkaido cedar and antique furniture and fittings sourced from all around Japan, we have been slowly and sustainably transforming the cabins into a boutique, environmentally conscious forest retreat.
Named Ane (big sister) and Otōto (little brother) because their sizes and their close relationship with each other reminded us of our daughter and two sons, the cabins were originally built by a local Japanese family as a forest escape.
The cabins were places to experience the simple pleasures in life - relaxing in onsen (natural spring water baths), cooking and eating around indoor irori (charcoal hearths) and listening to jazz records.
